Post by elia on Jan 16, 2023 10:46:41 GMT -5
I have a beautiful LaMancha doe, Maregold, who, a twelve days ago, showed up with green-brown fluid coming out of her nose. At first I thought maybe she fell in the mud. Next day, no better. On closer inspection, fluid looked and smelled like rumen fluid. Talked to vet, started Banamine. Next day, took her to the university for exam. Yes to rumen fluid. They examined her mouth and tried to put a tube down her throat. It jammed and she reacted badly. They sedated her and put a smaller tube down successfully, then tried the larger one again, thinking maybe the smaller one had cleared a blockage. Larger one went down successfully this time. The vet found swelling in her neck on palpation and ultrasounded, finding edema that was perhaps constricting esophagus. Diagnosis "esophageal dysmotility"... in other words, she wasn't swallowing properly. Suspected trauma to neck. Maybe she got slammed into the edge of the feed manger by one of the other goats? Kicked by a horse? (not likely). So I took her home with fingers crossed, finished Banamine and 5 days Norocillin in case of aspiration, separated her, palliative care, etc.
Now, ten days later, she is still losing condition and not eating very well. She swallows, but occasionally extends neck and coughs, then swallows again... picks at hay and will eat a little alfalfa/beet pulp mash but not much. She is reasonably active but subdued, still wants to go out to pasture, but I fear she is just starving and that I have no solution. I texted the vet today with an update, and she has no ready solution, either. Says to keep feeding her from an elevated level. Says we could scope her esophagus to see if there is something causing an accumulation of feed. There may be nerve damage? She will call me this afternoon to discuss.
Has anyone seen anything like this? My best goat and the sweetest of them all! I do not want her to suffer...
Now, ten days later, she is still losing condition and not eating very well. She swallows, but occasionally extends neck and coughs, then swallows again... picks at hay and will eat a little alfalfa/beet pulp mash but not much. She is reasonably active but subdued, still wants to go out to pasture, but I fear she is just starving and that I have no solution. I texted the vet today with an update, and she has no ready solution, either. Says to keep feeding her from an elevated level. Says we could scope her esophagus to see if there is something causing an accumulation of feed. There may be nerve damage? She will call me this afternoon to discuss.
Has anyone seen anything like this? My best goat and the sweetest of them all! I do not want her to suffer...