Chat
07-09-2017, 02:25 PM
First take his temperature and see if he has a fever. Normal temperature is in the 101-102 range. Is he panting? An overheated goat will be panting. Is he dehydrated? Pinch his skin and see if it sticks together or snaps back. If it sticks up where you pinched, he's dehydrated. Is he peeing and pooping normally? If he's not peeing, feel for crystals or pain around the sheath. When it comes to wethers, I always worry about urinary stones.
I suspect there is more going on than just plain overheating. Unless it is severely hot outside with no shade, he should be able to regulate his own body temperature. The weak back end and staggering have me concerned. If you have any Thiamine (vitamin B12) or vitamin B complex, this would be a good time to give it. It won't hurt if he doesn't need it, and it could save his life if it's something more serious like polio. Hopefully it's just overheating.
If your goat is hot, get a bucket of cold water and some washcloths and press them up into his armpits. You could even hose him down with cool water. I'm glad you have a call into the vet. Keep us posted!
I suspect there is more going on than just plain overheating. Unless it is severely hot outside with no shade, he should be able to regulate his own body temperature. The weak back end and staggering have me concerned. If you have any Thiamine (vitamin B12) or vitamin B complex, this would be a good time to give it. It won't hurt if he doesn't need it, and it could save his life if it's something more serious like polio. Hopefully it's just overheating.
If your goat is hot, get a bucket of cold water and some washcloths and press them up into his armpits. You could even hose him down with cool water. I'm glad you have a call into the vet. Keep us posted!