Hej from Sweden,
My Frida who we think is between 8-10 yrs old, has started breathing rapidly. She was out with the other goats playing in the stable this evening, the usual, running and just having fun. When I put everyone back in thier boxes, I went to each box for some quality time. I noticed from the door of the box that Frida's sides were moving in and out. It was obvious enough to catch my eye past her two babies playing at the door. As I looked closer, her nostrils were flaring. I have never seen this before in the 5 years we have had her.
I feel it could be her heart or lungs. Any ideas or suggestions. I am really worried about her.
Thanks!
Replies
Hej from Sweden!
Just a quick update on my Frida and her odd breathing pattern... She was out all day yesterday and had a ball and was acting much younger than she is. She is doing just fine! With all her shenanigans, she was breathing normally!
I just have to attach this photo of my Frida being a wild woman, right in front of her daughters Pansy and Poppy! She is the goat rearing up like a stallion!
Thank you for all your comments and concern. I believe Frida will be just fine!
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
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Hej from Sweden !
I understand that Jennifer! I like languages also, I took German , Russian and Spanish in University. Well as you know if you don't use a language, you quickly loose it. I lost much of it but what I have remembered I am happy to have retained it.
Maybe one day you will make a travel to Sweden. Yes, my daughter and I were in 2 ballet companies in the US many years ago. We both still dance but we have changed our dance, she much modern dance and I Middle Eastern dance . But ballet is still in both of our hearts and we enjoy it as much as possible.
What a sweet thing to say! My goats get this dish during the winter months when they are not able to be out and enjoy the greens in the enclosure. Frida seems to be doing well today. She sure likes to worry her mommy ! We have all the goats out today for the first time this Spring ! We and they are so happy. I am working on my post right now and filtering through 220 photos taken this morning. You can see all my girls and boys out and Frida with her daughters.
I am glad you are in our group. Welcome! Enjoy!
Hej from New Jersey!
No, I have never been to Sweden - though I would like to go! I did grow up in South America and I am a Spanish teacher so I like languages and other cultures. Thank you for sharing your photos. I look forward to examining them more carefully when I have time. I find it interesting to learn of people's paths to "homesteading" - or just to goats! You seem to be a ballerina turned goat keeper. Maybe you can teach them a little routine?! We have taught our goats to jump through hoops! It's funny how we can be united by these little creatures. By the way, I would love to be a goat on your farm - what yummy individualized veggie dishes! Is this a daily offerning? I hope Frida is still doing well with no further labored breathing.
Deborah, I have really enjoyed reading all about your adventures in homesteading as well. We grow berries, apples , some veggies and have two goats... a very small operation!
I'm thrilled to be a part of this forum. I'm not very high tech - no facebook, etc. so this is a big event for me. Take care!
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
I can't imagine that you'd ever have this problem in Sweden, but it might be the case for you Jennifer because you're in a warmer climate -- goats do pant and breathe heavy when it gets hot. And it can be very scary. Although these goats originally came from Africa, it seems pretty clear (based on the Swiss markings) that most do have some European blood mixed in there somewhere, and some of them do not handle heat well. We'd only had goats for 3-4 years when we had our goats at a show one summer and it was so hot, I wound up bringing home one of the does early because I was so worried about her. It was close to 100 degrees. I also had a six-month-old kid once that I brought into the house because I was so worried about her in the heat. I try to keep them outside in the shade as much as possible during the summer because it gets so hot in the barn, and there is no breeze, making them even more uncomfortable. We get them outside as early as possible every morning on really hot days. And when it gets really horrid, we even use fans in the barn at night. All of those bodies together generate a lot of heat!
Hej From Sweden!
Thanks for joining this conversation. It's so frightening when one of your animals goes sick or just has unusual behaviors. I love each and every one of my goats and worry about them and always look for the tiniest issues to address immediately.
I thought of pneunonia but there are no other signs and she eats well and enjoys life so much. I will continue to keep a close eye on her. Thanks for the svensk "good luck" ! Are you Swedish or have you had visits to Sweden?
You can see my goats and a bit of Sweden on my blog: http://gullringstorpgoatsblog.wordpress.com
I started year ago in May posting about my goats then it kind of branched out to other things in my life here in Sweden. Enjoy.
Thank you again! I will keep you all posted on Frida's progression and hope that this uncommon breating is just temporary.
I was also hoping that maybe she played to hard yesterday with her babies or stayed too long in the sun. My black goat, Iris had rapid breathing on a particularly hot day recently. It subsided as the sun set. I did look in my goat books for you. There are so many things rapid breathing could be a symptom of - along with other symptoms, of course: pneumonia, poisoning, hardware disease, etc. I'm glad to hear she is better this morning. She has some beautiful kids to take care of! Lycka till!
Hej from Sweden !
Thanks Deborah. This really scared me last night and I couldn't sleep thinking she may have a heart attack during the night. She does exactly like you said, act like she is younger than she is and jumps in the fray or starts one and is quite active.
This morning she seemed fine and I even had her out in our baby yard to watch her breathing and it seemed normal. I will keep a close eye on her and let you know how she is. Thanks again Deborah!
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I haven't seen anything like that, even in my 13-year-old doe, but then she doesn't run and play with the kids either. Maybe Frida just overdid it? If you only see it now and then, it's probably nothing other than her trying to act younger than her age. Last summer I had to lock up my Star because she came into heat and decided to beat the snot out of every doe in the pasture. I was afraid she was going to wind up seriously injured, although she didn't seem any worse for the experience. Let us know how she does.