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PSA for goat owners...
Polio is a fast-moving metabolic problem in goats. Especially kids. If you have a kid that suddenly refuses to eat, constantly stretches their back legs, and just acts "off", you need to act FAST. Thiamine (B-1) @ 1 cc/35 lbs SQ or IM every 6 hours will reverse it - but you HAVE to act, or you'll lose the goat.
So, guess what happened last night? We went out to give the last bottles of the day, and MY little girl was "off". This is my problem goat - she was the smallest twin, she hurt her leg when she was about 2 weeks old, and now this. :sigh: When I saw the stretching, I was concerned. I asked Dr. Google - the first hit was polio, so I grabbed the Thiamine and popped her. 2 hours later, I popped her again (I can't stay up until midnight, no matter how much I care about the goat.)
This AM? I ran out to check on her before we milked - she was PISSED off at the management. Just what kind of establishment was this? No food, owies on her butt, who did we think we were, anyway? :lol: She's still a little wobbly, but her appetite's back, she's no longer lethargic, and I think we're out of the woods.
I'll keep her on Thiamine 2x/day until Thursday, then I'll re-evaluate.
What brought it on? Well, baby goats are just looking for an excuse to die. :rofl: I think she either got some moldy hay or she overate the All Stock pellets I had put in for them. Molasses is BAD for rumens, but we can't afford to buy $16/bag goat feed plus the $9/bag horse feed plus the $18/bag alfalfa.....the horse feed (All Stock) is low molasses and we mix it with alfalfa to cut the molasses even more. I just didn't do that for the babies yesterday. :sigh: Won't make THAT mistake again.
Anyway, that's all I got. Maybe today will be a bit less exciting? :fingers crossed:
So, guess what happened last night? We went out to give the last bottles of the day, and MY little girl was "off". This is my problem goat - she was the smallest twin, she hurt her leg when she was about 2 weeks old, and now this. :sigh: When I saw the stretching, I was concerned. I asked Dr. Google - the first hit was polio, so I grabbed the Thiamine and popped her. 2 hours later, I popped her again (I can't stay up until midnight, no matter how much I care about the goat.)
This AM? I ran out to check on her before we milked - she was PISSED off at the management. Just what kind of establishment was this? No food, owies on her butt, who did we think we were, anyway? :lol: She's still a little wobbly, but her appetite's back, she's no longer lethargic, and I think we're out of the woods.
I'll keep her on Thiamine 2x/day until Thursday, then I'll re-evaluate.
What brought it on? Well, baby goats are just looking for an excuse to die. :rofl: I think she either got some moldy hay or she overate the All Stock pellets I had put in for them. Molasses is BAD for rumens, but we can't afford to buy $16/bag goat feed plus the $9/bag horse feed plus the $18/bag alfalfa.....the horse feed (All Stock) is low molasses and we mix it with alfalfa to cut the molasses even more. I just didn't do that for the babies yesterday. :sigh: Won't make THAT mistake again.
Anyway, that's all I got. Maybe today will be a bit less exciting? :fingers crossed: