1. Caprine Outing September 18, 2010
Coping with Kidding
Mary C. Smith DVM
Caprine Outing
September 18, 2010

2. Topics to be covered Breeding Pregnancy diagnosis
Some problems during pregnancy
Vaccination and nutrition programs
Normal parturition
Dystocia
Care of the kid, including colostrum
Reviving weak kids
Floppy kid disease
Record keeping

6. Pregnancy diagnosis gestation ~150 d goat
progesterone a nonpregnancy test
real time ultrasound best
sector scanner ideal (count fetuses)
transabdominal, esp right side, esp days

9. False pregnancy of goats
common in pets, out of season breedings, does intentionally not bred
serum progesterone elevated
fluid but no caruncles or fetus
undulating walls, snow scene if ballotte abdomen

12. False pregnancy of goats
“cloud burst” if self corrects
sometimes bloody discharge as if aborted
5-10 mg dinoprost (Lutalyse®) or mcg cloprostenol (Estrumate®)
repeat in 12 days

14. Tetanus and Enterotoxemia
the simplest vaccination program
two or three doses, then boosters at least once a year
booster before kidding

15. Abortion diagnosis and prevention
suspect infectious cause if >2% abort
diagnostic lab support required – fetus, placenta, paired serum samples
toxoplasmosis, chlamydiosis, Q fever
listeriosis, Cache Valley virus, stress, iodine or selenium deficiencies

16. Goiter !
Normal thyroids <2 g

17. Abortion math
5 abortions in a flock of 50 bred does = 10% = abortion storm, almost certainly infectious
5 abortions in a flock of 500 bred does = 1% and may be normal losses – not concerned yet, but label and save fetuses and placentas
>2% is cause for concern and testing (2 abortions in a small herd)

18. Mummified fetuses are common with toxoplasmosis; the twin may be normal

19. Abortion diagnosis and prevention
most diseases zoonotic
wear plastic sleeves
isolate aborting doe
destroy fetuses and placentas
cull if chlamydiosis, don’t cross foster
inject long-acting oxytet 3X or feed chlortetracycline (extralabel – need vet)

20. Provide energy, protein,
selenium, vitamin E
Do you call this hay?

21. Pregnancy toxemia late pregnant goats carrying multiple kids
twin lamb disease

22. fat mobilization fatty liver
inadequate feed offered
anorexia from other disease
fat mobilization fatty liver
Pregnancy toxemia or ketosis

23. A full uterus crowds the rumen while kids demand more nutrients

24. Obese goat in late pregnancy cannot eat much forage
fat stored in omentum
takes up space
doe becomes ketotic
even though fat,
needs higher quality
forage and some grain

25. Diagnosis of pregnancy toxemia
standing or lying apart
depressed, may seem blind or grind teeth
off feed – small fecal pellets
diarrhea when fetuses die
ketones in urine (be ready to collect !)
ketones in blood (smell breath)

26. omentum has been removed
rumen
uterus
uterus

27. Normal parturition
ligaments soften and disappear – within 12 hours of parturition
doe waits for quiet period in barn
30 – 30 – 30 rule
ballotte abdomen for additional kid if suspect a problem

28. Kidding is close! Udder full Vulva relaxed Slight mucus
Ligaments around
base of tail gone

29. Assisting parturition
wash vulva
sterile glove
lubricant (Dawn)
Be clean, be gentle,
and use lots of lube

30. The glove protects
you and the doe
from infection

31. Meconium
stained =
Help now!

36. Correction of dystocia
elevate hindquarters or turn dam over
lamb puller
epinephrine 1 cc IM
one front leg and head
one hind leg
cut off head if dead
subcutaneous fetotomy
penicillin, flunixin IV, tetanus prophylaxis

39. Caesarian section
if does not respond rapidly to medical treatment of pregnancy toxemia
if > 141 days gestation
pretreat with 20 mg dexamethasone if surgery delayed or kids premature, to develop surfactant in the lungs
local anesthesia injected in the flank or gas anesthesia
blindfold, don’t give xylazine