How to tell a doe is in distress?

[skysthelimit]

How do you tell a doe that is in distress? This is the doe that lost her litter a couple of months back, seems like ketosis, she stopped eating 5 days before having the litter, got poopy but and mucous, went back to normal after having a stillborn litter of 7. Today is her due date, she's been sitting in the box since Monday, she gets out to eat and drink, but she's sitting in there, not laying around stretched out like the others were. I've given her lavender, which she ate greedily, dandelion, and a calcium pill. She seems a bit nervous, but perhaps it's just her. And obvious signs of distress to look for?

 

[MaggieJ]

I've never actually seen a doe in distress, but I'd worry if there was laboured breathing, panting, tooth grinding, vocalizations that seemed to indicate pain... That kind of thing.

 

[trinityoaks]

My first thought would be calcium deficiency, but it looks like you've got that covered. Did you notice any improvement after giving her the calcium? I put calcium drench (for goats, about a tsp) in their 32-oz water bottles shortly before their due date until they wean.

 

[skysthelimit]

My first thought would be calcium deficiency, but it looks like you've got that covered. Did you notice any improvement after giving her the calcium? I put calcium drench (for goats, about a tsp) in their 32-oz water bottles shortly before their due date until they wean.

She did seem to settle down a bit. I gave her the last tablet around 7pm, and she seemed a bit calmer around 9pm. Must have taken a while to kick in. And she was pulling fur when I left at 7am.