constipated goat?

[taraann81]

I have a 4-6 week old Togg cross wether. He had been doing fine, until yesterday he seems constipated. It started last night he would sort of squat and seem to strain but nothing would come out. He has continued this this morning. He has been eating about 500mls 3 times a day. He has hay available all the time and I offer him grain twice a day which he doesn't touch,

He has not been wormed and does not have his shots yet.

I called my vet about shots and deworming and since his back ground is mysterious the vet said to wait until the end of the month to give shots and worm him, since she said the shots would be useless if given before 6 weeks of age and we are not sure how old he is.

She also said it wouldn't hurt to wait to worm him until he gets his shots.

Could this be a symptom of worms?

Any ideas whats going on?

 

[username taken]

oh dear, I dont like constipation

is he managing to pass any faeces at all, or is he completely blocked?

I would probably give him some oil (normal cooking stuff), I dose an adult doe with 50ml so I'd probably give this kid 5-10ml. Hopefully it will have a nice laxative effect. Molasses water is another good one.

If he really struggles, you can give an enema with soapy water basically, the soap just irritates the crap out of the bowel (literally!)

It wouldnt hurt also to call your vet about it.

Dont let it get too advanced; it can and will kill them.

I'm heading off to bed, its 1.30am here. Best of luck with your little guy, I'll be thinking of your both

 

[taraann81]

Well I gave him some oil. I thought I would have to trick him in to taking it but he slurped it right up. I am going to keep a close eye on him for the next little while and if I don't notice any improvement I will call my vet. If it means anything at all he is still very active and playing around and his temp is normal. So at the very least he still FEELS good.

What would cause constipation? Maybe he isn't drinking enough. He always has water available but he only seems to drink it in the morning and then through out the day he only drinks it if I go up to the water and splash my hand in it.

Since we got our new little doe he has been eating so many new things. Before he wouldn't even touch his hay, now when ever she is eating something he gets really nosey and is trying to take what ever she is eating out of her mouth.

I wonder if goats know what is good for them? I have so many trees and bushes and weeds around, I am not sure which ones is safe for them too eat. I do notice that they bypass some weeds to get to others so I hope they are smart enough not to eat anything that will make them sick.

If this isn't the case I guess I have to brush up on some botany information!

Thanks for the advice username taken

 

[griffin45]

You didn't say what you are feeding him as milk replacer, but what ever it is try adding a tablespoon of fresh yogurt to the mix. Yougurt will not fix an existing problem though. If the regular vegetable oil does not work, try the same amout (5mL) of mineral oil. A kid that age will not last long when they get plugged up. Our set of 4 nubian boys took turns getting plugged up and we used mineral oil quite successfully. (after which we started the yogurt regimen and had no other problems.) I did feed each one in the kitchen if I thought there was a problem (easy to see what they excrete on linoleum). My wife and I are not sqeamish though.

Have a great day!

Chris

 

[countrybum]

He needs to be on Calf Manna feed and milk replacer until he is about 3 to 4 months of age, longer if you want. He is a baby not an adult goat and should not be eating adult food yet. The feed could be what is compacting his system. You did right with the oil, but I would get him to the Vet ASAP, forget the end of the month.

 

[username taken]

Quote:
um, no ... he should be eating solid feed NOW, in fact he should be eating solid food two weeks ago. If you raise bottle babies correctly they will begin to eat a small amount of solid food from 1 week old. I dont know what you mean by 'adult food' but they should have access to good cereal or grass hay, and a grain that is at least 16% protein, preferably 18 - 20% protein. I have used calf pellets and a high protein horse mix at various times. Eating solids is the best thing a bottle baby (or any baby on a milk diet) can do; it is the biggest factor in developing the rumen until it reaches a functional state. Restricting access to solid feed delays the development of the rumen, and delays weaning time. I wean bottle babies at 6 - 8 weeks, provided they are eating solid feed and weigh 10kg (lambs and kids). I have weaned some as young as four weeks. And you cannot pick between my dam raised and bottle raised kids. Taraan's kid has had a setback, with not the best kid rearing environment early in his life, which is why he is slower in eating solid feed, but he will learn quicker than you think now he has someone to copy

Taraan, another thing I forgot to suggest is a raw egg and a table spoon of glucose sugar in his feed - I use this mainly for weak kiddos who need a boost, and it does that really well, but always makes them squirt out the back end, so its worth a shot in this situation.

Quote:
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It means a WHOLE lot - means you arent at critical stages yet, which is good, you've caught it early.

Quote:
They do to an extent, but we see a lot of poisoning in naive goats - and your kid is bound to be naive because of his upbringing - hasnt been socialised by older goats. I would certainly get a botany book and check out what you have around. Particularly when they are first trying solids they mouth at a lot of different things, and I know a girl who lost her bottle baby (Angora) after she simply mouthed a leaf of oleander. Better safe than sorry.

As far as what is causing the constipation, could be a range of things, bacterial/viral infection, dehydration, your milk replacer (what is the protein, fat levels, does it have any soy?) ... the list is long and thats why I suggest speaking to the vet.

 

[countrybum]

Oh, interesting. My neighbor raises bottle babies (25 years now) and she gives a bottle until they are close to 3 months old. She also feeds a pelleted Calf Manna for baby goats and as far as I know, she has never had a problem.

Thanks for informing me that I was not correct. I guess everyone has their own way of doing things. To each their own.

Anyway, good luck with the baby.

 

[username taken]

3 mths is the conventional weaning age, and its easier to do it till then, but if you do it right and get good at it, you wont have any problems weaning at 8 weeks, and once you get it spot on perfect you can wean at 6 weeks. Weaning at 12 weeks is fine, and many years ago I did it as well. But the people that say they need to nurse until 6 mths ... well that is just a waste of time and money, and honestly the kid doesnt need the milk at that age and it will delay their introduction to solid feed.

the Calf Manna is correct ... I believe that is a very high protein grain mix? I leave the grain and hay and water out for them from day one ... you would be surprised how early they will take it.

 

[Chatychick]

I dont wean my doeling, large goats...till they are 4 mths old as this helps with their weight and growth. Now wethers I wean at 8 weeks old as they are pets and dont need the extra calories. If they are to stay a buck they get their bottles till 4 mths. Yes they have feed and hay all the times and even alfalfa pellets.

 

[taraann81]

Okay guys I was trying to be very stringent in what they eat. I have only fed what has been suggested to me by people who know ALOT more than I do. I hope I am not doing anything that is putting this baby in danger.

His milk replacer(no need to tell me it is dangerous and whole cow milk is better I have done my research and feel that kid replacement milk is the right way to go for me, even if this is not the right brand)
The label reads. Protein from milk source is 22%
Crude protein is 22%
It doesn't list the ingredients so I am not sure about soy content it says a list of ingredients is available from the manufacturer.

It is called GROBER nutrition Kid milk replacer Kid-Gro.

From what I have read and since I don't know his age I was planning on weaning when he hits 20lbs instead of by age. If this is incorrect please advise me.

He has moved his bowels since the oil administration but I worry about him now. I am by training a nurse and feel comfortable giving him an enema if need be.

I love this little guy already and he had such a tough start in life I just want him to be okay.