Goat in pain - limping, swollen, walking on outside of hoof

Meloxicam is for inflammation, often used for arthritis. But it sure doesn't seem like arthritis to me.

Yes - I've told the vet - he says not to expect much change for at least 3 wks. He's not the most responsive or communicative person. Too busy for goats or hysterical goat owners

They are both non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs.

I think I'd be tempted to put a padded splint on it. Check and change bandaging as necessary to prevent loss of circulation and abrasion.

__________________
Alice
* * *
"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus

Yes - I'm very tempted too also. At the very least, it should give him some support. We'll see what the new vet says. She'll be here in an hour.

If it was me and my guy. I had to do this to a new baby boy. I would splint his hoof and up his first part of leg with vet wrap. If you can get a mold able splint I would use that too. To me it looks like it could be ligament damage. But I'm no expert. Reduce movement and splint. Lemongrass essential oils will help with ligaments. Applied topical to joint.
I did it to my knee and it took me 12 weeks to have improvement. 6 weeks on crutches.

__________________
I'm so done here.

Can you tell me what a moldable splint is?

I just got out my carpal tunnel brace and it looks like it would fit perfectly around his fetlock and leg.

Could there be any reasons NOT to splint it? Could it possible cause more harm then good? If not - I'm going to go for it, I think

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001J5...&pi=SX200_QL40
This is what I have used. I had a goat break her leg. I used it on her. I also used it on a daughter who broke her wrist. And a daughter who broke her hand.

__________________
I'm so done here.

Thank you for the link!

I take Meloxicam for arthritis & my doc. won't let me take any other pain med's except for tylenol if I need something.
See what the new vet says but I wouldn't give Banamine & Meloxicam in the same day.
I sure hope the splinting helps or the vet can come up with something else. Heart breaking watching your pet in pain.

__________________
Udderly Precious Mini Nubian Goats
Homemade goats milk soap always available see my FB soap page https://www.facebook.com/UdderlyPreciousSoaps


http://www.youmansacres.com/index.html

Well the new vet came out and took a good look at his feet. She even trimmed his hooves! Whoo-hoo! She said she felt heat (not much) in the bad foot but did not recommend penning him up or splinting him. She's worried that he'll get caught up in something - and man, would that be a nightmare. We all know these guys get into everything....even when they're hurting....so I think I have to agree with her. However I may try some vet wrap, just for some stability.

She said to stay with the Meloxicam...that I could try Bute but it's a little harder on them.

She's VERY young and just out of school, but she's willing to listen and spend some time, so I'm glad I have an alternative to my original vet.

Backfourty - it is really heart breaking watching him on his knees in the pasture and watching him walk hurts. But I guess I need to just give it some more time. He's been on the meds for only 5 days now, so... I sure hope I see some improvement soon!

I sure hope the med's kick in soon. Poor guy, the vet wrap might give him some support so it doesn't hurt as bad.

__________________
Udderly Precious Mini Nubian Goats
Homemade goats milk soap always available see my FB soap page https://www.facebook.com/UdderlyPreciousSoaps


http://www.youmansacres.com/index.html

Can anyone else offer up some ideas? I'm worried about this guy. He's been on the meloxicam for over 3 weeks and i see no improvement whatsoever. The vets discourage any splint or brace....and the points are valid.

It was suggested that I give him penicillin for 5 days....an infection in the joint, maybe? And to take him off the meloxicam and give him aspirin instead. (Anyone know the dosage - seems to be a huge range from what I have found on the internet?)

I'm at such a loss. All ideas welcome!

Ding ding we have a winner. Toast's hooves were overgrown and she was hyperextending one....the same one in fact...and had the same exact swelling. Hers extended up into that second joint. Trim his hooves. I watched the first video and she was walking in a similar way.

I made a splint to make her step on that hoof properly. It was a pvc pipe cut in half padded with a thin layer of self sticking wrap. Then duct taped on since it was wet out there. I changed it every 3 days. Once she was putting more weight on it I used paper towel rolls insted of the pvc, then eventually just wrapped it in vet wrap. She still gets arthritis when the weather changes so I wrap it for her when she starts acting tender again. Glucosamine and chrondrotin from the health food store help her.

Here's the thread I made about her. There were lots of other ideas for helping get her foot back in order.

Goat math struck again!

Thank you for your response!

I do have the Sam splint I could try. But I'm afraid to complicate things at this point.

His hooves were trimmed 2 1/2 weeks ago and there has been no improvement. The vet trimmed them.

I see only 4 comments in that thread - including your original post. Is this the link you mean to post?

Thanks again

Yes, that's the thread i meant to post...but i thought it had more pictures of her feet in it. So I went back to search and found that there was another one about her feet.

Help with possible foot rot

Thanks, squeaky!

If you do give the antibiotics, I'd use PenG & do the full 5-7 days.
I do think I would splint it for a few days & see if that helps at all.
I wouldn't give the aspirin though, they need so much to actually do anything & then I'd worry about rumen upset.
Take him off he meloxicam if you don't think it's working & try the Glucosomine, I don't think it would hurt him.

I'm thinking it must be a joint thing if his hooves look good.

__________________
Udderly Precious Mini Nubian Goats
Homemade goats milk soap always available see my FB soap page https://www.facebook.com/UdderlyPreciousSoaps


http://www.youmansacres.com/index.html

Get some 20 mule team borax and put 1/4 tsp in his mouth 2x a day. Should see improvement within a week or two. I take it myself for arthritis and it really helps.

__________________
I believe in God's willingness to heal.

Cyngbaeld's Keep Heritage Farm, breeding a variety of historical birds and LaMancha goats. (It is pronounced King Bold.)

Thanks, Katie. I think you're on the right track. His hooves look fine. I know he must have some arthritis b/c the vet said so, but what he showed me on the x-ray seemed minimal. Of course I can't read x-rays. My point is that I think what I should be treating is an injury (compounded by arthritis), but injury being the main problem.

I don't see any need for an antibiotic. I may be wrong, but if I approach this by throwing everything but the kitchen sink at it, I won't know what I did to fix it...if I fix it.

I think a light brace...with either meloxicam or another anti-inflammatory (no more aspirin) and I'm going to look into a mineral blood panel. I'm also going to try to get Bo-se and see if that helps.

I do have Aniflex GL, but it has a warning that says not to use if there's a history of urinary stones...and there is. So I may wait on that.

Cyngbaeld - thanks for the tip. I have read about using this for arthritis. Thanks for the dosage...I'll keep this in my back pocket.

I have two other friends that have goats with arthritis and both of them are trying the meloxicam. They are both seeing a slight improvement after a week or so. My guy has been on a higher dose for a longer time, so that tells me it's not arthritis that is the main issue. At least that's what I'm thinking right now.

How about a torn or severed ligament (or tendon). That could happen with a nasty twist of the leg and wouldn't show as an external wound. Can you see that in a X-ray? Maybe take a closer look at the X-rays. Just tossing out an idea.