Paresis is a complex pathology of pregnant women and postpartum women. Its appearance is due to violation of animal feeding rules. To avoid the development of pathology, it is necessary to follow the doctor’s recommendations. When postpartum paresis occurs in a goat, symptoms and treatment should be analyzed by a veterinarian. If you do not immediately help the animal, there is a high probability of its death.
Causes of paresis in goats
The cause of paresis after childbirth is considered to be a decrease in the amount of calcium in the blood. This substance provides muscle contractions. With its deficiency, trembling in the legs, relaxation or convulsions occurs.The appearance of pathology causes an imbalance of hormones, which leads to problems with calcium absorption.
During pregnancy, the female does not experience a deficiency of the mineral. She can get calcium from food. However, milk production requires large amounts of the macronutrient. Normally, hormones ensure the release of calcium from bones. As pathology develops, problems arise. As a result, calcium enters the milk and is not enough to meet the female’s needs.
Common factors that cause metabolic problems include the following:
- overweight in a female;
- lack of physical activity;
- rumen acidosis.
Signs of the disease
When pathology develops after lambing, the animal begins to move poorly. Then he begins to tremble. The goat has difficulty getting up and does not eat. As the pathology progresses, the animal does not get up, although it tries. At the final stage of the disease, the animal lies motionless. In this case, the head is extended forward and the eyes are closed.
At the final stage, paralysis of the limbs and organs quickly develops - primarily the pharynx and intestines. If the animal is not given the right help in a timely manner, it dies from paralysis of the heart and respiratory organs. This occurs 1-2 days after the onset of symptoms of the disease. That’s why it’s so important to call a veterinarian right away.
Features of treatment of the disease
The disease must be treated with the help of a doctor. This should be done in the following ways:
- administering caffeine or another substance after birth to help support heart function;
- use of "Tetravit" or "Trivit";
- wrapping the animal.
The veterinarian should administer an infusion of calcium chloride with glucose. At the stage of removing the needle, the pet's condition may improve.When therapy is carried out correctly, the goat gets up and starts eating after a quarter of an hour.
The doctor must monitor the animal's condition and wait for it to rise. If it is not possible to achieve improvement within 30 minutes, you need to blow air into the nipples. With this effect, the impulse enters the brain, which helps cope with the signs of paresis.
Further therapy consists of repeated administration of glucose intravenously. The animal also requires infusions of calcium chloride. After which the specialist prescribes intramuscular administration of borgluconate. Calcium gluconate can also be used.
Instead of intravenous injections of glucose, it is permissible to use 200-300 grams of sugar. A therapeutic diet, which should include hay and branches, is of no small importance.
The use of concentrates should be agreed with your veterinarian. You need to start giving such drugs with small portions. They should be increased gradually. Thanks to this, the rumen microflora will have time to adapt to the new diet.
Possible danger
If prenatal and birth paresis is not treated, the animal dies within 1-3 days from the development of the pathology. With timely assistance, the prognosis is favorable. Within a few hours the goat gets to its feet and begins to eat.
Prevention
To avoid the appearance of maternity paresis, you should adhere to the basic rules of prevention:
- launch on time;
- feed the goat correctly before lambing;
- provide her with proper nutrition after childbirth.
2-2.5 months before giving birth, you should stop milking the animal. The launch is carried out smoothly - from 3 months of pregnancy. First you need to reduce the amount of succulent feed and concentrates.If there is a significant decrease in milk quantity, it is recommended to reduce the number of milkings. In this case, the goat should be switched to hay and branches. Giving her treats during this period is prohibited.
A goat's need for food before lambing is minimal. After the birth of kids, it increases significantly. To avoid problems, it is important to avoid frequent mistakes. It is believed that concentrates should be removed from the goat’s diet. This is true during the launch period and for a certain time after it.
Hypoglycemia is considered one of the causes of milk fever. It appears when there is insufficient production of monosaccharide. In addition, it is important to achieve a smooth restructuring of the microflora for lactation. Otherwise, there is a risk of developing ketosis, which can also provoke paresis.
Many new farmers mistakenly believe that goats require calcium supplements during pregnancy. To prepare for lactation, a slight deficiency of the mineral is required. Thanks to this, it will be possible to start the process of its extraction from bone structures. During lactation with high milk yield, products containing calcium and phosphorus are required.
For a week after giving birth, the goat needs to be provided with a gentle diet. It should be dominated by hay and bran. The female spends a lot of fat to produce milk, which leads to weight loss. Therefore, she needs to be given starch concentrates and calcium.
The appearance of postpartum paresis is considered a very dangerous pathology that can lead to the death of the animal.To prevent the occurrence of such problems, it is necessary to consult a veterinarian in a timely manner and strictly follow his recommendations.
