Weak Newborn Buckling

[she-earl]

My niece is getting into goats. She had a pygmy that had triplets yesterday. The buckling is weak in the rear legs from what she has told me. I have been doing some looking on what we could try. I am not familiar with goats. From what she has told me, I am wondering if it is something along the line of white muscle disease. I will be "kid-sitting" him for the next eight days because she will be teaching Summer Bible School in the city. She is comfortable with us trying anything to help him improve but also realized it might not work. We are dairy farmers and have Muse but not BoSe. I have read that you can give a kid 1/4 cc of Muse. We also have several of the B vitamins but I haven't gotten to the barn office yet to see exactly which ones. They are for injections. Could they also be given orally? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[elevan]

I'm not familiar with MuSe but it looks to be similar to BoSe :/ Hopefully someone with experience with it will come along shortly. I did look up the MuSe dosage and it appears to be:

1mL/200lbs of body weight. Inject subcutaneous or intramuscular

Vitamin B acts faster when given via injection (SQ).

 

[she-earl]

Which Vitamin B and what dosage?

 

[ragdollcatlady]

I have heard not to use MuSe with goats as I believe it is alot higher than what goats should have....I think it was on either the tennessee meat goat website or another big goat producers....I will see if I can find it.

 

[elevan]

I'm not sure that vitamin b will help in this situation, though it will give the kid some usable energy. B complex is 1.25 ml per 25#.

I would probably go ahead and use the MuSe if things start to go further south, it's basically the same as BoSe from what I've been able to find. It's more likely to have an effect on the kid.

eta: Have you called your vet? They're probably your best bet to give you a correct dosage amount of the MuSe for your kid.

 

[ragdollcatlady]

BoSe and MuSe - Vet prescriptions are required for both products. ( MuSe should not be used with goats; it is too strong and is a horse medication. Use BoSe with goats.) Injectable medication for selenium deficiency. Since selenium deficiency exists at different levels throughout the United States, it is critical to follow your veterinarian's directions on the usage of these products, as well as supplemental loose minerals containing selenium. See page 541 of Goat Medicine, by Dr. Mary Smith, for a map of the United States indicating areas of selenium deficiency. Most of the East Coast, down to Florida and westward through the Great Lakes region, plus the West Coast, including California and parts of Nevada and Idaho, are selenium deficient to different degrees. Selenium deficiency shows itself in goats most often in the form of weak rear legs in kids. Older goats look "pathetic," don't put on weight, have weak legs, and generally stay in poor condition and poor health. Selenium deficiency causes Nutritional Muscular Dystrophy (White Muscle Disease).

Selenium is toxic at low dosages, and the dosing margin of safety is narrow. The addition of selenium to feed is controlled by US law. In some areas, producers only need to provide loose minerals containing selenium. In other regions, selenium injections are necessary. When injections are required, they are usually given at birth and again at one month of age (one-half cc IM). Pregnant does usually receive injections four to six weeks before kidding, and bucks usually are vaccinated twice a year. Adult dosage of BoSe is 2-1/2 cc per 100 lbs bodyweight given IM. It is critical that producers understand that selenium supplements must be determined and supervised by your veterinarian because selenium levels vary widely across the USA.

http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles2/goatmedications.html

 

[ragdollcatlady]

But that being said.... I would try it if it looks like you are running out of time or options.....

As far as the B vitamins....complex is good for energy, Thiamine is the particular one that goats tend to need higher doses of if you have just the single B options.

 

[she-earl]

We have Vitamin B complex. Would a steroid help? If so, we have dexamethasone. We have syringes that can measure small amounts for the Muse. I thought no more than .05 for him.

 

[elevan]

A steroid may help but I would consult a vet first. Most vets will consult via phone if you have a good relationship with them.

 

[she-earl]

I just got home with the little guy. He can stand and walk around. However, he seems hutched up some. My niece just noticed before I got him, that he basically has no tail at all. It is only about 1/4 inch or so. I was going to take his temp but it would appear that he may not have an annus. Is that possible? I am going to hold off on giving him anything because if this is the case, nothing is going to help the little fellow.