Baby goat: Floppy Kid Syndrome?

So yesterday we birthed our first goats. Two little babies, it went extremely easy. Both kids were happy and milking and walking around (with occasional stumbles). Then today, one of the kids was down and unable to stand and barely able to lift it's own head. Two hours before it was found like this it had been moving and walking around fine. I don't have a lot of experience with goats, but my diagnosis based on the internet is Floppy Kid Syndrome. Does anyone with more experience know if there is another potential diagnosis I am missing?

If it is FKS I read to treat with baking soda and with-holding milk (substituting electrolytes) for 24 hours +-. For now it is inside and being kept warm. I gave a little bit of baking soda and will continue that treatment. (along with elctrolytes)

It could be a lack of selenium.

paul wheaton wrote:It could be a lack of selenium.

It is very difficult to suggest what the problem may be since we don't know your geographical location.

Selenium deficiency
When livestock animals are deficient in selenium, glutathione peroxidase cannot be formed. If the animal is also deficient in vitamin E they develop nutritional muscular dystrophy due to the damage of the cell membranes of the skeletal and heart muscles. Calcium salts accumulate in the defective and dying membranes resulting in the appearance of white areas in the muscles giving this disease the name "white muscle disease." (stolen from the web)

This is more likely the case as most areas in the U.S. are selenium deficient. The fix is to go to a vet and get the prescription injection, BO-SE or equivalent. Most Vets with goat experience will opt for a selenium injection. Your Vet will also know if you are in a selenium deficient area, which helps with their diagnosis.

Floppy kid syndrome (metabolic acidosis without dehydration in kids) was first reported in the spring of 1987. This unique condition was first recognized in herds on the west coast and in Canada. It has more recently been recognized throughout the United States. With the increase in popularity of Boer and other meat goats, there has been an apparent increase in reports of floppy kid syndrome in Texas and other states where meat goat numbers are increasing.

The affected kid is normal at birth and develops a sudden onset of muscular weakness (flaccid paresis or paralysis) or ataxia at 3 to 10 days of age. Cases tend to occur most commonly late in kidding seasons. Affected kids are depressed, cannot use their tongues to suckle but can swallow and have marked paradoxial metabolic acidosis (anion gap HCO3, normal chloride). There are no signs of diarrhea, respiratory disease, or other signs.

The clinical signs of paresis/paralysis/ataxia in 3 to 10-day old kids and supporting blood chemistry value are diagnostic features. The causative agents have not been identified. However, infection and endotoxemia could likely be the cause. Differential diagnoses include white muscle disease, abomasal bloat, colibacillosis, septicemia, or enterotoxemia.

http://www.goatnutrition.com/CONDITIONSILLNESSES/Articles/ECMD007243.aspx

Here is the information on FKS. It is lots less likely, but not impossible.