2wk kid, bottle fed, sudden fever grinding teeth shaking

Brae Robertson

Exploring the pasture
Joined
Aug 17, 2019
Messages
6
Reaction score
9
Points
11
Location
Willamette Valley Oregon
She’s the runt of surprise twins. Rejected by mama. Currently 12lbs. Feed her 14oz milked from mama 2x a day and a last one before bed for 6oz. Doing great and growing though she’s the bottom of the pecking order.

Went to give her bottle this morning (yeah, three hours behind schedule, I know! it was unavoidable) and she didn’t come running, isolates herself, only had 8oz, now lays down and won’t get up unless I make her, has a 106 temp and rapid breathing. Pee and poop are normal. Grinding teeth. Normal gums and eyes. No sores on body or at old cord site. No discharge from back or front side. Gave her selenium and e paste about an hour ago and no change. Now have her isolated in the laundry room.

Ideas?
 

frustratedearthmother

Herd Master
Joined
May 7, 2013
Messages
7,972
Reaction score
14,369
Points
623
With a temperature of 106 and rapid breathing - my advice is you need veterinary intervention and very likely antibiotics. Hope she gets better!
 

Brae Robertson

Exploring the pasture
Joined
Aug 17, 2019
Messages
6
Reaction score
9
Points
11
Location
Willamette Valley Oregon
Turns out her mom wasn’t vaccinated. Did so five minutes ago to everyone. Also started LA200. Gave her nutri drench and actually got the selenium vitamin E down her throat instead of her lips. Still won’t drink milk but I forced an ounce into her. Pee and poop is still normal.

If she’s laying down she doesn’t want to get up. If she’s standing up she doesn’t want to lay down.

I hope I’m doing it right and I intervened in time. Maybe her mama was right to reject her, maybe she didn’t get enough colostrum the first day (highly doubt she did), maybe I should have vaccinated the mama when I got her two months ago when she could have passed some antibodies to the kids.

I’ll call the vet. Why do things have to happen on a weekend or at night?
 

Brae Robertson

Exploring the pasture
Joined
Aug 17, 2019
Messages
6
Reaction score
9
Points
11
Location
Willamette Valley Oregon
Yeah, I’m on here all the time but never had a reason to post until now.

Vet said she has pneumonia. Doing what we can for her, guess next 12 hours will be awful for everyone. If she’s fighting than I’m fighting. Thank you for responding!
 

frustratedearthmother

Herd Master
Joined
May 7, 2013
Messages
7,972
Reaction score
14,369
Points
623
Vet said she has pneumonia.
I was afraid that might be the case. I'm not sure where you're located, but it's really hot where I am. I've had a lot more babies get pneumonia in the heat than in the cold.

If she’s fighting than I’m fighting.
That's my motto also. Really wish you (and her) the best of luck!

Does she have a name?
 

Brae Robertson

Exploring the pasture
Joined
Aug 17, 2019
Messages
6
Reaction score
9
Points
11
Location
Willamette Valley Oregon
Blaze. :)

I’m in western Oregon. Pretty normal 85 August heat, but I’ve heard of it happening more in the summer because of the dramatic changes in temp. Pretty sure on this case it’s the lack of adequate amounts of colostrum in the first 24.

Just gave her 8oz bottle and had to cut her off so we didn’t have a whole new set of problems. Temp is down to 102.9. Will do another few ounces in a few hours. She was walking around outside and went straight to the goat pen and laid down outside (I was hoping she’d do her business out there). Think she misses her twin. They’ll visit tomorrow if all goes well tonight. Fingers crossed we caught it in time.

Vet did a higher dose antibiotic (can’t remember name), anti inflammatory (Banimine), probiotic orally, subQ fluids, and a selenium & E shot. We’ve had quite the day! I’ll do more Banimine and probiotics tomorrow that I was given.

Hopefully someone else will see this and find it helpful. I was crazy reading, ignoring my human kids, and searching everything all day and felt very unprepared for something like this. Vitamin B, corid, dewormer and probiotics for sure—but goat pneumonia?! Jeez!
 

Sheepshape

Herd Master
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
1,706
Reaction score
3,095
Points
373
Try not to beat yourself up, Monica. I always expect folk would have vaccinated, wormed and generally cared for their livestock, but it often isn't the case.I hope Blaze pulls through.They're tougher than you think at times. Mums sometimes instinctively know the ones which are going to have problems, though the health issue usually declares itself within a few days of birth. The lack of colostrum antibodies is definitely going to have contributed.

Do let us know how things pan out....and however things go, most of us have been there.
 
Last edited:

frustratedearthmother

Herd Master
Joined
May 7, 2013
Messages
7,972
Reaction score
14,369
Points
623
Thank you so much for your help! Sometimes you need someone to tell you to bite the bullet and get help. Probably (hopefully) saved her life.
You are so welcome! That's why we all come here - hoping to glean a bit of knowledge that we don't already have. I've been raising goats for close to 30 years and I still learn something new.

Unfortunately, with your baby's symptoms it was a "been there done that" situation for me.

I am so glad you got her some professional help - sometimes it's just necessary. Sounds like your vet is on top of it and hopefully she will pull through with flying colors!

Like Sheepshape said - don't beat yourself up. You noticed something was wrong with her and you acted on it. And, you learned something that will stay with you. Give Blaze a hug from me! :hugs
 

Latest posts

Top