Please help - goat kid down

Karen Bowen

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Hello all - I have been a member of backyard chickens for a while and love it - it has been a lifesaver! So, now I am really in need of advice on a very sick angora goat kid I am crossing my fingers that someone can help me.....I'm sorry for the lack of introduction - I will post some more asap but at the moment I am focused on my baby goat :-(
4 days ago one of our angora kids (6 months old) got her head stuck in the feeder - I found her in the morning twisted around almost onto her back and being dripped on by the one and only leak in the barn :-/ She was baaing faintly but very cold and wet with her tongue hanging out. I brought her inside into our boiler room, warmed her up and dried her with a hair dryer. I dribbled bits of sugar water into her mouth throughout the day - very slowly as she was barely able to swallow. End of day 1 - no change. Day 2 - in the morning no change and raspy breathing so I started a course of antibiotics - by the end of the day she was sucking the syringe with the sugar water and liking sugary milk - swallowing normally but bad diarrhea. Day 3 had loads of probiotic yogurt, milk and started eating leaves - normal poos by the end of the day and lifting her head up. Day 4 - eating leaves as fast as we could provide them, ripping them off branches herself and lifting her head up. This morning, as yesterday. My worry is that despite her increased energy, she can't stand up at all. Her front legs try to get her up and her back legs paddle around in vain. I am turning her twice a day and propping her up into a semi-upright lying position. Does anyone know how long normal recovery from pneumonia etc....takes and how long before they have the energy to stand? I am worried she's hurt her spine in her struggle to get out of the feeder, as her head was really bent right back....but I don't want to get the vet out if it's normal for her to take a week or so to recover. Can anyone help??
 

babsbag

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Sorry about your baby, goats can find the most ridiculous ways to get hurt. I have treated kids with pneumonia and have never had them not be able to stand, and some of them have been really sick 107° fevers. They will have a lack of energy and might sleep a lot, but they can still stand. I would get her to a vet but in the meantime do you have any Banamine you could give her? It could be a serious injury, or hopefully just some swelling and maybe some Prednisone or a anti-inflammatory would help.
 

Latestarter

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Greetings and welcome to BYH. So sorry your kid goat got hurt. Hope she recovers fully. She may have swelling around the nerves in her neck, causing the inability to stand. As Babs said, banamine (pain reliever/anti inflammatory) should help with that as long as there's no permanent damage. I believe you could also give her just plain aspirin... you'd need to determine how many based on her weight. http://www.thegoatspot.net/forum/f186/aspirin-dosage-goats-112236/ <---one of many links. Please let us know how things go.
 

Karen Bowen

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Thank you so much for your replies! I have her separated off with her mum, and have used the hay bale technique, much to her delight - she looks so happy snuggled in there!!! And this afternoon I helped her up and she had a little walk around while I supported her tummy :) :) I was veering towards the swelling idea too, as she could wriggle her legs around so much when she wanted to, and hopefully that's it! I was ready to call the vet out when she couldn't get up this morning but she is so much better now :) When I helped her up yesterday she did a little baa of not being happy and just collapsed, but today no baa and she just looked around and her legs started walking - such a lovely moment!!!
 

Latestarter

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That's awesome news! So glad she seems to be getting better. Please still keep an eye on her as her neck will be weak/swollen/sore for a little bit and it will most likely be easier for her to get re-injured. Hope you'll keep us posted as she improves.
 

Karen Bowen

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Hi - hopefully my attempt at including photos works :)
Here she is....our litte Eva who is now trotting after mum around the 'nursery field' where we have separated them :) The picture of her eating hay with mum was the first day she could stand on her own so excuse the state of her rear end!!! She is very very thin, easily pushed over (by mum when there's leaves on offer!!) and stands a 50 50 chance of getting up on her own, but she is eating like a horse and every day she is stronger. You are right about her neck - just after I posted that she was able to walk a little bit I noticed she couldn't stretch her neck down to the floor, and flexed her neck as if it was really stiff.....I haven't given her anything for it as she has been improving steadily and is fine with a hay bale sat in front of her nose - I do believe swelling etc....is there for a reason, to protect the nerves and help them heal....as long as they're not suffering, obviously. We have discovered she loves chestnuts, which we have gradually increased in quanitity and she's now devouring them by the handfulls!! It's been great seeing her recover, and also great to make friends with her, as before she was quite skittish but now runs up for cuddles :) Thank you so much for all your support and advice - it has been such a help. I will hopefully post some more photos of her in a few weeks time with a much rounder tummy :)
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