| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jul 11 2009 : 06:16:44 AM
This past Monday I sold both of Ocho's kids. Ever since she's just been sitting around and her milk has gone way down. Usually by now she would be giving a gallon a day. But it's not even worth milking her now. I don't know if she's depressed about the kids or in heat. Other than this she looks fine.
Then this morning Faith won't come in to the milk room. I have 3 milk stands and Faith, Abby and Ocho are the first 3 in. Faith just stood back and did not even try to come in. So I finally got her up and put feed in and she just looks at it. She just did start having good milk, too. She's one of the 3 that had the nasty milk for awhile. Now it's good and she's getting easier to milk and she does this. I gave her a syringe full of homemade kefir and might give her a shot of Vit. B tonight.
I just don't remember all this last year. I did just worm them all last month, too. Next year they will all get wormed right after kidding. I did not do that this year. They didn't look like they needed it.
Anyway, if anyone has any suggestions I'll try anything. They have baking soda at all times and salt with minerals, too. Fresh water and hay available.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jul 17 2009 : 5:18:52 PM
Tracy, thanks for helping Gena with her question. Sorry. I did not know the answer. But I would definitely call the vet. They will usually work with yoy over the phone.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| shepherdgirl |
Posted - Jul 17 2009 : 12:38:21 PM
If Kris doesn't know the answer to your question, you could try going online to the Veterinarian sites Gena. I check those sites out a lot myself. They're very informative.
"Human" meds can sometimes be tricky to give to animals. Vets use pretty much the same things as Human docs. Some meds are such a blessing (liike antibiotics. I used to save the "leftovers" when my kids were little and give them to the dogs and cats when they were sick with certain things), but other meds, things we think couldn't POSSIBLY be harmful really ARE.
I have learned that Tea Tree oil, which I use on the horses, goats, etc... as well as MYSELF! is EXTREMELY TOXIC to cats!!!!!! It shuts down their liver (and I think the Kidneys). Rarely will a cat survive tea tree oil poisoning.
I know Benedryl and aspirin can be given to dogs. We had a Daschund when I was a kid who got some people meds, but it's been so long ago I don't remember how much we gave him. (He had a sore back often and got stung by bees a lot!) Dosing is the tricky part there. Do you have a vet that's good about giving "Phone advice?" If not, like I said, you might get lucky with the Veterinarian sites. Good luck. Hope you find the info you need.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
| southerncrossgirl |
Posted - Jul 15 2009 : 1:21:38 PM
Cherry, I know this is about goats, but I was wondering about giving your dog benedryl. Someone just has told me about that. My little 5 pound Yorkie is suffering from allergies. How much should I give her, and is it liquid or tablet? How often?
"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes"==Cinderella |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jul 15 2009 : 08:43:18 AM
Cherry, I keep lots of Kao around just for the goats. I might need to give the one little wether another CDT shot. I just gave him another dose of Cydectin and a shot of Vit. B. His jaw is not swollen today but he's just laying around. Any ideas?
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| CherryMeDarlin |
Posted - Jul 15 2009 : 07:07:03 AM
I never realized there were so many "human" medicines you could give animals. Well, I give my little dog Benadryl, but I never would have dreamed you could give a goat Kaopectate!
I love learning something new every day!
~~Cherry~~
http://cherrymedarlin.blogspot.com
"A thing is as simple or as complicated as you make it." --TT Murphy |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jul 15 2009 : 06:05:34 AM
I went to Lowe's yesterday to get lime and I told the guy why I wanted it and he said he's had cattle 20 years now and has never heard of that. He said all lime does is change the ph of the soil. It won't do a thing to the worm larvae. So I didn't get any. I will do a little more research on it. I did get a bag of organic DE. And I will also check into Hoegger's herbal wormer, too. I have ordered from them before.
Oh, he said it might be the feed and asked if it had corn in it. Well, yeah, it has a little cracked corn. He said that's probably where it's coming from. Well, how bout that? I knew I hated to give any of my animals corn but that's just the first ingredient in everything now. I would love to just make up my own but it would cost a fortune. And also soy beans, which I hate, too. And no one around here sells organic so I'd have to order that, too. And as many goats as I have I'd have to charge $15 a gallon for the milk. And who would pay that?
Oh what a mess. What's a girl to do? And I only used to warm my does right after they kidded but didn't do that this year. I think I've learned my lesson and will from now on. I do put ACV in the water about once a month, too.
They all look a lot better. Faith has normal poop now. Sandy's 2 wether kids have runny poop. I gave them Kaopectate last night. But they are all looking better this morning, too.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| southerncrossgirl |
Posted - Jul 15 2009 : 05:13:00 AM
I was wondering if any of ever do Hoegger's herbal wormer. I have been worming mine once a week for the past 2 years. It seems to be working very well.
"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes"==Cinderella |
| shepherdgirl |
Posted - Jul 14 2009 : 11:39:49 PM
They should be better very soon. Liming the pasture is a good idea to kill all the parasites that might still be there. "Time off" will also help. Take a deep breath and keep your fingers crossed!
PS-- this has been a strange year for ME too! I've had goat kids coming out my ears, and I've had to pull lambs from THREE ewes this year. I even had a set of twins coming out AT THE SAME TIME!! I have NEVER seen that before! The little Jacob ewe had her two front legs turned back so my husband, oldest son and I had to work on getting her out. When I lifted up the first lamb's head to see if I could get my hand in underneath her I was SHOCKED to see another face!!! Her brother was VERY impatient and trying to come out underneath her. My husband managed to get the girl out and the boy slipped out easily right after. He's doing GREAT, but, unfortunately we lost his sister two days later. (I think there was damage done from her VERY traumatic birth that prevented her from swallowing.) I haven't had to pull a single lamb in nearly NINE YEARS!! It's just been CRAZY!!!
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jul 14 2009 : 06:19:14 AM
Hey Tracy. I got the rest of the boys up with the rest of them with the help of the grandkids. They got them cornered for me.
I had to give Spot another dose of Cydectin last night, too. He was still a little puffy. He looks good this morning. I put their salt and soda out there, too.
I was talking to a friend yesterday and she suggested liming the pasture out back while they're all off of it. So I will go to town and get some. Also some DE. Thanks for reminding me about that.
I am just sick of all this. I have never had so many goat problems. I hope they will all be ok now.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| shepherdgirl |
Posted - Jul 13 2009 : 8:03:53 PM
Sounds like you got things under control Kris. That's good.
You know, one thing you might try to add to their feed-- and it WON'T hurt them at all!! it actually contains a lot of natural minerals that are beneficial to the animals-- is Diotomacious Earth. Just a sprinkle over their feed or mixed in with their minerals will help break the worm life-cycle. When the worms come out in the droppings, or when the larvae hatch in them, the little nasties will be cut to shreds and they will dry up and die, thus, breaking the hatch/re-infest/breed/make the goats sick/pooped out/ hatch.... etc....... cycle. I give it to MY animals and haven't had to do hardly any "Commercial" worming in YEARS!
You do have to be careful not to let them (or YOU) breath the dust, as it can be a lung irritant. I use the garden grade myself. You can also use the "Food" grade that you get at the health food stores, but you'll pay A LOT more for it. I was told the "Pool" grade was not safe, but I've heard conflicting opinions on that. It was MY understanding that pool grade DE had other things in it-- making it UNSAFE for ingestion-- but I've also been told that the ONLY difference is in the size of the Particals of the DE. Pool grade is supposed to be a BIGGER size and possibly more liable to irritate the insides if taken internally. Personally, I stick with the Garden grade. One box costs less than $10 and lasts a LOOOONG time! Just a thought. I hope everyone is feeling even BETTER tomorrow!!! ~~~ Tracy
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jul 13 2009 : 2:53:09 PM
Gena, I am not totally sure but it's an overload of certain kinds of worms and they end up in the jaw and it's very puffy and soft. If not treated they can die. You can google it and learn more. It's very serious and scary. I had never seen it but read about it somewhere. And when I saw Holly with the puffy jaw I just freaked out big time. At first I thought bee sting then called a friend and she said bottle jaw and treat asap or else. She is better but then her son just got it the other day. He's better but then the other little wether I just had to give him another shot of Cydectin. So he's had 3 doses the last 3 days. He's still puffy a little. But not as bad.
I just got most of the kids up front in the chicken yard. We put up higher fencing just now so they won't get out into the garden. And I put the cows out in the pasture awhile ago. Then put the does out there, too. I need to rest the pasture out back for a month or so then put the does back out there. This way I cam rotate. I haven't been able to do that. And there are so many goats in a small area. Now they'll all have room.
There are still 3 boys out back I couldn't catch. So I told everyone after dinner we're having a goat roundup and move 'em outta there.
I am pooped now. It's hot.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| southerncrossgirl |
Posted - Jul 13 2009 : 1:35:04 PM
Yes, thanks I am much better. I wanted to mention that I have never heard of "bottle jaw". What is that?
Glad they are all better!
"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes"==Cinderella |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jul 12 2009 : 10:24:12 AM
They are lots better. In 2 more weeks they get another kind of wormer.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| Alee |
Posted - Jul 12 2009 : 08:56:16 AM
Glad to hear your goats are feeling better, Kristin!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Jul 12 2009 : 07:19:34 AM
Gena, I am not totally for sure but it was probably a worm infestation again. I had noticed one of the wethers just kind of laying around but thought he just missed his brother that I sold last week. Well, one of the other bucklings had bottle jaw. He is a son of the doe that had bottle jaw last month reaaly bad. I had wormed them all then but failed to do it again 2 weeks later. So I got them ALL wormed again with Ivermec and the 2 boys also got Cydectin thes morning. I thought the little wether wouldn't make it but he's up this morning. I was surprised to see him up. Faith also looks better this morning.
I have got to get them moved from out back quick. We are getting the fence fixed where the cows were hopefully the first part of this week. Then I'll expand the chicken yard so I can put some does out there awhile. I'll put the bucks and wethers out in the pasture with the cows. Then the pasture out back can rest for awhile.
I need to sell some of my does, too. I just have too many and not enuf room for them all.
Are you all better now after your surgery? And I hope your goat is better, too.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| southerncrossgirl |
Posted - Jul 12 2009 : 03:23:16 AM
Hi Kris, I don't know if you remember or not, but my Sarah did the same thing. I believe now that she ate some type of weed or something that didn't agree with her. I put her in with my wether and watched her for a few days. That way I could see how much she was eating. I also made sure she had plenty of baking soda and gatorade in her water.
I sure hope it will not be anything serious!
"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes"==Cinderella |
