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Goats/Pigmy Goat Behavior Changes

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Expert: Cheryl K. Smith - 11/6/2009


Question

Xena
We have 3 pigmy goats and we are new at this.We have a male, a female and their baby.The female is acting strangely.We discovered she had a nail in her hoof which we removed.Beside that she is acting sluggish, not like her usual loud and lovely self.She is quiet and acts as if she has something caught in her mouth or throat.Yesterday she had fluid projecting from her nose and mouth.It only happened once.Today she seems a little more energetic but still not quite herself.
Besides possible illness could there be something else going on?Would it be a good thing to bring another male/female pigmy into the pack?  I ask because the 2 males are constantly bugging her and she seems tired and stressed.The baby is rarely even trying to nurse anymore.Are her symptoms illness related or does she need a break from these 2 crazy males?
Thanks for your time!

Answer
Did you give her a tetanus shot when you found the nail. She needs tetanus ANTITOXIN immediately, if not. I think the fluid may be unrelated and maybe she ate something poisonous. It's hard to say what is the cause of all these symptoms. Did you take her temperature? I would do that to check for infection.

How old is the baby? They can be weaned as young as 8 weeks. If the males (baby is a male?) are bugging her and she is a recent mother she may get pregnant too soon. It is breeding season. The males should not be living with her; they need their own pen so you can control the breeding. You don't want the baby buck to breed his mom--that is too close a breeding.

I would recommend that you get a wether or another doe for her to live with and put the boys in their own area. Otherwise she will get sick from the stress of them and also get bred too soon.
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentThanks for your time & energy Cheryl.Your insight was very helpful.We will definitely do the tetnus shot right away.She got into a different yard area and was eating some bushes.I believe this is what made her sick.


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Cheryl K. Smith

Expertise

Goat Health Care; basic goat management. Author of Goat Health Care (2009) and Raising Goats for Dummies (2010)

Experience

Publisher of Goat Health Care, www.goathealthcare.com. I have raised miniature dairy goats since 1998. I published Ruminations, the Nigerian Dwarf and Mini Dairy Goat magazine for 7 years and mentor other goat owners, as I was mentored for my first years.

Organizations
American Goat Society (AGS), The Miniature Goat Registry (TMGR)

Publications
Raising Goats for Dummies (author) Goat Health Care (Editor and Author), Ruminations, Dairy Goat Journal, Issues in Law and Medicine, Topics in Health Records Management, Oregon Bar Bulletin, Midwifery Today, Countryside

Education/Credentials
BS, Health Information Administration JD, Law

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