| Author | Message | ||
     Janette Cross New member Username: janettecross Post Number: 2 Registered: 08-2005 Rating: N/A |
I have a LaMancha doe that is due in January. She is much bigger than the last time she was pregnant and she lays down as much as possible. Although she still goes out with the herd, when they are in the barn she acts exhausted and doesn't want us to touch her. Her appetite is good but I'm worried that she has too many "buns" in the oven. Should I get the vet out to do an ultra-sound or just wait and see? | ||
| Maggie Leman Moderator Username: maggieleman Post Number: 203 Registered: 07-2005 Rating: N/A |
Just wait. At this point the fetuses are too big to get an accurate count, best time to try to count babies is at 45 to 55 days gestation. Besides what would you do? You would still have to wait and see how she does right? Be sure her appetite stays good. If she even starts to go off feed start treating for hypocalcemia and ketosis. Get some CMPK gel or liquid to have on hand just in case. You might try giving her a bit once a day to get her over the hump. Maggie Leman Goat 911 Capri Medic | ||
| Janette Cross New member Username: janettecross Post Number: 4 Registered: 08-2005 Rating: N/A |
I forgot to add that the vet said to drop down on the feed. I was feeding 1 to 1-1/2 lbs a day and I've dropped down to 1/2 lb. I thought you were supposed to increase the feed towards the end of the pregnancy. It makes some sense to back off on the feed considering how big she is, but I don't want to under feed either. | ||
| Maggie Leman Moderator Username: maggieleman Post Number: 207 Registered: 07-2005 Rating: N/A |
Fat goats are very prone to pregnancy toxemia and problems kidding. I don't ever increase the goats feed during pregnancy if they are in good flesh. The real drain comes after kidding when she is in milk and that's when I increase the feed, about when the kids are 10 days to 2 weeks old. You were probably feeding way too much grain for a pregnant doe, she is probably out of breath because she has alot of fat in her abdominal cavity pressing on her heart and lungs. Goats put on internal fat first, filling up the abdomen long before you ever see any on the outside. You are not underfeeding. Do let her lose some of this fat when she is nursing. Maggie Leman Goat 911 Capri Medic | ||
| Janette Cross New member Username: janettecross Post Number: 6 Registered: 08-2005 Rating: N/A |
Thanks Maggie. How much CMPK? I'm going to update her yearly CDT today along with trimming her hooves and worming. Is there anything else I need to do to get her ready to kid? | ||
| Maggie Leman Moderator Username: maggieleman Post Number: 209 Registered: 07-2005 Rating: N/A |
The bottle usually has a cow dose give 1/4 of that. She won't like it! Maggie Leman Goat 911 Capri Medic | ||
| Maggie Leman Moderator Username: maggieleman Post Number: 210 Registered: 07-2005 Rating: N/A |
Umm things you need for kidding...there is a good article on the particles page at http://www.goatworld.com/articles/health/firstaidkitrw.shtml I would add a weak kid feeding tube and syringe. There are also instructions on how to tube feed a kid on the articles page I think under Kids and Kidding. This one thing has been a big lifesaver and time saver for us when dealing with newborns. We sometimes will tube feed perfectly healthy babies their first feeding of colostrum (I always have some frozen colostrum) especially if they are born in the middle of the night when its cold. It gives them more time to figure out where mom's nipple is and I can leave them and go on to bed. Tube feeding is ALOT safer for a weak kid than dribbling milk into their mouth with a syringe and hoping they swallow it. You can get them exactly what they need, get it to where it needs to go and you can avoid giving them pneumonia from them getting milk or colostrum into their lungs. Maggie Leman Goat 911 Capri Medic |