How to do a pelvic

NorthOf49

Hi all!

I'm wondering how to do a pelvic exam. I have a doe with an unknown breeding date (I know, stupid, but too late now). If I wanted to I could reach right around her tailbone so her ligaments are gone. Her vulva is super puffy and the last couple days I've noticed some white mucus discharge. Yesterday morning she was sniffing around at her bedding, leaning back licking herself... she's a lot more talkative too. Up to 3 days ago I've noticed her acting like she's in pain, she'll push her head into the corner and grind her teeth, or just grind her teeth in general.

The other issue is that she's a problem doe: last year she had one dead kid, the year before twins, one blind. She didn't take until January last year and this year I wasn't expecting her bred.

Anyways, I'm thinking of doing a pelvic and see if her cervix is open: I'm afraid she has dead kids in there or some other reason why she's not coming into labor. But I have no idea how to...

Do I put her on the milkstand, wash up, and just reach? How far in is the cervix? From those that have done this, how much fighting can I expect from her? Is it like disbudding kids where they fight like mad, or more like giving a shot where they just squirm and try to get away but don't freak?

Thanks for your help!

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Christine
Located in BC, Canada
Alpines and Boers
http://luckystaracres.yolasite.com/

doublebowgoats

I have only ever tried to do a pelvic when the doe is active labor. By then the hormones have kicked in and she interprets the intrusion back there as something to do with the birth process. Usually they look back and try to see what is going on but don't protest.
I realize that doesn't help you with your doe right now. But I have had does act like this for days before kidding. Has she had plenty of alfalfa (calcium)?

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Michelle
Raising Lamancha Dairy goats in
Springtown,Texas

Rose

If the baby is in the wrong position, you will have to "go in". Make sure your nails are cut short before the kidding starts. You must wash your hands and arms with a disinfecting cleanser such as Betadine Surgical Scrub (See Suppliers). Also, clean the back end of the doe. Lube up with an proper OB lubricant and an additional squirt of Betadine. Start with just one finger, and try to feel what is going on. Work slowly and stay calm. Insert you hand/arm as necessary (Depending on your size, you may go in, if need be, as far as your elbow). Picture in your mind what you are feeling. Feel for legs and try to discern the position of the kid(s). Know what you may have to do ahead of time. (See Kid Positions below and Kidding Positions Albums) If you do have to "go in", you should give the doe antibiotic shots or Immune Support Tincture for the next few day to ward off any possible infection.

from:
http://fiascofarm.com/goats/kidding.htm

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Alice, aka Rose, South Central Missouri or 30 miles inland on the coastal plain of Texas
Mixed herd of LaMancha, MiniMancha, Alpine, Saanen cross, etc.
http://quirkygoatfarm.blogspot.com/

NubianSoaps.com

You would have to have pretty long fingers to feel anything with a finger in the doe Just wash your hands, I do take of rings and my fake fingernails are off now I just use oil, I keep a light oil like almond in the barn to massage udders after shaving and since everyone is getting dairy clipped it's what I have in the barn now. I insert my four fingers of my right hand and hold my arm over the doe and apply pressure with my armpit over the does rump...some may stomp their feet, but I am very quick and matter of fact with all this. So since my hand measures 6 inches from my middle finger to where I can't go in further with my thumb outside, that is where the cervix is in most of my does.

Your do is having normal progression, the thick mucous is the mucous plug, the contractions before are called braxtin hicks and is normal in goats just like with us..lots of women end up at the hospital in false labor and sent home from these contractions and lots of goat folks think their does are delivering when they are not in labor also Also know the two problems in your does kidding are completely unrealted, so there is no reason to think her kidding will be anything more than normal.

I wouldn't be bothering her with a pelvic if you are not going somewhere. The biggest way of knowing your doe is kidding is a super tight and shiny udder (usually new folks on here distressed at how large it is and 'should I milk her out' questions) and then she kids. Try to check her, use a baby monitor, and when she actively starts pushing with every exhale, than simply do a pelvic with her laying down and if you don't have teeth and feet, than help her. If you find teeth and feet than sit back and let her push the kid out...repeat repeat repeat...

I do not use antibiotics in my herd for pelvics, our doctors don't do antibiotics for pap smears or pelvics either. And I am very careful with the use of products promoted by companies selling you stuff that we have no idea what is in them or if blood or colostrum products they sell come from tested stock. Vicki

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Vicki McGaugh
North of Houston Texas
www.Nubiansoaps.com retail, wholesale and naked for you to wrap and resell.





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