Help Please....

Reauxman · #1 10/27/06, 03:35 PM

I went out an hor ago and found my buck down. He was attacked bydogs it appears.

There is a spot about the size of a silver dollar of skin missing on the front left shoulder andabout 3" in the back left hind leg. He is standing but won't put the front lft leg down.

He is eatig and drinking. I've cleane the wounds as best I can without mving him around a whole lot. I've carried him into the shed where I've set up an area thats about 6X6. He is currently eating his evening pellets. Should I limit his pellet intke? Hay?

I really don't know a whole lot of what happened, when I got there he was down. The other goats were fine. I raised him from a few days old, so likely he wnt up to the dog himself.

fishhead · #2 10/27/06, 03:44 PM

I would say that eating is the best for him and make sure he can reach his water easily. Watch for infections too.

moosemaniac · #3 10/27/06, 03:47 PM

Make sure you clean that wound out thoroughly! A dog bite can be pretty ugly!

Ruth

ozark_jewels · #4 10/27/06, 04:04 PM

Your already several steps ahead if he is eating and drinking. That means he is not in shock. You might put him on a round of antibiotics as dog bites can be very nasty. Keep him on probiotics or yogurt of some sort while he is on antibiotics if you decide to do that.

Reauxman · #5 10/27/06, 07:36 PM

He has eaten a good two pounds more than he usually gets. He is still willing to get up if you ask him to, but not wanting to put pressire on the front leg, which I find odd as the wound to the back leg is worse.

He still isn't afraid of my dog(whom he has never met). I wold have put down any other goat like this when I found them in the pasture not able to move, but that didn't even cross my mind. Heck, I even carried his year and ahalf old self a good 1/4 mile to the truck. I'll be sore tomorrow, but he is more than worth it. Guess yall will want a pic of him now?

oberhaslikid · #6 10/27/06, 07:49 PM

I always use neosporin or triple antibiotic on any wounds.Keep clean.As long as hes eating He should be Ok. I would also find those dogs.This would not happen again if it were my farm.

Reauxman · #7 10/27/06, 08:33 PM

I don't live where the goats do, it is 5 miles from my house. I will bring a shotgun with me from now on until those dogs are gone. They also got my guineas.

Rockin'B · #8 10/27/06, 08:58 PM

Pics are good!

If the wound is on a leg other than the one that your goat is favoring, he could have strained a muscle/ligament in trying to escape. Could have also taken a blow to that area.

I'm far from smart when it comes to goats but I sure do know about being sore from taking a hit. Hope he's feeling better soon!

Idahoe · #9 10/27/06, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reauxman

He has eaten a good two pounds more than he usually gets. He is still willing to get up if you ask him to, but not wanting to put pressire on the front leg, which I find odd as the wound to the back leg is worse.

He still isn't afraid of my dog(whom he has never met). I wold have put down any other goat like this when I found them in the pasture not able to move, but that didn't even cross my mind. Heck, I even carried his year and ahalf old self a good 1/4 mile to the truck. I'll be sore tomorrow, but he is more than worth it. Guess yall will want a pic of him now?

A wound does not have to appear big to be "bad", I'd go more by loss of function and pain than how it "looks".

He could just have a deeper tissue injury that doesn't show on the outside.

I don't have much wisdom to contribute, but I did just have this happen to a doe of mine, only it was my own dogs. She ran out of the pen and DH couldn't catch her. If this happens to me, the dogs do a decent herding job so I can get a hold of her, but she is shy and still runs from me, much less DH. The dogs got out of control, I don't know what DH did or didn't do to contribute to the cause, but the poor doe was bitten on the neck and udder, causing mainly skin tears. She was in "shock", more exhaustion than anything, but ate well right away. I used BluKote on the wounds after cleaning them, and they are healing nicely. The doe doesn't charge the door to the pen anymore, I noticed . . .

Anyway, these are a neurotic basenji (I guess thats redundant) and two BC puppies about five months old who aren't vicious. It taught us a lesson about pack mentality, and to purchase a set of remote training collars and to establish some basic control BEFORE the dogs and goats go together again.

These might be SOMEONE'S dogs, which wouldn't change my mind about shooting them per se, but it just goes to show you how we can never discount the predatorial behaviors of our goofy pets, nor take for granted that since they haven't "done it", they won't.

ozark_jewels · #10 10/27/06, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reauxman

He has eaten a good two pounds more than he usually gets.

Be careful of this as they should not overeat on feed. Give him all the hay and water he wants, but limit his feed.
If you don't live where your goats are, you should get a livestock guardian dog or two. Nothing like them!! If the dog that did this is still around, he will be back. Most likely when your not around.......

Reauxman · #11 10/27/06, 09:23 PM

As for a dog, I have given it thought in the past. I will keep an eye ot or one.

The barn is right off a major road with no houses within a mile, so I've nver expected dogs. I've never seen one in over 12 years there.

I have looked and it appears the front leg wound does go deeper than I thought. It is about 1/4" into the flesh. The hind wound doesn't appear to go in. Luckily the flies are at bay. I've brought the boy home and he will stay here until he is back to his normal self.

I will try and get pics tmorrw, but he is a mess. He's still the sweetes thing throughi all though.

PygmyLover · #12 10/27/06, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozark_jewels

Be careful of this as they should not overeat on feed. Give him all the hay and water he wants, but limit his feed.

you are always beating me to it! lol

over feeding can be WORSE then the dog bite. Please don't feed him more then his normal ration. Since he isn't moving around much he doesn't need a whole lot - not buring it off.

ozark_jewels · #13 10/28/06, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PygmyLover

you are always beating me to it! lol

Hey, what can I say, great minds think alike.....

It was a rainy cold day and I had more time than usual on the computer.

Sher · #14 10/28/06, 09:46 AM

I'd likely take him off his grain while he is trying to heal. Good hay and water will keep him going.

I know this sounds crazy..but along with the pen shot...I would reclean his wounds and fill them with honey..I have been told that germs cannot grow where honey is. I have used sugar when I didn't have honey...but prefer honey. Carefully pack his wounds with it.

If he was here..and still stoved up and favoring his leg...I would give the boy a long slow massage with straight olive oil...and make sure it got through his hair to his skin...this is for pulled/stressed muscles. Warm it if you like...think I would.

Good luck..and I hope you get the critters that did this..best bet is they won't stop now. Here..the first suspect would be coyotes.

rabbitgal · #15 10/28/06, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moosemaniac

Make sure you clean that wound out thoroughly! A dog bite can be pretty ugly!

Ruth

yes! (Call your vet also), we had a turkey that almost got killed by three dogs, we cleaned her wounds and she was just fine, but she did have a big scar on her leg...
but she lived!

Rosie-
DSis

fishhead · #16 10/28/06, 05:14 PM

Since this is a puncture wound wouldn't that make it susceptible to tetanus if it were to come in contact with soil?

You might want to make sure he's up on his CD/T shot.

PygmyLover · #17 10/28/06, 05:25 PM

Tetanus is only contracted if their is no way for oxygen to get to the wound. Tetanus can not live where oxygen is. and you get tetanus from rusty things.....not sure about soil.

Not a bad idea to make sure the CD/T is up to date though.

Reauxman · #18 10/28/06, 07:26 PM

He has had a tet shot. I gave it to him a few months back when I banded his horns.

I have not cleaned the wounds out again, as they were packed with antiobiotic creme. I will clean then again in the morning.

Cyotes are not even a suspect. This is in the middle of a subdivision nearly. There is nowhere for cyotes to live there.

The other goats are staying up until I either get a dog or kill the pack responsible.

He is still not putting pressure on the leg, but can get around fine.

As to the feed, it was only allfalfa pellets, and most here freefeed them, so I don't think it would be a problem. I don't feed them but for an evening snack now as the goats have a lot of browse and are fat enough without them.

I wish I had a vet that new anything about goats....sigh.

ozark_jewels · #19 10/28/06, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reauxman

As to the feed, it was only allfalfa pellets, and most here freefeed them, so I don't think it would be a problem. I don't feed them but for an evening snack now as the goats have a lot of browse and are fat enough without them.

Ah, good. Alfalfa pellets free-choice shouldn't hurt him as you say.

fishhead · #20 10/29/06, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PygmyLover

Tetanus is only contracted if their is no way for oxygen to get to the wound. Tetanus can not live where oxygen is. and you get tetanus from rusty things.....not sure about soil.

Not a bad idea to make sure the CD/T is up to date though.

I was thinking that a tooth puncture could act like any other puncture and create a hole without oxygen. Tetanus is found in the soil. The rusty nail we were all warned about only makes the puncture wound the bacteria comes from the soil.