HELP ! ! ! We've got a goat emergency...

Cloverbud · #21 03/26/08, 11:02 AM

Actually, Sweetie has developed a callous on her nub, but really only uses the leg in *very* soft conditions or a rare off-balance moment. I wouldn't worry about the bloody stump situation. She won't put weigh on it if it hurts. They're not stupid creatures. It would definitely be less trauma to the goat to have it removed at the break. And most likely cheaper, as well.

lyceum · #22 03/26/08, 11:19 AM

When amputating a leg, the vet goes up to the next easily cuttable joint. My little Nigerian Buck had his broken between the knee and the foot. They went up to the next joint that they could cut at. He has had no problems getting around. Fights and beats everyone in his pen up, can mount and breed does. His break was really bad, splinted for 7 weeks and did not even begin to heal.

I also had a Boer kid that broke his in about the same area. He was taken right to the vet and it was set, splinted, cleaned and healed perfectly after 6 weeks.

I would do what the vet feels is best. She is the one that went to vet school and has experience with this type of situation. It is better to go higher up, get all the damaged tissue, nerves, etc then to not go high enough and have problems later. Without the leg, she would be up and around in no time. As soon as the anesthesia wears off, they are up and going. Our little Boer kid was trying to destroy the whole vet's office after he was up and going.

Carisa

copperkid3 · #23 03/26/08, 11:53 AM

The phone just rang and it was the vet calling with "good news". She was able to set the bone; was a clean break and she says that baring unforseen complications (vetspeak for: since you waited so long and who knows what kind of stuff got into the open break......I'm covering my butt, by stating it like this.....lol) she should mend quite well and be able to use it again!!!

PRAISE THE LORD!!! But that last bit of news makes me wonder if she will try "jumping the fence" stuff again........maybe it would have been better to have it lopped off??? Naw.......just kidding......besides, goats learn their lessons don't they??? She'd never try that little stunt again......would she???

She is the "instigator".......so maybe we better get that extension up on the low portion of the fence and not take anymore chances.

Oh yeah, there was good news and better news......the TOTAL BILL for looking at, prescribing for and treating BOTH goats came to.....(can we have a drum roll please???) ......$211.86. A whole lot better than I'd feared. So all-in-all.......GREAT NEWS!!! We go and pick her up after she comes to around 4 to 4:30pm today. :banana02::banana02::banana02:

dbarjacres · #24 03/26/08, 11:58 AM

I would try to keep it clean and just make vet-wrap bandage pad around the whole bottom area, to keep it clean. IF she seems shock/stress free.

DH had a 3 legged cat (Lucky) (who was abandonded at birth by his mother - the leg accident happened later on when my FIL sat on Lucky accidently) and Lucky had a good 5 years of life until DH's German Shepherd female came into heat and killed him. Lucky was NOT a good name for him, haha.

I also know of a miniature horse mare that was in a bad home and staked out with a rope. Rope got wrapped around her rear pastern and by the time anyone found her, it was already dead and just sloughed off on it's own. She had a calloused stump she used for balance sometimes and got around good.

Dreaming2Loudly · #25 03/26/08, 12:48 PM

When was the last time she had her CD+T vac ?
I would give one if this was my doe, especially since she did this on a fence.

copperkid3 · #26 03/26/08, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dreaming2Loudly

When was the last time she had her CD+T vac ?
I would give one if this was my doe, especially since she did this on a fence.

********************************************
The doc took care of it prior to fixing the break. So we're covered there.

Minelson · #27 03/26/08, 02:00 PM

GREAT NEWS! I have been watching this thread closely and I didn't post until now because of your request for help without too much emotion. I had no clue on what you should do and my post would have been purely emotion. I am so happy that Maggie is on the mend and going to survive this horrible wound. And you should pat yourself on the back for remaining level headed and calm. Maggie is lucky to have such loving "parents"

goatsareus · #28 03/26/08, 02:01 PM

glad to learn your goat will be okay.

I guess my experience wasn't like yours, there was no saving my goats leg, he had pretty much wrenched it off when we found him. He did learn to walk on 3 legs, just used the stump at times to balance.

Backfourty,MI. · #29 03/26/08, 02:53 PM

We have 1 little wether that is the biggest jumper I have ever seen, big pygmy and he weighs 60 pounds & he jumps 5 1/2 feet like its nothing(we measured). We put chicken wire up above the regular fence(5 feet)on taller posts anywhere that there are houses, etc. that he can get up on & jump out & he's not jumped over since. Sure glad your doe sounds like she'll be just fine in no time.

fishhead · #30 03/26/08, 03:48 PM

That's good news!

I think I'd be looking at putting a hot wire inside the fence so there would be no question about whether to try to jump it. The next time may not turn out so well.

Goat Servant · #31 03/26/08, 03:49 PM

PTL Wonderful news indeed!!!

Cloverbud · #32 03/26/08, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lyceum

When amputating a leg, the vet goes up to the next easily cuttable joint.

Not true in my experience. When you amputate in the middle of a joint, the body will try to continue to manufacture joint fluid, which causes problems if there is no joint for the fluid to be in. Every amputation I have assisted with was done mid-shaft of the bone, a fold of muscle (if available) was sutured over the cut end of the bone, and then the skin is sutured over that.

I'm so glad that they were able to set Maggie's break! Does she have a cast or a splint? Either way, I hope that she leaves it alone and that you have success keeping it clean and dry and infection-free.:banana02:

goatkid · #33 03/26/08, 06:04 PM

I'm so glad you took her to the vet and that she was able to set the leg. When reading this thread, I was reminded of something that happened a few years ago. I came home form work to find a pregnant yearling hanging from the gate by one rear leg. Fortunately, she was able to touch the ground with her front legs and did not break her leg, but it had bled fairly hard and started bleeding again when I cleaned it. I applied gauze and vet wrap and the leg healed. She went on to deliver a healthy kid a couple months later.

robyrich · #34 03/26/08, 07:15 PM

I had no useful advice for you, but now that it seems things are going to be ok I can say AHHHHHHHH. That just sounded awful. I am so gald that it looks like she is gonna be ok. Give her an extra goodie for being such a brave girl. Now you can take a deep breath and let your heart rate slow down. I am very happy things are working out.

Starsmom · #35 03/26/08, 07:23 PM

I am so glad that she is going to be ok. I am glad you took her to the vet and found one that didn't charge you through the nose to treat her. Some vets are so ridiculous on the fees they charge that it makes people afraid to take their animals when they should. The vet I used to use is now charging outrageous prices. A friend of mine told me that vet quoted him a figure of about $900 to pick up (3 miles down the road) his horse, float the teeth and return him. That is insane. When this same vet charged me over $250 to put a horse down I quit using them and found another one. So glad I did. It sounds like you found a good one too and that is also a very comforting thought to know that if something happens, you can feel comfortable taking them to be treated. Good luck and glad things turned out ok.

copperkid3 · #36 03/26/08, 09:54 PM

ONE MORE UPDATE ON MAGGIE:

We went to pick her up following the treatment on the broken leg (which by the way, for those who asked or wondered, was splinted clear up to her hip) and she was already standing up in her crate and quite alert. The vet advised that we needed to bring her back in two weeks so that the she could check and see how she was mending. Also, that she had goat lice and began asking us how often we worm them. She then proceeded to figure out how much cydectin we would need to treat the entire herd to not only kill the lice, but also deworms them as well. It is put on like Frontline or Advantage is for treating dogs/cats for fleas, but has the capability to do 2-for-the price of one killing pests on goats.......not bad for an additional $18.00or so. The vet also recommended that we get a pound or so of di-cal (dicalicum phosphate) and give it to Maggie free choice and which she claimed would assist in the rebuilding of the bone. After paying our bill, I took the goat in my arms (she's a little chunk of 50 pounds@!!!) and carried her out to the truck and waited until the wife caught up with us.......Maggie however, doesn't like to be kept waiting and began "voicing" her disapproval; telling my pokie-slow wife to "hurry it up" as she wanted to get back home! We were close to the local feedmill and I decided to first check there for the di-cal and the owner there, advised that he had some for sale, but only in 50# bags.......that was more than I needed, so I turned to leave and ran smack, dab into a young Amish friend that I had not seen in over 6 months or so!!! He couldn't remember my name, but his face showed recognition, especially when I relayed some information concerning an accident involving
(2) "English" drivers that happened in front of his house (which is how we had met, since I was the main witness because it happened right in front of me!), he began smiling and we quickly chatted about goats and things. I finally turned to leave and the feedmill owner came out to help my Amish friend load up his supplies and then turned to me and said, "I think there maybe an open bag of di-cal in back......would 5# work for you?" I was delighted to get some and he rang up the sale. In the meantime, Maggie was a bit put-out by this "delay" and showed her disapproval as only a goat can. She was laying on the wifes' lap, with her rear pointed in my direction and as I started to climb back into the drivers seat, she began to let loose with a barrage of "goat berries" that rained down onto my seat!!!! There seemed to be no stopping them either!!! Finally.......it seemed .......she ran "out of ammo" and after trying to clean them out as best I could......we were on our way home. Just to let me know that she still was not satisfied with the service of this taxi driver, she would get restless and try to stand up in the wifes' lap; failing to make any headway there......she would flay the new "appendage" about and wack me with it, in the knee, leg or upper arm with it!!!

A couple of times, I swear, she was aiming that thing at my head.......yet, somehow we all survived the trip and she was delivered safe and sound back to her pen in the barn. Knowing how she has been about "escaping" in the past; I took extra security measures and braced the gate to keep her from trying a "Houdini" and slipping out on us......will have to go check on her shortly and bring the kids in to also share the stall with her for the night. Will keep ya'll informed of Maggies' progress in the weeks ahead.

Thanks to all and to all......a good night.

Minelson · #37 03/26/08, 10:31 PM

LOL!!!! That is so funny...I can just picture her flaying her new appedageLOL. And the ammo! TOO FUNNY. Great story thank you

Sondra Peterson · #38 03/26/08, 11:24 PM

Just check this thread and what wonderful news boy the price was great too believe I would keep this vet. Congratulations!!

Goat Servant · #39 03/26/08, 11:38 PM

Ah thats a great!! Thanks for the update.

wardarden · #40 03/27/08, 08:17 AM

What a wonderful outcome of such a horrible day that you guys had! I have been watching this thread closely but had no good advice since I haven't had this experience. (knocking on wood) Isn't it great how things work out, God is good! I hope that your Maggie makes a complete recovery.

Have a blessed day,
Arden