Onion Creek Ranch, Lohn, Texas
Suzanne W. Gasparotto, Onion Creek Ranch, Lohn, TX
Lohn, Texas
Onion Creek Ranch "Chevon, cabrito, goat... No matter what you call it, it is the HEALTHY red meat™
Onion Creek Ranch
BACK TO

Visit us on FaceBook
for current news

COMPLICATIONS OF PREGNANCY

There are many health problems that can impact a pregnant doe. Below are some of the most common ones listed in alphabetic order. The Articles page at www.tennesseemeatgoats.com contains articles detailing diagnosis and treatment for most of these conditions.

Abortions and Vaginal Discharges: Red, brown, or very foul-smelling discharges are not normal and may indicate early termination of pregnancy. Examples of conditions causing abortions include interruption of the fetal blood supply when injured, poor nutrition (insufficient energy), over-feeding (too fat), stress (moving, rapid changing of feed, illness), abortion diseases, toxicity (ingestion of poisonous plants or other substances), surgery, malformation of the fetus during development, and labor-inducing drugs (dexamethasone). The only drug that can help prevent abortions is oxytetracycline 200 mg/ml (LA 200 or generic equivalent).

Cloudburst Pregnancy: False pregnancy or pseudo-pregnancy (hydrometra). Everything about a cloudburst pregnancy is normal except that no kid was formed and a "cloudburst" of liquid comes out of the dam's body at delivery. Infectious diseases like toxoplasmosis and border disease may be the cause, as may certain plant materials that contain phytoestrogens. A more common cause is the chemical alteration of estrus through artificial induction into heat of does by producers who use gonadotrophin-releasing hormones. Cloudburst pregnancy is not a common event.

Congenital and Developmental Defects: Many birth defects are never seen because the doe's body either reabsorbs the embryo in early gestation or aborts the fetus. Visible birth defects appearing at parturition (birthing) include cleft palate, atresi ani, and mummification. Nature culls the deformed.

Cleft palate is a lengthwise split in the roof of the mouth. Atresi ani is no rectal opening. Mummification is a kid whose limbs are *frozen* in place and unmoveable. A dead mummified kid may have to be taken apart in pieces to get its body out of the doe. A live mummified kid may be born but will be unable to move. Cleft palate, atresi ani, and live mummification are conditions requiring immediate humane euthanasia. All three conditions may or may not recur if the same doe and buck are bred again.

Congested Udder: Unlike mastitis, congested udder is readily treatable by applying hot compresses to the udder until the over-filled tight udder softens enough to get useable milk out.

Hypocalcemia: Commonly but improperly called "milk fever," hypocalcemia is an imbalance of calcium occurring just prior to kidding. The first recognizable physical symptom is usually cold and dragging rear legs. This nutritionally-based illness involves hormonal changes that occur in the mobilization of calcium when the doe begins to produce milk. Feeding of calcium-rich hay like alfalfa should be eliminated during the last 30 days of gestation to prevent excess calcium from being deposited in her bones. The dam's body needs to be releasing calcium already stored in her bones for use in milk production. Oral administration of CMPK or MFO solution is recommended.

Mastitis: The infected udder becomes swollen, hard, and hot from bacteria entering through the teats. The milk, if any, is stringy, bloody, and unusable. Cleanliness of pens and feeding areas is critical. Because the udder is an interwoven mass of fibrous tissue that is walled off from the rest of the doe's body, injectable antibiotics cannot get to the source of the infection. Mastitis organisms can become systemic (infect the doe's entire body), so a broad-spectrum antibiotic like prescription Nuflor is recommended. In some breeds mastitis may occur in certain genetic lines. Mastitis is usually chronic (recurring) and therefore a *cull* factor in a meat-goat herd.

Metritis: Infection of the uterus that can occur with retained placenta or dead kids inside the dam. Antibiotics are always required to clear this condition.

No Milk: If the doe has been a good milk producer previously, then the problem is either mastitis or nutritional. Feeding tall fescue grass or hay can cause poor milk production. A non-mastitic freshened doe who is not producing enough milk should be fed a diet high in legume hay (alfalfa or peanut hay) and extra grain rations. An injection of 2 cc oxytocin (vet prescription) may stimulate the doe's milk production. In some breeds, certain genetic lines are poor milk producers.

Periparturient Edema: Swelling of lower legs in long-bred does. Often but not always associated with worm load. Usually occurs when multiple fetuses are taking more nutrition than dam can replace, putting her in a nutritional deficit.

Pregnancy Toxemia and Ketosis: Nutritionally-related metabolic diseases occurring at the end of pregnancy and early during lactation. An improper level of nutrition is the cause. As the dam draws upon her own body's reserves and her tissues begin to starve, deadly ketones are produced. Oral administration of high-energy products such as propylene glycol, molasses, Dyne, or Karo syrup are necessary.

Prolapses: Prolapses of the vagina or the rectum can occur in a doe heavy with kids. Purse-string stitches and prolapse retainers may help. Prolapses recurring in multiple pregnancies means that the doe should be culled.

Retained Placenta: Placental tissue (afterbirth) should be expelled by the doe's body within 24 hours after parturition. Retained placenta can be caused by abortion diseases such as toxoplasmosis or chlamydiosis or can be the result of selenium deficiency in the doe's diet. Tall fescue grass or hay can be the culprit. A prescription oxytocin injection ( 2 cc) may be needed if the placenta has not passed within the normal timeframe. Do not pull the placental tissue out, even if it is dragging behind the doe; doing this can kill her. After a difficult birth, the uterus should be flushed with an antibacterial solution; I use equal parts of oxytetracyline 200 mg/ml and sterile water flushed into the uterus to prevent uterine infection (metritis).

Ringwomb: Incomplete dilation of the cervix. Manual manipulation of the cervical opening should be done by an experienced person -- preferably a vet. The tissue involved is very easy to damage. Ringwomb may be the result of inadequate levels of minerals or hormones.

Uterine Rupture: This condition can occur at any time during pregnancy and is usually the result of being hit. Veterinary help is needed for proper diagnosis. Uterine rupture can occur when help is needed with kidding and the pushing-pulling-rearranging of kids inside the uterus causes a tear. Uterine rupture is often not repairable surgically and the dam will die within 24 to 72 hours.

Uterine Torsion: A twisted uterus is very difficult to fix but repositioning it is the only solution.

If uterine torsion is suspected, vet help is necessary.

After any abnormal or difficult kidding,you should glove up and manually go inside the doe to check for undelivered live or dead kids. Be careful not to disturb the tissues attached to the inside of the doe's uterus. Pregnancy and giving birth are accompanied by great risks, taking place outside under a wide variety of oftentimes dangerous and unsanitary conditions. It is remarkable that more pregnancy- and birthing-related deaths do not occur. There are many things you can do to assist your goats but there are times when vet help is essential.

My website www.tennesseemeatgoats.com on the Articles page contains articles on each of these issues. MeatGoatMania's Archives also contain articles. Print them out, study them, and be prepared to use the information when complications of pregnancy occur in your herd.

Suzanne W. Gasparotto, ONION CREEK RANCH, Texas 3-5-17

Meat Goat Mania
BACK TO ARTICLES INDEX
texas1

Important! Please Read This Notice!

All information provided in these articles is based either on personal experience or information provided by others whose treatments and practices have been discussed fully with a vet for accuracy and effectiveness before passing them on to readers.

In all cases, it is your responsibility to obtain veterinary services and advice before using any of the information provided in these articles. Suzanne Gasparotto is not a veterinarian.Neither tennesseemeatgoats.com nor any of the contributors to this website will be held responsible for the use of any information contained herein.

The author, Suzanne Gasparotto, hereby grants to local goat publications and club newsletters, permission to reprint articles published on the Onion Creek Ranch website under these conditions: THE ARTICLE MUST BE REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY AND THE AUTHOR'S NAME, ADDRESS, AND CONTACT INFORMATION MUST BE INCLUDED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE REPRINT. We would appreciate notification from any clubs or publications when the articles are used. (A copy of the newsletter or publication would also be a welcome addition to our growing library of goat related information!)

Home PageEmail UsSALE BARNPresent and FutureGoatCamp™Myotonic Goats
Tennessee Meat Goats™TexMaster™ GoatsWhich breed is right for you?Health & Management Articles
ChevonTalk Discussion GroupLinksRegistrationMeat Goat Mania

Shop for the Best Discounted Pet, Equine, & Livestock Supplies!

All information and photos copyright © Onion Creek Ranch and may not be used without express written permission of Onion Creek Ranch. TENNESSEE MEAT GOAT ™ and TEXMASTER™ are Trademarks of Onion Creek Ranch . All artwork and graphics © DTP, Ink and Onion Creek Ranch.