Goat Kidding - Problems

Possible problem signs:

• doe repeatedly starts pushing hard but gets up and stops labor, then lies down and starts again
• doe repeatedly stand up and then lies down and arches her back and elevates her rear end as though trying to line up the babies
• discharge is rusty red and beginning to look septic
• parts of a baby are visible but doe is unable to deliver in spite of straining very hard
• doe is in hard grinding labor for more than 30 -45 minutes with no results

To determine the problem:

• Place the doe in a stall or stanchion or have a helper restrain her
• Wash the does vulva with mild soap and water
• Scrub your hands and arms and fingernails well with betadine scrub
• Place gloves on if you wish
• Squeeze a generous portion of lube on your fingers
• Gently enter the vagina
• Feel and identify the parts of the kid that are in the birth canal, don't do anything until you're sure that the limbs being felt all belong to the same kid.
• Determine the problem and the corrective action necessary to rectify

Abnormal presentations.

• Head first with one foreleg: reach in and find the other leg and carefully pull it forward so the head is resting on both legs.
• Head first with no legs: Similar to the previous case, but you will probably have to reach in and push the kids head back to make room for the legs. Slide your hand along the head and neck until you find the shoulders, then locate the feet and gently bring them forward with the head resting on the legs.
• Breach position with hocks first: reach in and find the feet and carefully pull them forward so both rear feet are together and extended through the vulva.
• Breach position with rump and tail: reach in and push the kids rump back to make room for the legs, slide your hand along the rump until you find the legs, then locate the feet and carefully bring them forward so both rear feet are together and extended through the vulva.
• Front feet first with head upside down: rotate the entire kid so that the kid's back is upward toward the does back. Sometimes it is hard to turn the kid around if the feet and/or head are already visible. Try to turn the kid as much as possible even if it is only a bit. Be prepared to help pull gently.
• Feet first with head thrown back: reach in and follow along the body and then along the neck until you locate the head. If the kid is weak the head may keep flopping back every time you withdraw your hand to pull on the legs. In this case you will need your OB puller or small chain. Make a noose in the end of the chain or use the OB pullers noose. spread the noose open with your hand and take it into the vagina. Slip it over the kids head or jaw. Position the head on the front legs and snug up the loop. Keep tension on the puller with your free hand and then withdraw your hand and grasp the feet. Pull on the feet and the loop at the same time and the kid should deliver just fine. Use plenty of lube as this is time consuming and things start to dry out. The kid may be weak and the doe tired.
• Two heads with feet: match up the head and feet of the same goat. Usually one kid's head will be more advanced than the other so push the other back and feel along the neck to the chest and down each leg until you can locate the feet of the kid whose head is more advanced. You may have to push the other kid kid back quite a ways to make room to work. Then carefully bring the feet forward until the head is resting on the legs. The kid should deliver easily now.
• Mismatched head and feet: push the farther back kid back into the doe and slide your hand along the advanced head and neck to the chest and then down each leg until you locate the feet. Then carefully bring the feet forward until the head is resting on the legs. The kid should deliver easily now. The second kid will normally straighten itself out.
• No presentation, necessary to determine if the doe is sufficiently dilated and the cervix is open. The os, (opening to the cervix) should be dilated at least three fingers for normal birth. If not dilated then it may be too early. Wait a while and check the doe again. If the cervix is open and all you feel is a side or ribs the kid may be dead, but there could be live kids behind it: Push the kid back until you can turn it so that it is presented front feet/head first, or hind feet first Use plenty of lube. You will have to pull the kid since the doe will probably not push very hard.

Possible complications.

• infection; if the birth process was complicated and invasive or took a prolonged amount of time the doe may need antibiotics
  
• swelling, if excessive may need a painkiller
  
• an exceptionally traumatic delivery may require several days of treatment including intrauterine infusion. May need to call your veterinarian