Its me again, the one who had the doe retain. This may sound like a silly question but now this doe is always licking her chops and she is starting the star gazing thing. I have given her Thiamine and Dex as soon as I notice the stargazing but she has been doing the chop licking thing through this whole ordeal. Is this a symptom of something? I thought I read something about it somewhere but maybe I am wrong. Any advise would be great. Thank you.

-- Linda Mn. (Boers) (boergoats@earthlink.net), April 21, 2002

Answers

Hi Linda,

I don't know much about goats yet, but in dogs and cats, licking of the chops usually means the animal is feeling sick to her stomach (nauseated). Hopefully one of the more experienced goat folks can tell us if that is true in goats too.

Wendy

-- Wendy (wendy.weirich@redbridge.com), April 21, 2002.

Thanks Wendy that does make sense now that you mention it. She really doesn't seem to have an appetite today like she has on other days so that could be it. Thanks again Wendy.

-- Linda Mn. (Boers) (boergoats@earthlink.net), April 21, 2002.

Dag, can't place if stargazing is a symptom of polio or not. theres also another condition too but can't remember it off top of my head. I know Vickie will know. With her stomach and eating you try probios or cultured yogurt to balance the rumen. here si a site that may help, sanaandoah. hope this helps.

http://www.saanendoah.com/goatss.html

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), April 21, 2002.

Hi Bernice, I have been giving her probios but maybe I'm not giving her enough, I give her some in the morning and some at night not alot though. Maybe I should be giving her more. Can you give to much?

-- Linda Mn. (Boers) (boergoats@earthlink.net), April 21, 2002.

I think Bernice is trying to think of listerosis. The immediate thought you get when you hear stargazing or circleing. I would also worry about this with the licking since if her half face is palsyed or starting to, they drool from half of their cheek, hence the licking of the lips. All neurological (brain) symptoms. The Thiamin would just be a guess about polio, and is a good idea anytime you have a non functioning rumen in an adult animal, but find out the reason for the other symptoms, which aren't that of polio. Are you haveing problems with your grain or hay? And new to me, just recently happening up in Lousianna to someone, you mow the pasture the grass sets in heaps, the goat eats the fermented moldy grass and they have listerosis. Whatever is happening is an ongoing problem if this is back. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), April 21, 2002.