Difficult birthing

[Tammy Lee Birrer]

Hi all,

Need some advice on what to do for my doe after a difficult birth.  She had one by herself and the second kid was not coming so I had to go in all the way and turn the head around. One leg was forward and I couldn't fine the other at first, but I did find the back of the head and had to reach around it at turn it forward. She stayed laying down for a long time.  After about maybe an hour, she got up.  I gave her warm water with molasses. The kids are fine and both nursed and on both sides of the udder. 

What else should I do for her?

It's 1:21. I am going to bed and will check this later. Thanks, Tammy

[Deborah Niemann-Boehle]

For the Biomycin, you can give 3 cc per 100 pound daily or 4.5 cc per 100 pounds every 36 hours, which is what I prefer. I'd rather stick them less often! If you give them the shot immediately after the birth, two injections has worked for me, but since you've waited a day, you might want to do three. I like to use 20 g syringes for goats, and this is a subQ injection, so IMO, the shorter the needle, the better. I use 1/2 inch if I have it for subQ, because it's just too easy to go in one flap of skin and out the other side if you have a long needle. If your goat winds up with sticky yellow liquid in her hair at the site of the injection, you know that's what you did. The first time I did that, I actually thought it had leaked out. :)

Tammy Lee Birrer said:

Thank you, I will look for this. What is the dosage and what size needle do you recommend?

Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:

Normally, if you have to go in, antibiotics are recommended because you've introduced bacteria into the uterus. Penicillin or Biomycin (oxytetracycline) are good. I like Biomycin better than LA-200, because it's the same drug, but LA-200 stings badly! The first time I gave it to a goat, I thought I'd killed her the way she screamed and rolled around!

If you're into homeopathy, arnica is good for anything that could cause bruising.

Congratulations on the babies!

[Tammy Lee Birrer]

Thank you, I will look for this. What is the dosage and what size needle do you recommend?

Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:

Normally, if you have to go in, antibiotics are recommended because you've introduced bacteria into the uterus. Penicillin or Biomycin (oxytetracycline) are good. I like Biomycin better than LA-200, because it's the same drug, but LA-200 stings badly! The first time I gave it to a goat, I thought I'd killed her the way she screamed and rolled around!

If you're into homeopathy, arnica is good for anything that could cause bruising.

Congratulations on the babies!

[Deborah Niemann-Boehle]

Normally, if you have to go in, antibiotics are recommended because you've introduced bacteria into the uterus. Penicillin or Biomycin (oxytetracycline) are good. I like Biomycin better than LA-200, because it's the same drug, but LA-200 stings badly! The first time I gave it to a goat, I thought I'd killed her the way she screamed and rolled around!

If you're into homeopathy, arnica is good for anything that could cause bruising.

Congratulations on the babies!