Yesterday I had a doe kid 3 perfectly formed doe kids. They were small, about 3=4 pounds each. Had a full hair coat. But their teeth were not thru the gums yet and their eyes were sealed shut like kittens or puppies. My question is how much too early were they? They all died btw.

-- Jan Nordberg (oim@icehouse.net), April 04, 2002

Answers

Oh Jan, I'm so sorry. Were they alive at birth? I've heard of preemies being born with a thinner than usual haircoat. I had one doe kid too early, years ago. The kid had hair, but was very thin- I know newborns are always thin, but this kid was thinner than usual.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), April 04, 2002.

They had a full thick haircoat. They were alive at birth. I could have tubed them and done all kinds of heroic measures but I prayed about it and just let them go. So sad..........but they were so tiny...I just let them go.........Hope your kidding is going good. Have 2 left to kid. I was just wondering how much too early they were.Thanks for your thoughts....Jan

-- Jan Nordberg (oim@icehouse.net), April 04, 2002.

Jan, 2 years ago, Ditto kidded exactly 2 weeks before her due date, she had only been with the buck once so I was sure of the date. When she started into labor I ran to the vet, and purchased the Dopram I was talking about in another thread. The kids 2 does and a buck had less hair than normal, their feet were soft but they did have their eyes open, no teeth errupted either. They were breathing but sort of raspy. I used the dopram and tubed for about a week and one-half. Ditto was already presold, and though we had a marvelous outcome, Dallas one daughter is in milk herself here, her sis lives in Mississippi, neither have any signs of prematurity, both are nice big does, I would never go through all of that again unless it was another bloodline that could not be replaced. Everyone has to make up their own minds as to how much work they are willing to go through. We didn't save the buckling. Like you we had normal deliveries before and after the premature birth, have no idea why she kidded early. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (Nubians) (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), April 04, 2002.

Thank you Vicki :-) I didn't have a breeding date for her so I didn't have a clue how much early she was. I have never seen the eyes sealed shut before. I think she was fighting the day before she kidded. I raise Alpines.........and that might have been what sent her into premature labor. I am not lazy, and no you didn't imply that but I just couldn't commit that much time to tubing them and still maybe not have them survive.........and I had to think about their quality of life. I am glad that your's came out okay. Makes me feel a little guilty now that I didn't even try. Sniff. But I know I made the right decision. Thanks so much for your answer. I am going to get some Doproam and have it on hand if this ever happens again. Yes they were breathing raspy.....Jan

-- Jan Nordberg (oim@icehouse.net), April 04, 2002.

Jan, don't feel guilty. I just went thru this last week. The one born alive only lived a couple of days, even with round the clock intensive care. Her eyes were open but no teeth. They were twin doelings born three weeks too early. Only weighed 4 1/2 lbs each. At times I think that it would have been easier to have had the second one not live for even those few days with everything we had to do to try to save her. Poor little thing, I never even named her.

I hope that you will be fine and give the mom lots of extra love. My doe that lost her kids is just pulling out of being so sick that we were going to start digging a hole the other day. She is a bit better today and starting to chew her cud again. I would hate to burry her also. I feel that in your case with them even earlier then mine that you made a good decision to just let them go. I am so sorry and I really hope that your last two have no problems. I have 2 more to go also. : )

-- shari (smillers@snowcrest.net), April 04, 2002.

Jan, don't feel guilty, it's a fine line between assisting an animal and prolonging its death. I have no idea how premature the goats were, but preemies of any species are tricky to raise.

-- Terri (hooperterri@prodigy.net), April 05, 2002.