Post by mommaof10 on Mar 17, 2009 23:38:40 GMT -5
Our Alpine doe went into labor today, 6 days late. Everything looked fine until we saw the feet and knew that a) the kid was presenting upside down or b) the kid was breech.
We've never had to help deliver a malpositioned birth so this was new territory for us. I called some goat friends but received voicemails. As one person was calling me back a third hoof and a nose presented so now instead of a breech birth, we were dealing with tangled twins both trying to birth at the same time.
The breeder we bought the doe from tried to walk us through pushing one twin back in and pulling the other, but my daughter (20 yrs old) wasn't sure enough to continue. She tried but I think was afraid of hurting her doe by doing something wrong. So, we made the decision to drive the 25 minutes to the vet.
We saw a new vet straight out of vet school. She refused to allow us in the room so we could observe and learn. The vet we have dealt with before was not in the office this afternoon.
She was able to push the head first kid back in, deliver the breech kid and then deliver the 2nd kid. They are both does weighing about 7 lbs.
The breech doeling is weak but appears to be gaining strength slowly. We've been bottle feeding her colostrum.
The other doeling is strong and doing well. My daughter says that it appears that her jaw may be out of alignment as it is cocked to the side some. I haven't seen it as I had to be away this evening. We are also bottle feeding her colostrum.
Our intention is to dam raise the doelings, but it's possible they may end up being bottle fed if we're not able to get them to nurse. Our one doeling from last year was bottlefed because she absolutely refused to nurse.
We are giving the doe 6 cc Pen G today and for up to 3 days according to the vet, to be cautious with uterine infection since we had to be intrusive. The vet suggested a Tetanus AntiToxin as well. Is that really necessary? I know the breeder kept her up on her shots before we purchased her in September.
Any suggestions on what to do with weak kids from traumatic deliveries?
Any suggestions on the doeling's jaw?
Thanks for any suggestions y'all may have.
Mommaof10
PlymouthRockRanch.com
Recording the Faithfulness and Provision of God for Future Generations
We've never had to help deliver a malpositioned birth so this was new territory for us. I called some goat friends but received voicemails. As one person was calling me back a third hoof and a nose presented so now instead of a breech birth, we were dealing with tangled twins both trying to birth at the same time.
The breeder we bought the doe from tried to walk us through pushing one twin back in and pulling the other, but my daughter (20 yrs old) wasn't sure enough to continue. She tried but I think was afraid of hurting her doe by doing something wrong. So, we made the decision to drive the 25 minutes to the vet.
We saw a new vet straight out of vet school. She refused to allow us in the room so we could observe and learn. The vet we have dealt with before was not in the office this afternoon.
She was able to push the head first kid back in, deliver the breech kid and then deliver the 2nd kid. They are both does weighing about 7 lbs.
The breech doeling is weak but appears to be gaining strength slowly. We've been bottle feeding her colostrum.
The other doeling is strong and doing well. My daughter says that it appears that her jaw may be out of alignment as it is cocked to the side some. I haven't seen it as I had to be away this evening. We are also bottle feeding her colostrum.
Our intention is to dam raise the doelings, but it's possible they may end up being bottle fed if we're not able to get them to nurse. Our one doeling from last year was bottlefed because she absolutely refused to nurse.
We are giving the doe 6 cc Pen G today and for up to 3 days according to the vet, to be cautious with uterine infection since we had to be intrusive. The vet suggested a Tetanus AntiToxin as well. Is that really necessary? I know the breeder kept her up on her shots before we purchased her in September.
Any suggestions on what to do with weak kids from traumatic deliveries?
Any suggestions on the doeling's jaw?
Thanks for any suggestions y'all may have.
Mommaof10
PlymouthRockRanch.com
Recording the Faithfulness and Provision of God for Future Generations