STOMACH TUBING SICK GOATS - ADULTS & KIDS

Adult or kid, there are times that the only way to save the goat's life is to stomach tube electrolytes and nutritional supplements into it. You must have the necessary supplies on hand and know how to use them when an emergency arises.

ADULT GOATS: See my article on what to buy and how to make an adult goat stomach tube and mouthpiece on the Articles page at www.tennesseemeatgoats.com or in MeatGoatMania's archives. Do it NOW. When an emergency hits, you won't have time to obtain what you need.

If you are scared of stomach tubing because you fear making a mistake, think about this: the goat will likely die if you don't try. We teach stomach tubing at GoatCamp(tm) at my Texas ranch each year. Students will tell you that it isn't difficult. The goat is depending upon you for its survival.

A 100-pound goat needs a gallon of fluids daily to survive. That is 3840 cc's. You cannot orally drench that much fluid into the goat without getting much of it on you and on instead of in the goat -- stressing both of you. You must learn to stomach tube.

A goat can survive for as long as three days on electrolytes, but nutrients are required thereafter. This doesn't mean you should wait until the fourth day to stomach tube protein-based nutrition. It does mean that sometimes a very sick goat can only handle electrolytes early in its illness. You have to learn how to distinguish what the goat needs and when it needs it, or have a qualified mentor to help you. Every situation is different. Remembering that a 100-pound goat needs one gallon of fluids daily, weigh the goat and divide the weight-appropriate amount into three or four tubings over a 24-hour period, then stomach tube fluids into the sick goat until it is able to eat on its own. Stomach tubing sick ADULT goats should be done in pint or less increments, building up to never more than one quart amounts at one feeding, depending upon the age, weight, and condition of the goat. Less fluid per tubing is better than more; do not overload the rumen. Allow time for absorption by the goat's body. I have articles on the Articles page at www.tennesseemeatgoats.com telling you how I medicate and feed sick goats. There is much more to nursing a sick goat back to health than stomach tubing.

You can make a protein-rich liquid by adding eight ounces of milk replacer to one-half gallon of electrolytes and stomach tubing the weight-appropriate amount into the sick goat; see the previous paragraph on how to calculate proper amount of liquids per feeding to stomach tube into the sick goat. The product Ensure or generic equivalent can be used in place of milk replacer. The goal is to get nutrients containing protein into the goat's body. Unused amounts will have to be refrigerated between uses and warmed before tubing.

To stomach the goat, have another person hold the animal steady. Before inserting the mouthpiece and tubing, place the tube alongside the goat's body from opening of mouth to back of last rib to measure how much tubing should be inserted through the mouthpiece to reach the stomach. To insert the stomach tube, lift the goat's head out and slightly upward without twisting or bending its neck. Place the short piece of CPVC into the goat's mouth and over the tongue as far back as possible to prevent the goat from biting and swallowing the soft tubing. Uncurl the tubing and thread it through the CPVC pipe down the side (not the center) of the mouth. If you meet resistance, pull the tubing out and begin again. Before pouring liquid into the tube via the funnel, listen for a crackling/gurgling/popping sound which indicates you are in the stomach (rumen sounds) and not in the lungs. Gently blow into the tube to obtain more sound feedback to further insure that you do not have the tube in the lungs. Hold the funnel end of the tubing as high as possible for good gravity flow. Make sure that the tubing is straight and uncurled, then begin to pour the liquid into the funnel. If the fluid does not flow smoothly through the tube and into the goat, pull the tube out a bit. . . . you've probably got it in too far. When all of the liquid has been poured into the tube, wait several seconds before removing the tubing so that any fluid still in the tube does not enter the lungs as it is withdrawn. Rinse the tubing, funnel, and CPVC pipe thoroughly and hang to dry.

KIDS GOATS: Stomach tubing newborn and young kids is easier done by two people, but if no one can help you, you can use your body and forearms to control the kid as you insert the weak kid syringe and stomach tube with your hands.

Purchase a Weak-Kid Syringe with accompanying stomach tube. Jeffers sells a 60 cc syringe with a long feeding tube; call 1-800-533-3377 or go to www.jefferslivestock.com. Spare tubes should be purchased; you may have to ask for them as they may not be in the catalog. Keep several extra stomach tubes on hand, because kids chew and bite holes in them.