[McFrosty]

Hello All,
My beloved nanny goat Esme is unwell today.   She is an old dear and was in a terrible state when I got her in the autumm but has done well on tlc over the winter.  She was fine yesterday and always has been since I got her last autumn but looks bad today.  When I checked on her this morning she is looking very sad with droopy ears and not taking interest in her surroundings.  I have found her in the corner of her shelter several times even though it is gorgeous here and she usually would be outside sunbathing.  She let me take her down to milk and gave the usual amount but didn't want her usual treats.  Normally she eats bananas like a maniac but she didn't want any and I could only tempt her with some lettuce.  She has loose stools as well, just this morning.  
I am so worried and would appreciate any advice ....... My other goats (all young girls) are all fine.
What can I give her to perk her up??  

[jaykay]

Has she eaten anything odd? If you put your ear to her left side, by her rumen, can you hear 'rumbles'?

[plumseverywhere]

keep her on water and hay - no concentrates.
a couple of my lambs are looking a bit tired of the heat today - i think it affects them all but its the scour that worries me in your post. don't let her eat anything other than hay or water.
keep an eye, maybe call the vet if you are worried.
Is she 'burping' every minute or so? is she moaning?

[wytsend]

Ditto evrything others have said regarding rumen noise.

My first thoughts:  is the scour/loose droppings very dark....if so then suspect coccidiosis.  Needs to be treated without delay..... it will kill her if not.

If the loose droppings are green,  that is grass scour & faitly common  but still of concern with an older goat.
Plenty of hay, warm water, try bramble tips & ivy.  Goats will usually eat this even when really ill.

[princesspiggy]

ivy. 

can u feed any ivy? i had a rabbit that died when he ate it by accident.

[plumseverywhere]

Ivy and Willow are goats favourites and not a problem 

[McFrosty]

Hello
She still does not look right.  Not active, just standing around or lying down.  Temperature is normal and rumen is still gurgling.  Her faeces are a little darker than normal maybe but not obviously so.... just runnier..... 

Added information as to why I am freaking out.  We lost our pet pygmy goat two months ago...... I found him in the enclosure one day suddenly unreactive and not moving much.  He was  isolated and vet called.  We gave him water and hay and he got painkillers and steroid injections but the vet was at a loss to what was wrong.  I nursed him for two days but he was obviously in pain (teeth grinding) and I think he was unable to see in the last day, and I could not bear to see him suffer, so we had him put to sleep. Very traumatic and now my poor Esme is ill.  She is not showing the same signs but....

Will take poo sample to vets in morning, but don't know what to ask for in way of medicine as they don't seem to be goat experts (based on last time).

[plumseverywhere]

Do you have another vet nearby? at times like this you need to feel you can trust in your vet goat-wise. I'm sure you vet is lovely, caring professional and everything you could wish for BUT having lost 2 goats myself, you need to fee confident in their capabilities.
I can really feel your worry and anxieties, like I say I lost 2. I was devastated but then when number 3 started to scour major panic set in - the good news is, on water and hay she recovered and is fine to this day. What I am trying to say is, don't panic (if you can help it) as this migh tnot be bad news.

Is she wormed and panacur'd? 

[little blue]

poor old Esme ... hope she perks up soon

[Blinkers]

Oh heavens, poor love - both you and her.    Keeping fingers crossed for you.

Mx

[Anke]

If your girl has come to you in quite a bad state it may be that she still carries a worm burden, which could have been supressed during the winter/pregnancy, and now on the fresh grass she is suddenly overwhelmed. Fluke is another possibility - get a sample tested for both.

If she is not drinking either, keep her hydrated with something like Lectade (from the vets), by dribbling down her throat. If her temperature is normal she is unlikely to fight an infection, so something she has eaten (or over-eaten) may be the problem. Toast, crackers or oatcakes are sometimes still taken, or any fruit.

Hope she will get better, do you know how old she is?

[plumseverywhere]

How is Esme today McFrosty? Lisa x

[Blinkers]

How is Esme today McFrosty? Lisa x

DITTO - keep thinking about you x

[Skirza]

Ditto...any news?

[McFrosty]

Been a long night - couldn't sleep for worrying so kept getting up to the goat shed in my jammies.  Helped her take fluids yesterday and through the night and as suggested just kept her to hay.  She is much improved this morning.  Not fully herself, still a little slow as if she can't be bothered with anything.  However she came straight out into her field today and is wandering about and grazing and has had a sunbathe.... Her ears are back up too.
I shall still be off to the vets tomorrow when they reopen with a faecal sample just to check her.  Maybe she is needing wormed again, she is due. 

Will keep you all posted on her progress.  Thank you so much for your advice and sympathy last night when I was so worried.  It is great having people who understand how attached I am to her.