Coping with Kidding

1. Mary C. Smith DVM Coping with Kidding 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 45-90 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 125-250 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. 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