i am so over my head with these goats

[bj taylor]

this last month has been rough. first the injured girl - who by the way is doing fine - except she has a very ugly purple splotch all over her right flank (if anyone want to know - blu kote stains like no other). Then their poop goes to heck & I find out they have worms AND cocci. let me tell you, putting oral medication that tastes like a turpentine pit down eight goat's throats without a chute for 7 days in a row is quite the performance. STILL the poop is not up to par. who knew I would be obsessing over an animal's poop. so back to the vet who tell me the cocci is gone (thank the Lord!), but the barberpole worms are still high & in his quiet way he tells me the previous vet under dosed them (in the goat world - parasites resistant to medications is a big issue). SO, retreat with a one time dose, (not the week think like with the cocci problem - again thank the Lord!).
TODAY, they're coughing! i'm so afraid they have aspiration pneumonia from the oral medication rodeo. we were careful not to let their head tip up, but why else would they be coughing? UGH! it's goat hell around here.

 

[so lucky]

I wish I could help you, but I know less than nothing about goats. Hang in there; it will get better.

 

[897tgigvib]

Count me in on your cheering section BJ. I don't know anything about goats, but


you can do it
you can do it

you can do it to it!

 

[thistlebloom]

It could likely be just a minor throat irritation from being dosed so often.

Is there a friendly goat breeder nearby who wouldn't mind mentoring you a bit? It would be nice to have an experienced ear to ask some questions to.

 

[canesisters]

Aww, so sorry that your having all this trouble.
Do you happen to have a stethascope (sp )? You could listen to their lungs and see if things sound clear or not. Those, and a good thermometer, are handy things to have around a barn.
Stupid question.. but have you been on BYH yet? I'm sure there are loads of people there with goat experience.

Hang in there, you're in that terrible 'first year' learning curve. You'll all make it out in the end - and you'll have gained a TON of knowledge.

 

[Jared77]

It could likely be just a minor throat irritation from being dosed so often.

That's my first thoughts too. 7 days of wrestling to get meds down their throat I'd be surprised if there wasn't some irritation.

If there isn't any change in their overall behavior, no real big change in appetite I'd think your ok. Give it a couple more days before you really start to worry about the coughing.

I'm sorry your having such a tough go round with them.

 

[catjac1975]

A former neighbor of mine gave her sickly goat probiotics and found a lot of general health improvement by doing so.

 

[journey11]

Sorry you have had such a discouraging time, BJ, and that things have not started out smoothly. If you can just get them well again, you will begin to get the enjoyment out of them. Hang in there!

 

[bj taylor]

I think i'm going to do like catjac says & give them probiotics. after this medicine, their guts have to be out of balance.

thank y'all so much for the encouraging words. this morning, poop was better. maybe we're headed in the right direction.

 

[baymule]

BJ, a big hug and some support. Sorry you are in goat hell, it's like learning to swim by jumping in the deep end! Animal health is so much harder than our own. They can't "talk" so we have to be attuned to them. I am sending you a web site that is all about immunity and health, both for people and animals. My horses got sick, sick, sick one winter, with green snot, deep wracking coughs and medications were not even touching it. In desperation, I searched the web and found this site. A 3 pound bucket of the stuff was $249, expensive, but maybe cheaper that 6 dead horses. So I ordered it-the day it came in, I dosed them with it, the next morning and that evening. The 3rd day, they were MUCH better and I finished out the whole bucket. They made a full recovery. I believe in this stuff. It is made with colostrum and egg yolks.

This might help your goats overall health and build their immunity to the point that they can fight off sickness without expensive vet bills. We all love our animals, and we all want them to be healthy, but sometimes it makes you wonder why you even have them. You will get through this and you will be able to enjoy your goats.

http://www.transferfactor-us.com/