When you have so many critters, it's only a matter of time before someone is in need of the doctor.
This year, our first emergency visit goes to one of our yearlings: a doe.
It's never fun when things like this happen, but it's par for the course.
When you have farm animals, you're on call 24/7/365. You're mending fences in the middle of a nighttime ice storm, because there's no better time for a break to happen. You're giving lifesaving injections in the middle of a downpour, because you're on a tight medication schedule. You're handfeeding a struggling chick when bedtime was two hours ago, because there's always that one that doesn't take well. You jump out of bed at 3 am because you heard a ruckus in the coop. It's never ending.
 |
| Baby photo! She was roughly 2 weeks old in this photo. |
How It Progressed...
She was acting a bit withdrawn for a few days, which I assumed was a bit of a mood.
She was raised by me and loves people. However, she has spells where she's not as affectionate as usual; she's much like a cat, if you will. Either or, I keep an eye on goats when they act this way even though this can be a common occurrence.
On about day three of this, her stool loosened. I knew it was time to keep a close eye on her, just in case. Just like us, a little more rarely however, goats can get loose stools. I'm not referring to full scours, but a firm cow patty. For some of you, this may sound strange to keep a record of, or to mention at all; for the goat keeper, they know how serious of a difference that can be. Loosened could be a plant that didn't agree with them, or a diet that was a little richer, not always a cause for concern. Not unless you notice other vague symptoms, like a subtle change in disposition. Which is precisely why it put me on alert.
On the fourth day, her stool returned to normal, as expected. However, I got my confirmation that something was seriously wrong. She was running a fever of 105 and was more lethargic. I knew a vet visit was in store for the weekend; but at least it wasn't a Saturday afternoon, thankfully! Goats always seem to get sick on a Saturday afternoon, when the vet is closed. I knew antibiotics were going to be necessary no matter which direction it goes- I'm hoping that it's simply pneumonia, as I expected (and the vet, who had a hard time locating rattling with her stethoscope.)
The next morning when I called the vet to get worked in, she had developed hollowed sides from a reduced appetite (she was still eating, just not as much. Goats are good at hiding these symptoms until it's too late.) She also began refusing to drink. She was rapidly breathing, but it's HOT here. All of them are breathing rapidly- so that symptom would have gone unnoticed.
 |
| My sweet girl getting in on a photo. |
Silent Pneumonia: A Rapid, Quiet Cause of Loss Within Herds
*Goats don't always have obvious pneumonia symptoms. Silent pneumonia is a common cause of fatalities in goat herds. They are prey animals; they hide illness well. *
I wasn't trying to yell- but for all of you who are new to goats, or are considering goats, always err on the side of caution. You'll see that symptoms of goat pneumonia include rapid breathing, struggling to breathe, rattling in the lungs, fever, diarrhea, head pressing, withdrawing from the herd, depression, lethargy, loss of appetite, refusal of water, and more. This does not mean they'll display all of these symptoms. If you have a fever registering on a rectal thermometer, be concerned about pneumonia (OR their temperature is below normal, our last case ran low, not high.) Fever can also indicate the start of listeriosis which is much more serious, which is why it's important to schedule a vet visit. Both are highly fatal untreated, and both have different courses of treatment; and as you may imagine, early intervention significantly increases the chances of successful treatment.
Side Note: In listeriosis, the chances of recovery are only 30%. Unfortunately, we have a 50% success rate even with early intervention, but that's with round the clock treatment. I say unfortunately because you cannot save them all, and I wish I could have. That's the part that absolutely sucks about farming; days of lost sleep, endless syringes, more work involved than a newborn human; just to lose them on day 5 of treatment. It stings. Bad.
 |
| This girl was our first case of listeriosis- after two weeks of continuous, round-the-clock care, she turned around. She made a 100% percent recovery, and you'd never know she was in that state when you look at her now! |
This yearling was already seriously ill, and she only had a fever (which I only checked for due to lethargy,) loosened stool that already resolved, lethargy, and had a subtle change in disposition. This could be impossible to notice for someone who keeps a larger herd of goats that isn't socialized. I know my girls and guys; I know them very well. I know when something isn't right- and it pays off significantly.
Of course, if I hadn't acted quickly, it could have very quickly progressed into some of these other symptoms. Or maybe not. This is the second case of pneumonia that we've ever had, and I've never seen the more obvious signs of pneumonia. For some, they just get quiet, run a fever, and pass away after some time. This is why it's called "silent" pneumonia, and why it's so lethal. Some farmers don't notice that a goat is hanging back- by the time the goat is down, they can bloat. Bloating without quick intervention is fatal as well; a down goat is a very serious situation.
It's also why I never want to own unsocialized goats, or goats that aren't "in your pocket." Even bucks! I need to know everyone's personality, quirks, bad habits, everything. I still pick up on these things in goats that aren't social, but it's so much easier when I can freely evaluate them without going on a wild goat chase. Know your goats, know the symptoms, if something seems wrong & your intuition sends off alarm bells, you're probably right.
 |
| The day she was born. Her mother is such a wonderful doe- she definitely gets her personality from her mother! |
Treatment for Our Doeling with Silent Pneumonia
The primary treatment for pneumonia is a strong antibiotic. Nuflor is what we used the first time, and Draxxin is what was used this time.
She also received a steroid (Dex) to help her fight the infection, and Banamine for pain and fever. We have lots of these medications on hand, but I didn't have any of the antibiotics I needed for pneumonia, which is why the visit was so important. Without antibiotics, chances are high that I would have lost her, so this was an emergency situation for her.
 |
| She's been in my personal bubble since the day she was born; I love a sweet goat. |