Hey guys...I have a La Mancha who is due right about now. She was bred Jul 1. So according to the 145-155 rule she really ought to be getting down to business.
About two weeks ago she started bagging up and she is pretty full looking though not really tight.
Other than the udder she really shows no signs, and I have NEVER been able to feel these babies move or kick which is kinda freaking me out. this is also the doe that got chased by the horse mid pregnancy and had a little bit of spotting.
So of course I am freaking myself out that there is something wrong with her/the babies. I should say, she is really temperamental and for whatever reason doesn't like it when I feel her belly so I haven't had that many good chances to try and feel for movement because she generally gets mad at me and storms off.
I believe Tuesday is day 155 so I really can't go too nuts until then...someone tell me they've had a goat go this long! :)
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Yeah, and I can't remember where I read it, but there is a hormone that human babies have (and mom's have before they deliver) that softens ligaments. In mom's joints, it makes it so her pelvic bones can spread apart. In babies, it helps them not break things when they come out, and to be folded in the womb without hurting anything. I imagine it's the same for other animals, and it's also why over time, loose joints tend to "fix" themselves... because that hormone isn't being delivered through the placenta anymore.
The cramped in the womb thing makes sense, too. The doeling is very small compared to him, he's huge. No surprise he's the one whose legs got smooshed into weird positions.
Okay I googled this and found some pics of similar issues and the splints people used. I am gonna get on it first thing in the morning and see if I can devise anything to help the little guy.
Here is that discussion I mentioned. I feel like there might be another one too, but I can't find that one.
http://nigeriandwarfgoats.ning.com/forum/topics/baby-goat-with-some...
Yes. You would do it over his knees to keep them straight for a couple days. After that, you should see improvement.
The only way I could envision doing that, his knees would not be able to bend. Is that okay? The good news is that he has been enthusiastically flopping after mommy and nursing despite his handicap. It is obviously hard for him. Bless his mama, he had been down sleeping a long time and she cheered him on to hobbling in for another suckle.
Also, all 4 of his legs are affected. So if I splint & bandage all 4 legs is he going to be able to move at all?
You could cut some paper towel or toilet paper tubes and vet wrap them. If that isn't sturdy enough, you could double up on the tubes.
I remember we had a conversation about a kid with wonky legs a while back. Someone commented then, that a lot of times they are born REALLY loose and wobbly and bendy and it gets better over time, and that part of the reason for that is because they are smooshed up in the womb.
Sorry this pic is so fuzzy and bad- I could not for the life of me catch him at a moment when he was standing on his heels...
his front legs are knock kneed in really bad
Oh, so adorable!!!! I love that silver buckskin. I have almost two months to wait before we have any babies again!
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