We have a doeling and a wether born March 17th, that we just brought home from the breeder last week. The wether is very strong and healthy, but the doeling is smaller and weaker. The breeder was giving her a bottle twice a day and we have continued that.
She has always tended to bob her head very slightly, as if she's weak or having trouble controlling the muscles in her neck.
Today I went out to check on them and found her lying down with her head swinging from side to side. I immediately called the breeder, who said it may be the heat. (We are in Southern Arizona and it has been over 110 degrees.) We brought her inside, gave her water in her bottle since she seemed to be having trouble drinking from a bowl, and now she is happily wobbling around the house. Her head is still wobbling a bit, and it makes her kind of slightly sway when she's standing. Should we be worried? Is there something else we should be doing?
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That is hilarious! I never would have guessed that other ones would do it to. I am going to see if I can possibly catch it on video to share and see what kind of response it gets as to how many others do it but get it on video will be a real trick. It is Anchovy that does this and she still does it even tho she is going through her ordeal.
Glad she is doing better Katie!
Thanks Deborah and Shannon! That scared me. I know nothing about that. I don't really know about forever since I have only had her a few months and she has done it all that time. But no she only has the leg injury she is not sick at all, and certainly is not off feed. That is a relief to know it is just a QUIRKY HABIT cause it is quite amusing and a unique part of her personality that no-one else does!
She is doing well today, and kept my daughter busy during the afternoon while we had her in the house, "tasting" paper and whatever else she could get her mouth on. Oddly, she doesn't seem to want to jump or climb, but maybe that's still fatigue.
A goat with goat polio is a sick goat with multiple symptoms. If your goat has been doing that forever, it's just a habit of hers. Here is an article that tells you more:
http://www.jackmauldin.com/health/goat_polio.htm
I know the first time I ever heard about stargazing, I freaked out, thinking that one of my goats had goat polio, but she was perfectly fine. Some goats just do that.
Shannon, what about a yearling doe that goes around twisting her neck around but looks like she is just stretching it in a full circle. Seems healthy and just fine but twist her head around like she just caught a glimpse of something and wants to check it out. But not sideways, like I said more of a neck rolling exercise.
If you are familiar with this, the closest thing I can think of to describe it is that Giraffes do this type of thing regularly. Now, do you have an idea what I mean? Please tell me that is not what you mean is a sign of polio. She does not need anything else to deal with. Because it is Anchovy that does this and she has enough trouble already!
We keep thinking it is quite cute and even kinda funny. It would be sad to think that it could be a sign of something being wrong!
I wouldn't get my hopes up that she will grow to be a normal size. Something has really caused her to grow slowly. If it's genetics, you can't get around that. If it was parasites, her intestines could be permanently damaged. If it was diet, you might be able to overcome that. It's hard to say.
I have to admit, I have not weighed her, but she feels lighter than our 10-lb dog. She seems very light for her size, too--her twin brother is not much bigger in stature, but he feels about twice as heavy. They were very, very small triplets from a very petite first freshener--one doeling didn't make it. I don't know their birth weights, but when we visited them at the ranch at about four weeks old they were similar in size to newborns that were there at the same time. Is she likely to grow enough to make up the difference, or will she probably always be very little?
I'm happy to hear that she's doing better, but a 3-month-old kid under 10 pounds? That's definitely not normal.
So happy to hear she is better! I will be remembering her and thinking of you all. God Bless!
I'm so sorry!! I hope that she pulls through for you. Loosing an animal is so hard. My prayers are with you...
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