![]() ![]() Because not all CAE-positive individuals develop clinical disease, some sanctuaries choose not to intervene and instead allow the baby to nurse freely. Be sure to talk to your veterinarian to ensure you know exactly what you will need to do to make the milk and/ or colostrum safe and to protect the mother from developing mastitis. You can then milk the mother and pasteurize the milk to kill the virus or feed colostrum and milk from a non-infected source. This arrangement will not eliminate all risk of transmission via respiratory droplets, and may still cause distress for mother or baby, but will likely result in less distress than full separation. Because the virus can be transmitted via colostrum (first milk) and milk, some sanctuaries choose to use a goat bra to prevent the baby from nursing in an attempt to reduce their risk of infection. Whether or not to separate mother and baby is a difficult decision and what you decide will ultimately depend on your Philosophy of Care. ![]() Transmission of CAE in utero (from mother to fetus) is rare and accounts for less than 5% of infections. ![]() If you rescue a pregnant goat who is positive for Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE), you’ll need to consider whether or not you will separate mother and baby in order to protect the baby from infection. Always weigh the stress of separation with the benefits. If they are with their mother, you should not separate the two unless absolutely necessary (especially if the baby is still nursing), such as if one of them has a communicable illness or needs extra space to recover from a health issue. Keep in mind that most male goat kids will become sexually mature around 4 months old (though pygmy goats can go through puberty as young as 2 months old!), so if you choose to wait until that age or older, you will need to take measures to prevent them from impregnating any herdmates.ĭepending on regional laws, you may need to register guardianship of the baby goat with your local government. While neutering individuals at a younger age may result in less risk of complications during the procedure, there is a valid concern regarding neutering goats before their urethra has had time to fully develop, since urinary blockages are such a concern in male goats. There is some controversy around the best age at which to neuter a male goat, so you should discuss the pros and cons of neutering male goats at various stages of development with your veterinarian. They should receive all location and age-appropriate vaccinations, should be evaluated for any health issues, and males should be neutered when your veterinarian deems appropriate. When a new baby goat finds their way to your sanctuary, it’s critical to follow appropriate intake and quarantine guidelines in order to protect your new resident and the existing herd. Sanctuary Intake Recommendations For Goat Kids Depending on how old they are when they enter your care and whether they have had or continue to have access to their mother, kids have diverse needs when it comes to health, nutrition, and socialization. Goat kids (baby goats) have their own special care needs to help them reach adulthood in good health and comfort. experience as of July 2021.Ĭheck out more information on our Veterinary Review Initiative here! This resource has been reviewed for accuracy and clarity by a qualified Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with farmed animal sanctuary An animal sanctuary that primarily cares for rescued animals that were farmed by humans. ![]()
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