Pregnancy Toxemia/Ketosis in Pregnant Does

Well, there is always something new when it comes to goats. This winter we have backed off the grain because our girls were a bit on the pudgy side and we felt that this was one of the reasons we had such a low production rate last year. So, we decreased the amount of grain that everyone was getting. However, Sugar had not long been out of milk and she is one of those girl's that puts everything she has into milk production. She wasn't thin but it was obvious that she had been in production and was not carrying any excess weight. So now here she is 2 months from delivery and she usually kids out with triplets. The other morning I was out feeding and Sugar didn't come over to the feed trough with the other girls, nor was she interested in the hay when I put it out. She was standing in the corner all hunched up and I knew she didn't feel good. So, I immediately bolused her with baking soda (my first go to thing when a goat is off). I also notice a really strange smell when I was bolusing her. An almost sickeningly sweet smell. One of the tell tale signs of ketosis. Ketosis is when a doe is not getting enough calories to support her pregnancy and so her body starts to burn excess fat to meet her and the kids needs. This metabolism of fat produces that sweet smell in the doe's breathe. Sugar is at the low end of the pecking order and more than likely wasn't getting her fair share of the grain in the mornings. So as a result she wasn't getting enough calories. Ketosis is a serious condition and if left to go on will result in the death of the doe. So here is how I treat it and it works. I made up a solution of water, pedialyte, molasses and karo syrup. About a cup of water, 1/2 a cup of pedialyte and 3 tablespoons each of molasses and karo syrup. Then drench the doe with 30ccs every 2 hours. Also give a dose of CMPK, B-complex, and probios. I gave a small dose of Red cell just for kicks, but it isn't really necessary for treatment. It is a good thing to have a stock of common medical supplies on hand so that you can catch medical emergencies quickly. If I had to go to town for anything then her treatment would have been delayed at least an hour and a half. Goats can go down quickly and by the time they are showing symptoms of being sick they have already been sick for several days. By that afternoon Sugar was doing just fine and eating like a horse. She now gets separated into one of the kidding stalls so that she gets her grain and enough calories to grow those babies. She already has a considerable baby bump even though she isn't due for almost 2 months. Anyway, keep an eye on your girls and their nutrition needs as they advance in their pregnancies. We all want happy healthy mammas and babies! Blessings, Kat