Pregnant doe looking poor...LOOK AT LUCY NOW :) UPDATE WITH PICS!

[EggsForIHOP]

Our "grain" here is 3/4 alfalfa pellets (1/4 of it is a blend of the other things I mentioned) - right now the odds of me even finding actual alfalfa hay are slim to none - and even then it's usually just sticks and stems the goats pick over and waste, which is why I switched to this and haven't with the other goats had any issues since last April now, just her, and she is newer....maybe she isn't adjusting well?

So would allowing her to eat her ration apart from them (which we did last night and this morning so I KNOW she got her "portion"), PLUS the worming and red cell, and maybe letting her have a tad more of the alfalfa pellets 9 days from her due date be okay? So far, the only change I have made is how/where she eats so I know she is eating...and she is S L O W...taking her time, chewing each bite 32 times....I can see now where she was getting less than the others right off the bat...

I looked at the "Dyne Liquid Supplement" and I'd almost bet if i ordered it today (which I probably will) that it won't even arrive until she kids or after (the way things move out here)...so I will wait until she kids to add that to her diet, and most likely I'll be pulling and bottle feeding kids and she will be dried up pretty quick this year depending on how she continues to hold up (or doesn't). She's such a love bug! I just want her to be healthy and okay ultimately, and I would bet this is a CLEAR case of "operator error" (meaning my fault)....

We're starting the safegaurd / red cell today and I need more stuff from Jeffers anyways (who doesn't always need a little something right?) so I'll order her a supplement for after she kids and I guess I'll keep a close eye on her from there...poor Lucy...she's just such a calm, easy going goat, I hope she gets chubby like me eventually!

 

[EggsForIHOP]

OKAY... We FINALLY got home a while ago, and I hit Lucy with the following:

RedCell
Dimethox
Ivomec
and alas...WHERE IS MY FREAKING SAFEGUARD!!!! AHHH! I'm gonna guess it's in the same place my scour halt was when I needed it a month ago...THE OLD HOUSE!!! Sooooo...out tomorrow in search of that I suppose or I'll get it overnighted I guess from online....


Basically, RIGHT NOW, I need to repeat the Ivomec in 10 days and again in 10 days, find some more safeguard to replace my lost supply (how I enjoy moving and months later not having stuff) keep up the dimethox for 5 days and the red cell until her eyelids pink up? or for a set time on that?

And of course safeguard for 3 days in a row once I get my hot little hands on it...

One other question...just because I have been wondering....well, kind of 2...

With valbazen and cydectin are there "repeat" times on those also? I really haven't had too many issues thus far, and have only wormed "prevention style" like after we moved - they all got a dose of cydectin then because if they goats didn't think it was stressful I sure did! But I never repeated it...

Just wondering and hoping I got things straight here...I never realized keeping things straight was going to be my biggest challenge with the goats, I thought I was going to have more troubles keeping them inside their fence...but NOOOOO...it's remembering to write down and keep track of dosing things and repeating them that kills me!

On the bright side - Lucy took it all like a champ...except the very last little bit where she saw her escape chance and considered bolting...she's SUCH a patient well behaved girl! She made a LOT of faces when we were done and looked like she was gonna puke if she could (and bless her heart I understand, that stuff just SMELLS awful!) But she still wanted her preggo belly rubbed when I was done...poor sweet Lucy...

 

[elevan]

OKAY... We FINALLY got home a while ago, and I hit Lucy with the following:

RedCell
Dimethox
Ivomec
and alas...WHERE IS MY FREAKING SAFEGUARD!!!! AHHH! I'm gonna guess it's in the same place my scour halt was when I needed it a month ago...THE OLD HOUSE!!! Sooooo...out tomorrow in search of that I suppose or I'll get it overnighted I guess from online....

You can get Safeguard from Tractor Supply (TSC) is there is one near you.

Basically, RIGHT NOW, I need to repeat the Ivomec in 10 days and again in 10 days, find some more safeguard to replace my lost supply (how I enjoy moving and months later not having stuff) keep up the dimethox for 5 days and the red cell until her eyelids pink up? or for a set time on that?

And of course safeguard for 3 days in a row once I get my hot little hands on it...

One other question...just because I have been wondering....well, kind of 2...

With valbazen and cydectin are there "repeat" times on those also? I really haven't had too many issues thus far, and have only wormed "prevention style" like after we moved - they all got a dose of cydectin then because if they goats didn't think it was stressful I sure did! But I never repeated it...

I'll often repeat Valbazen in 10 days but it's generally not required. I've not used Cydectin yet (keeping it in reserve in case I develop a resistance issue), so I'm interested in the answer to that one too.

 

[Roll farms]

Don't use Valbazen on a bred doe - the label (I think) says for 45 days....but I won't use it on a bred doe at all.

 

[EggsForIHOP]

You can get Safeguard from Tractor Supply (TSC) is there is one near you.

Yeah...KINDA...it's 45 minutes to TSC and MOST of the time when I get there HALF of the stuff on my list is gone! They JUST revamped/moved and they are having a hard time getting the new store under control inventory wise...plus I HATE leaving the house these days...I'm becoming a hermit!

So...it's on my list for tomorrow...but I just don't know how much luck I'm gonna have there...

 

[elevan]

Don't use Valbazen on a bred doe - the label (I think) says for 45 days....but I won't use it on a bred doe at all.

I'm with Roll on that...I don't use Valbazen at all during pregnancy...even though my vet has assured me time and again that it's ok after 45 days.

Here's the info from the data sheet:
Precaution: Do not administer to female cattle during first 45 days of pregnancy or for 45 days after removal of bulls. Do not administer to ewes during the first 30 days of pregnancy or for 30 days after removal of rams.

http://jeffers.naccvp.com/?u=jeffers&p=cvp&m=product_view&id=3690030

 

[elevan]

You can get Safeguard from Tractor Supply (TSC) is there is one near you.

Yeah...KINDA...it's 45 minutes to TSC and MOST of the time when I get there HALF of the stuff on my list is gone! They JUST revamped/moved and they are having a hard time getting the new store under control inventory wise...plus I HATE leaving the house these days...I'm becoming a hermit!

So...it's on my list for tomorrow...but I just don't know how much luck I'm gonna have there...

I understand. I'm lucky enough to have 4 TSCs within 45 minutes of me. But I hardly ever go to the closest one (20 minutes away) because they are always out of stock of everything that I need.

 

[EggsForIHOP]

Don't use Valbazen on a bred doe - the label (I think) says for 45 days....but I won't use it on a bred doe at all.

I'm with Roll on that...I don't use Valbazen at all during pregnancy...even though my vet has assured me time and again that it's ok after 45 days.

Here's the info from the data sheet:
Precaution: Do not administer to female cattle during first 45 days of pregnancy or for 45 days after removal of bulls. Do not administer to ewes during the first 30 days of pregnancy or for 30 days after removal of rams.

http://jeffers.naccvp.com/?u=jeffers&p=cvp&m=product_view&id=3690030

Oh yes, got the notes on that memorized But being in the boonies you try to have as much on hand as possible....it saves trips in the long run....and I can't find that either! Darn this summers move and all the stuff I can no longer find!

I feel another HUGE Jeffers order coming on...we do that twice if not three times each year....it usually saves me so much gas and time it's CRAZY just to get things shipped!I may just go ahead and place an order early Monday and spring for the overnight shipping in order to get my Safeguard AND save myself from wasting time....I REALLY have issues with leaving the house anymore...it's just pitiful how home-bound I have become with the critters....I worry while I'm gone until I get back again...no people kids = MUCHO concern for the critters....I'm Queen WorryWort...it's my only duty in life these days

 

[EggsForIHOP]

OKay...she got ivomec, then got it again 10 days later...since she was SO close to kidding I held off on the Safeguard...(which just came anyways) so I started that today and will continue for 3 days total.

After that I intend to mail a fecal sample down to my vet (saving MUCH time driving) and BLESS my vet's heart for letting me mail it to her. If we have any further worm issues we will then of course address them. But the vet recommended the same worming program ya'll did really (holding off on the safeguard til now though) and then sending a sample to see if this is even working for Lucy so we know how to adjust it if need be.

But now what?


I know it's a challenge and a slow process to get weight back on ANY goat...and I know IN MILK it's going to be near to impossible...BUT...

I have to at least get colostrum from her for the kids (last years back up is not enough for me to feel safe with another FF doe due to kid right behind her), and would prefer to keep her in milk AT LEAST for a few more weeks until the next doe kids. I'm not trying to be cheap or greedy - but I do want the best possible nutrition for her boys (clearly this family of goats needs VERY good nutrition). I know until Pomegranate comes into milk this is it, and then we can dry off Lucy.

SO....DOES THIS PLAN SOUND OKAY TO ANYONE? IF NOT HOW WOULD YOU ALTER IT?

1) Milk at 6am, 2pm, and 10pm - I figure 3 milkings set apart offers 3 decent sized meals for her instead of 2 HUGE meals, thus easier on her and me - she's a slow eater...chews each bite 32 times I swear!

2) let her have ALL the alfalfa pellets and grain ration she can handle at each milking/mealtime (I feed a mix of 3parts whole oats, 1 part BOSS, 1 Part calfmanna and 1 part shredded beet pulp and mix that up, then mix it further with alfalfa pellets)

3)Top dress with "magic syrup" at each meal - molasses, Karo, corn oil blend about 20-30CC a meal. Calorie packed tasty goodness she LOVES and helps her to eat a tad bit faster (not much, but she only chews about 20 times each bite with that added)....

ANY OTHER THOUGHTS?????

I just want her to do well and be ready next spring to ROCK the milk stand! I already know this year is gonna bomb big time...but what can I do to improve the odds of her not looking like Skeletor forever????

 

[AdoptAPitBull]

There's no need to milk 3 times a day. If anything, you're going to trick her body into making more milk because it thinks her "kids" (you) need more milk. If you want her to make less milk, milk once a day and relieve any built up pressure by squeezing out a few squirts if the udder is getting hard and sore. Remember, milking burns a lot of calories, so she will naturally look thinner when she's in heavy milk. Graining and supplementing like crazy to play catch up will only trick her body into making more milk. More food for goat = more milk she makes. Now don't starve her, of course, but just don't make every meal an all-goat-can-eat buffet

And I'd not RedCell more than once a day for a week, then lessen to twice a week, then as needed. Too much iron is not good, either.