My goat is sick?

Question

I have a two month old male kid. He was dewormed, with the rest of the herd, two to three weeks ago, banded on July 12, & tattoed on July 24. He has already had his tetanus antitoxin, also. This morning he didn't get up to eat with the rest of the animals, instead laying there & crying for his mom.

He is very weak and unstable--we took his temperature (It was about 101 degrees F) & turned to read the thermometer, and when we turned back he had fallen off the rock we were sitting on, & was laying on his side in the dirt, unable to have caught himself or get up.

He still wants to eat; he was trying to nurse from his mom when she got close enough where he could drink without having to get up. He tries to get up, but is unable. He's in pretty good condition. This all has developed within the last twenty-four to thirty-six hours. He doesn't seem to be in pain, thankfully, but I really don't want to lose him. What does this sound like? How do I treat it? Is it contagious? Please help!

Answer 1

My first thought was overeating, but you say he's not in pain and still wants to eat. You banded him on the 12th, have you looked at the band? It's really hard to band them in the summer heat, infection can be quite a problem around the spot where the skin is trying to grow together. Check to see that the sack has fallen off and there is no sign of infection, which would make him sick and feverish for certain.  If that looks ok, it's time to call the vet.

ADDED LATER: You say he's post legged and stiff in the back. That's an early sign of tetanus. I know said he had his tetanus shot, but you did not say when. Typically I give the CD&T shot and then another antitoxin shot the day I band, and another one the day I disbud.  If you go out tomorrow and his hind legs are stiff as a board, and he's walking around dragging them... he'll look like his front end is fine but the back end will be frozen, that's tetanus. Give him the ENTIRE BOTTLE of antitoxin. Had that happen once. Vet said a whole bottle for 5 days. I couldn't afford that and did a whole bottle one day and said, live or die kid. He lived, but it was nearly a week before he had full movement back.

Answer 2

He may have eaten something that doesn't agree with him. Its too far along for the worming to be having adverse affects on him. Check your pens for any kinds of odd plants that are poisionous.

You might also want to check his body for snake bites. They can be hard to find. But, its possible.

Since he is too weak to get to his mom and nurse with out her standing over him, you might want to milk her and bottle feed him to make sure that he is atleast getting something to eat.

Please call your vet. Or load him and his mom up and take them in.

Other than that I have no clue of what else to tell you. I hope the little one gets better.