Sometimes farmers are faced with a situation where the goat is not eating or drinking, has no cud, and has a soft belly. This clinical picture can accompany various diseases. These include maternity paresis, mastitis, endometritis and other pathologies. To cope with unpleasant symptoms, it is necessary to give the goat a correct diagnosis. In some cases, it is not possible to do without the help of a veterinarian.
The difference between a sick goat and a healthy one
A sick goat may be lethargic and inactive.Often such symptoms occur after lambing. However, they may not be associated with the birth of cubs. Other manifestations of pathologies include the following:
- increased breathing;
- dyspnea;
- increased heart rate;
- temperature increase;
- cold ears and extremities;
- loss of appetite;
- cessation of milk production.
Main causes of the problem
There are many pathologies that cause unpleasant symptoms. To cope with them, you need to make an accurate diagnosis.
Milk fever
If high-yielding the goat gave birth the third time, she may develop milk fever. This condition is accompanied by paralysis, loss of appetite, and decreased temperature. The cause of the disease is considered to be a lack of calcium in the blood. This element is important for full milk production. The pathology is caused by violation of the rules of feeding goats at the end of pregnancy.
To avoid problems, it is worth excluding bean hay from the diet of a pregnant goat. When using concentrates for feeding, you should limit yourself to bran, which contains a lot of phosphorus. As a result, a slight lack of calcium appears in the blood, which the body can cover by taking it from the bones.
Ketosis
If a goat has stopped eating and drinking, it may be in ketosis. This pathology is caused by an excess amount of proteins with low energy saturation of dry matter. The most common cause of the disease is feeding legume hay to goats. Absorbing excess protein requires energy.
The body secretes it from its fat reserves. The rate of breakdown of triglycerides increases significantly, and they do not have time to oxidize to produce acetic acid. As a result, intermediate compounds called ketone bodies accumulate.
If the blood composition becomes acidic, enzymes are inactivated. As a result, the animal weakens, loses weight, and loses appetite. In this case, multiparous females, which produce a lot of milk, are predominantly affected. Treatment consists of following a diet. It is important to normalize the ratio of energy and proteins. At first, the goat will not produce too much milk, but gradually its productivity will normalize.
Atony of the forestomach
If digestion in the rumen is impaired, there is a risk of problems in the functioning of the proventriculus. In this case, peristalsis suffers, and chewing gum is absent. If the stomach does not work, fiber cannot be digested. Proteins are also not digested and end up in the intestines. This causes the development of putrefactive microflora.
If the goat has lost its appetite, the development of chronic tympany can be suspected. Treatment consists of using ruminators - for example, hellebore tincture. Following a fasting diet is of no small importance.
Mastitis
This term refers to inflammatory lesions of the udder. It can develop as a result of violation of the conditions of detention. The causes of problems are dirt, dampness, and feeding errors. The main nutritional cause of mastitis is considered to be a sharp increase in the volume of concentrates, fresh grass or root vegetables in the diet. As a result, acidification of the rumen and death of microflora are observed. The goat develops swelling in the udder and does not chew grass.
Endometritis
If the goat refuses to eat, the development of endometritis can be suspected. If the pet's feeding is disrupted, the placenta is delayed. This is what causes pathology. The goat is a ruminant animal that needs sufficient fiber and carotene.The last months of pregnancy usually occur at the end of winter. During this period, hay contains too little vitamin A.
In such a situation, the goat after lambing is in a depressed state. She experiences rumen arrest and loss of appetite. To avoid the development of pathology, it is recommended that the female be given hay and branches. To prevent vitamin deficiency, it is worth performing Tetravit and Trivitamin injections every day.
What to do if your goat doesn't have cud
If acute tympany develops, treatment should begin immediately. It is recommended to remove gases from the rumen by inserting a probe. Simultaneously with this procedure, it is worth doing a scar massage. After the gases escape, it is washed with water.
Drug therapy
If you have a problem with chewing gum, the following medications will help ease your stomach:
- "Ichthyol";
- "Creolin";
- "Benzonaphthol."
The amount of the active ingredient must be selected by a veterinarian. It is recommended to mix medications with 1 liter of water. The prepared solution should be poured into the goat’s mouth. To do this, you can use a rubber syringe. Some farmers use Espumisan. This remedy works great against flatulence. Sikaden and Timpanol are highly effective. The dose of the active component should be selected by a veterinarian.
Folk remedies
At home, you can help a goat with hellebore tincture. It is recommended to mix this product with water. To stimulate chewing in an animal, you need to give 1-4 milliliters of the product per day.To eliminate rumen swelling, the daily volume should be divided into 3 parts and given at intervals of 3 hours. The amount of water should be 50 milliliters.
It is important to consider that hellebore is considered a poisonous plant, therefore it is necessary to strictly adhere to the dosage.
Regular vodka is also considered an effective home remedy. It is recommended to give an adult animal a quarter to half a glass of this drink.
In what cases is scar puncture performed?
If drug therapy does not produce results, and the symptoms of asphyxia only progress, puncture of the scar using a trocar is indicated. The procedure must be carried out by a veterinarian. If the technique is violated, there is a risk of developing sepsis or peritonitis.
It is recommended to insert the trocar through the hungry hole in the direction of the goat’s right hoof. After this, you need to remove the stylet and start releasing gases. During the procedure, the hole should be covered with a cotton swab. If this is not done, the goat may faint.
Prevention
To avoid problems, you should adhere to the following rules:
- Limit the amount of flour mixtures and cereals. In winter, 300-400 grams of feed is enough for 1 goat. Drinking plenty of fluids will help facilitate its absorption.
- Succulent grasses and hay should make up more than 50% of the diet. Animals should be fed 2-3 times a day.
- In winter, the goat needs to be fed liquid food for 3 weeks. To do this, she should be given a lot of apples, carrots, and fodder.
Loss of appetite in a goat can be due to a variety of factors. To cope with the problem, it is worth showing the animal to a veterinarian, who will make an accurate diagnosis.
