How to Prevent and Treat Postpartum Feed Refusal in Does

1 Overview

How to Prevent Postpartum Feed Refusal in Does

1. Prioritize the lactating doe’s nutrition; don’t neglect her while caring for kits. Use a doe-specific premix for pellets and manage late-pregnancy feed for balanced, adequate nutrition.

2. From day 15 of pregnancy, gradually increase feed; in the last week before birth, offer nutritious, easily digested feed. From day 28, reduce concentrate and increase greens.

3. Keep the doe neither too fat nor too thin, with an even body shape.

4. Support the doe’s recovery after delivery.

5. Before delivery, disinfect the kindling box and cage with a strong disinfectant to prevent bacterial infection during birth.

6. Avoid an entirely intensive breeding schedule.

7. Prevent early mating and cull old does in time.

8. Breeding does should be healthy, sturdy, over 6 months old, and of suitable weight.

9. After delivery the uterus is often inflamed; promptly inject antibiotics to prevent metritis and pyometra.

10. Cull sick or weak does; even if recovered from serious illness, they are unfit for breeding.

How to Respond to Feed Refusal

1. For refusal from birth-canal inflammation, inject penicillin 400,000 IU plus 1 ml houttuynia and 0.5 ml dexamethasone, twice daily for two days. For pyometra, also give 1 dose of oxytocin IM daily for 3-4 days to expel pus.

2. For refusal from metabolic disorder, inject vitamin B12, 2-3 ml IM once daily for 3 days.

3. For refusal from sepsis, use a postpartum recovery injection at 0.2 ml/kg once daily for 2 days.

4. For refusal from postnatal infection, mix penicillin 400,000 IU with 2 ml dipyrone and inject IM twice daily for 2 days.

The above introduces prevention of postpartum feed refusal in does. We hope it helps.