Sudden death

Hej from Sweden,

I have been on cloud 9 with my ladies going into heat and my rent-a-buck on hand to do the job and my new "nursery" box. We added 6 new babies since February. Feb. 26 we added two little Pygmy babies one buckling and one doeling. Then on March 12 we added 2 sets of twins all from the same farm. These are Nigerian Dwarf with one set two little doelings and the other set a brother and sister.

We had a box with six happy healthy little ones who quickly got into our hearts. Then all of a sudden 2 days ago the little brother was laying strangely in the box and I ran to get my husband. When I returned I picked him up and he was barely breathing and died in my arms. We could never imagine that his sister would become deathly ill the very next day. Both happy and jumping around the same day they became ill.

We took Koko to the vet 8 am yesterday morning and they could not understand what could have stricken her so quickly and seemingly out of the blue. She was given a "broad spectrum" antibiotic and a cortisone shot and we were sent home. I had her in a pet carrier on the front porch to soak up some rare sunlight and she seemed fine. Later I brought her in the house and placed her in a calm quiet corner in the library. I gave her water 5 ml every hour and she seemed eager to drink. I was up 3 times in the night to check on her and give her some water and just sit with her. She seemed to be coming around. It may have been my imagination , because at 8:30 this morning, she too died in my arms.

This has been so devastating to my husband and I and to top it all off, my daughter is due home today for her Spring break from University. My husband and I are shell shocked!

Our vet has offered us all the information needed if we decide to have a necropsy of the little girl. I am undecided. On one hand I need to know on the other she has suffered enough.

Has anyone had this experience and what was it? Has anyone made the decision to have a necropsy?

The previous owner felt that they had left the mother too soon but they were born Jan. 1 and were eating hay. Any thoughts?

Very very sad,

KSweden

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. It is especially sad when little ones die.

It seems that more often than not, goats die suddenly. I've only had a couple that lingered, but many people say, "a down goat is a dead goat," because it's tough to bring them back once they go down. We got necropsies on the first three goats that died here because I was still building my herd, and we wanted to make sure that they did not have any kind of disease that could have affected the other goats.

The most common cause of death in goats in the US is internal parasites, and contrary to what the pictures and textbooks say, most don't get bottle jaw or look emaciated before they die. That's one reason I really like the FAMACHA system. It's so easy to check their eyelids to make sure they're not anemic, because anemia is generally what kills a goat with parasites.

Replies

Kare March 30, 2011 at 11:44pm

I am so sorry for your loss. I can't even imagine how sad you must be. I'm glad you decided to do the necropsy. It should put your mind at ease.

Hugs from Montana
Gullringstorpgoatgal March 30, 2011 at 4:16am

Hej from Sweden,

After reading all your responses and recommendations that I do the necropsy and after looking at my remaining babies and my adult ladies, I have decided to have the necropsy! Thank you all because you all have made me do the right thing. My little herd is precious and every single goat large or small is of the utmost importance to me.

Now I will wait to see what it was and hope to God it was nothing I did to bring their lives to an end.

Thank you all!!

KSweden
Adrienne March 29, 2011 at 4:14pm

I agree with others. I had an older buck die suddenly a few weeks ago and the results for the necropsy are finally here according to the woman at the vet. But she said the vet was going to call me so I am a bit nervous about what they will tell me! I am sorry you lost your babies. I lost two babies too this year despite my best efforts. I know how you feel.
Ruth Goode March 29, 2011 at 9:13am

KSweden, Oh my, I understand your devastation. It does not seem fair that things can go so wrong when your were giving such good care. It IS difficult to consent to a necropsy..yet the information from a necropsy may explaine everything. To me it would honor the lost babies to allow their demise shed light on a problem that could affect others. I am so sorry for your loss.
Kimberly Martin March 29, 2011 at 8:56am

KSweden:

I'm so sorry for your loss! I am trying to build a herd also, but something you said struck me. You will not be doing the kids that passed any harm to have a necropsy performed, and you may be helping others survive by knowing. Their spirits are no longer here. If it were me I'd want to know, if only to prevent yourself (or someone else) the same heartbreak.

Gentle hugs,

Kimberly
Gullringstorpgoatgal March 29, 2011 at 7:58am

Hej from Sweden,

Deborah, I keep going over and over again in my mind, what did I do wrong, what did I miss. I thought to worm them when they arrived but then thought to wait a bit. Was that a wrong decision? The vet said they were too young to worm, I just don't know!

Yes we are building up our herd and I really would just die if we lost another baby or even an adult when we might have been able to prevent it.

Thank you Deborah for your heart felt words. They are comforting.

KSweden
Deborah Niemann-Boehle March 29, 2011 at 7:50am

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. It is especially sad when little ones die.

It seems that more often than not, goats die suddenly. I've only had a couple that lingered, but many people say, "a down goat is a dead goat," because it's tough to bring them back once they go down. We got necropsies on the first three goats that died here because I was still building my herd, and we wanted to make sure that they did not have any kind of disease that could have affected the other goats.

The most common cause of death in goats in the US is internal parasites, and contrary to what the pictures and textbooks say, most don't get bottle jaw or look emaciated before they die. That's one reason I really like the FAMACHA system. It's so easy to check their eyelids to make sure they're not anemic, because anemia is generally what kills a goat with parasites.

This reply was deleted.