Bloat in goat - when do you know it's truly over?

[JSwan]

Note - goat is comfortable and I've worked with my vet - but it's Sunday and I didn't think to ask him this question. Don't want to bother him.

My pygmy goat came in with bloat and I immediately treated her with a solution of baking soda, gas pills, and massage. She started burping. Vet suggested 1cc of banamine and I gave her that as well.

I dosed her three time yesterday, last time around 7pm. This morning I dosed her again at around 6am. No grain of course - just a little grass hay and water. Mr. Goat is with her in their goat stall - he's very old and is having trouble getting around.:no:

Also more massage - though I didn't massage her this am. Her rumen is no longer distended, though to my eyes she's still a little bigger than she usually is. But no teeth grinding, she's walking around, alert. Drinking and pooping.

I'm wondering when I can start to relax and know it's over. Don't want to let down my guard or start letting her out on grass for a few minutes and then have her relapse.

Thanks for any feedback.

[cutemudhorse]

It sounds like she's 'better' but I'd still watch her til I'd talk to the vet. Take care.

[Bluey]

Did you address why she is bloating?

Generally, if it is true bloat you have there, not something else, is from a mismatch of the different kinds of bacteria needed to process the food they eat, OR something in the stage of what weeds/grasses they are eating that was concentrated in the stage of growth, like after a frost or cloudy day.
Try buttermilk, if you don't have access to probiotics.

One year, our wheat pasture was so bad in the frosty mornings, that for two weeks we took the cattle off at night and put them on hay and special bloat supplement and didn't put them back on until mid morning, or they would have bloated so bad some would have died.

Some animals are more prone to bloat and if they keep repeating once they start, no matter what you do, their survival is questionable.
As you know, part of good animal husbandry is to know when to hold them, when to fold them and be proactive, not only for the sake of your worry, time and expenses, but because it is better not to wait for a terminal crisis and have the animal have to go thru that.

Sounds like you are doing all you can do for now, so just to keep watching the goat, as you say you are doing, will help you be there if she repeats or something else happens.

Good luck.

[fivehorses]

I have a pet goat. I don't have a 'goat vet', and if I had to rely on my horse vet, well, let's just say, not sure they know much about goats.

So, what is the recipe for different aliments for goats?

If anyone can help or point me in the right direction, it would be appreciated.
thanks, and good luck with your goat jswan.

[JSwan]

Thanks, all.

I think she got it from the extremely lush grass. Not an obstruction. The weather here has been absolutely crazy.

I've been doing my best to manage for just this possibility. Probiotics, hay, limited access at certain times a day, keeping baking soda available 2/47... the works. Cattle, pigs, horses and the other goat are ok. Guess she drew the short straw. :no: Her age may be a factor; both goats are old.

I just came in from checking on her and she seems to be better.

fivehorses - If you don't have a real large animal vet available I'd suggest looking at the Storey books on caring for various species. There is at least one on goats, maybe more if they have books for dairy and meat goats. I think they also publish a book on vet care organize by species. Another option might be joining a goat BB or a homesteading BB. There are a lot of household products you can keep on hand to treat many goat ailments.

Not a substitute for a vet of course but it's certainly helpful to have on hand. Good luck with your goat.

[CB/TB]

I keep baking soda, free choice available and refill the feeder when empty. It helps the rumen work. The dairy goat journal is a good periodical with lots of helpful info.

[JSwan]

I've done that for years - this is the first case of bloat. I buy 50lb bags at the feed store. Also great for deodorizing stalls - I tip I picked on this BB.

[LMH]

OH no. I have 4 goats (now-had others over the years).

I am NO goat expert but I did have a goat with bloat.

Sadly she had frothy bloat and did not make it.

I understand dry bloat is not as severe.

I hope you goatee gets better soon.

[Alagirl]

50 lbs bags of baking soda?! :eek:

Oh the soda rockets my son could make with that!!! (and the laundry I could do....)

Glad to hear ms Goat is better...

(I heard that in cows, maybe goats as well, you can actually puncture the rumen to let the gas out....:eek:)

[Bluey]

50 lbs bags of baking soda?! :eek:

Oh the soda rockets my son could make with that!!! (and the laundry I could do....)

Glad to hear ms Goat is better...

(I heard that in cows, maybe goats as well, you can actually puncture the rumen to let the gas out....:eek:)

Yes, in cattle, if they are dying on you and you can't do other right then, you can use a trochar, that is a punch that has a sleeve that stays in the hole to keep it open long enough to let the pressure off.

We have also used a big needle, but it is slower.
Really, you hope you never have to go there.
Just run them around as you are trying to catch them or driving them to pens to treat, no time to be gentle, you do want them to bounce the innards around a little, so they belch.
When you get them caught, run a hose down and let the air out, if you have medicine or oil or something, put it in there thru the hose.
Try to keep them off food for half a day and hope for the best once they eat again.

We have had a few cattle bloat most every year, but in all the years we had the goat dairy, we never had one of them bloat.
They were on feed and their goat trap didn't have much else to eat, they kept it eaten down very good.
We were lucky.

I hope JSwan's goat will be fine.:)

[Alagirl]

Ah, yes, foggy memory....saw it done in a TV movie, way back when, with my eyes popping out of my head....war times, sole cow, needed for milk and work (lost it to the soldiers anyhow, poor folks) :cry:

[JellyBeanQueen]

After a bout of the bloat (regardless of cause) they usulay begin eating and pooping more regularly. Distention means that there is still some gas left and some times Olive Oil will help that. If this was a severe incident you want to introduce grass hays for a little while and gradualy increase grains (if fed grains) and limit legume and rich foliage. Usualy after such a bad bout of bloat it takes 2 to 4 days to totaly recover. I would monitor her closely and let her have water and grass hay for a little while then add feed slowly to her diet. Keeping a vit./min and baking soda box out for the goats is a good idea esp the baking soda if you do not have one all ready. I dont let the horses intake the goat vit and baking soda boxes (they are kept in the goat stall) I have a Alpine/Nubian wether, and a rather large pigmy.

[CB/TB]

I just have 3 goats at home and buy the large bag of Baking soda at Sam's or BJ's. Not 50 lbs, but lasts a long time. I keep it in the house for my needs as well and refill the goat dish as they empty it.

[fivehorses]

I guess I am adding a bucket for baking soda! thanks.