??Is my goat going into labor??

[Bigwig]

My alpine doe is 148 days into her pregnancy. Yesterday she lay down in her stall and has refused to get up. She also has a small amount of white discharge around her vulva and continually pushes her head against the wall of her stall. She has bagged up a little. Her ligaments have sunken but are still tight. Her appetite is down (but not gone). The babies have moved down a little but I can still feel them.

When should I expect kids?

Thanks in advance!

 

[cassie]

The fact that she refuses to get up sounds more like ketosis than labor. Is she eating? Does her breath have a chemical smell? Goats with ketosis generally don't eat. Ketosis is very serious and the only real cure is kidding. Does with ketosis often cannot push the kids out either. Are you comfortable doing an internal examination? If so, when she is dilated you can go ahead and deliver the kids manually. If you can't do this sort of thing you will need professional assistance. But before you do anything, see if you can get the doe up and see if she can walk normally. If the answer is no, it is time to call the vet. Just so you know, the treatment for ketosis is propylene glycol and labor needs to be induced.

 

[Bigwig]

The fact that she refuses to get up sounds more like ketosis than labor. Is she eating? Does her breath have a chemical smell? Goats with ketosis generally don't eat. Ketosis is very serious and the only real cure is kidding. Does with ketosis often cannot push the kids out either. Are you comfortable doing an internal examination? If so, when she is dilated you can go ahead and deliver the kids manually. If you can't do this sort of thing you will need professional assistance. But before you do anything, see if you can get the doe up and see if she can walk normally. If the answer is no, it is time to call the vet. Just so you know, the treatment for ketosis is propylene glycol and labor needs to be induced.

I’m perfectly fine with reaching inside her if necessary. She has a good appetite though she does not eat as much as she used to. I think the reason why she she cannot get up is that she is so heavy that when she lays down she cuts off circulation in her one of her hind legs because every time she (tries) to stand her left hind leg (which is the one she puts most of her weight on) buckles and she falls back onto the ground.

Thanks!

 

[cassie]

It is really important that you make her get up and walk some every day. Help her if necessary. Will she eat grain? If she will that is good. If she won't, that could indicate some trouble. Hopefully she will kid soon.

 

[Bigwig]

It is really important that you make her get up and walk some every day. Help her if necessary. Will she eat grain? If she will that is good. If she won't, that could indicate some trouble. Hopefully she will kid soon.

She will eat small amounts of grain. I just closed the barn for tonight, so do you think she will be okay until the morning?

 

[cassie]

Probably. You might try giving her some molasses or Karo syrup with a gravy baster. It sounds to me like she is developing a case of ketosis. The less she eats the worse the ketosis gets and the worse the ketosis gets the less she will eat. The molasses or karo syrup will help to break that circle.

 

[Bigwig]

This morning she has started having clumpy poop and her appetite is down. I'll start giving her molasses this morning.

Thanks!!!

 

[enola]

If giving her a dose of molasses doesn't get her back on her feet and acting normal, you NEED to contact a vet. Ketosis untreated can/will kill her.

 

[enola]

Have you given her any molasses yet?

 

[enola]

I hate the suspense.....