Back home but busted, poor baby

nduetime · #1 12/05/06, 05:58 PM

Went and picked up my two does that were out getting bred today. My 4 year old registered nubian Rosie was lying down in the shelter with Gracie the Lamancha standing guear over her. Got Gracie in the truck but when I got rosie up her front left leg was dangling at the pastern. She did not want to put weight on it and when she tried it would cave. I ended up holding her leg for her as she hopeed to the truck. Got her home and wrapped it in cotton batting,splinted it and wrapped that in vet wrap. The friend who was breeding her for me was really upset but I told her that unless she personally kicked her not to worry about it. Animals do things like that. I hate to see Rosie limping around but nothing to do now but wait and see. I am hoping I will not need the vet for this as
1. I just got the bill for MY left knee and am not done recuperating yet.
2. Just had the vet out monday for my horses left front - abcess
3. Now a goats left front

Hope this train stops soon! I will get the vet if I need to because I love Rosie too but Geesh! She seems to be doing ok with the splint. Moving around eating and drinking and happy to be home and in the barn where it is a bit warmer.
Just needed to vent. If anyone has any ideas to make her more comfortable please let me know. thanks

pookshollow · #2 12/05/06, 07:38 PM

Wow - they do say things go in threes, so here's hoping that you've had your three (although it was, strictly speaking, your left hind

)

I can't give you any advice on painkillers for Rosie, but I guess if you put hay near her, so she doesn't have to get up and walk around . . .

Jillis · #3 12/05/06, 07:42 PM

Banamine for pain, you can also get the generic cheaper, you do have to get it from the vet.

**mygoat** · #4 12/05/06, 08:39 PM

Would you please have a vet out to look at her? If you don't, you may be causing her more harm by not getting her proper attention... A bone could set wrong and have to be rebroken, blah blah blah. Maybe you should at least call and see what could be the problem and whatnot, and what you can do to treat it.

ozark_jewels · #5 12/05/06, 08:56 PM

Sounds like you did very well. As long as you splinted it well and straight, it should heal fine. You can give her Banamine for the pain, but unless she is acting like it really hurts I would refrain for now. You could give her some form of calcium supplement(tums work fine), and make sure she has a good mineral in front of her. If you do herbals at all, comfrey is the best to promote fast bone healing and growth. She can eat it and it can be used externally on the leg itself. A diet with plenty of alfalfa will help keep her calcium levels up.
Keep her food and water close, but not too close. She still needs some excercise.
I've splinted and healed several broken legs on kids and grown does....no vet involved. I can do the same things the vet will do, but at a fraction of the expense.

A broken leg is really not *that* serious if taken care of promptly....it just looks really bad. If its not a multiple fracture or its not sticking through the hide....I won't get the vet.

Sweet Goats · #6 12/06/06, 09:05 AM

Something else you can give is Arnica Montans. It is a natural healent aand it will help. God bless you and the left side.

AllWolf · #7 12/06/06, 10:08 AM

Hope your goat gets well soon and sending hugs and prayer for you and your goat. This may sound crazy but animals needs prayer to.

Good Luck.

nduetime · #8 12/06/06, 10:31 AM

thanks all. Called and spoke with the vet last night. He said it was my left hind too, lol. He said she can have 6-10 people aspirin for pain, if needed. He was pretty concerned over the dangling part. Her pastern and hoof were really flopping around pretty bad before I splinted her. He thought without seeing it, that it sounded as though I did fine but said if she did have a fracture a cast would be better for stability than a splint. So, as soon as he is done on an emergency call today I am meeting up with him to get her casted. No farm call charge which is nice, saves me 40.00. She is willing to hobble on her splint which is a very good sign, and I left her knee free for better mobility. I was afraid it would stiffin up too much. Hoping we have now finished with our share for the winter!

Idahoe · #9 12/06/06, 12:01 PM

I agree with your actions, too, I'm new with livestock but your reasoning just makes sense. She is walking around, eating and drinking, which are always good signs.

Probably your quick action of splinting her right away before swelling and/or blood clots could form on the broken bone ends saved her leg. DH worked in orthopedics for over 20 years, and the sooner the bone is "set" properly, the quicker the recovery. My son was tussling with a friend who tossed him over his shoulders and DS landed on his wrist . . . DH splinted him within ten minutes of the injury, and kept his wrist immobilized for a couple of weeks. His hand and arm had black and blue bruising but the immobilization did the trick. Little pain, considering, and after two weeks, his wrist was fully functional without pain. If I'd had to wait for hours in the ER, I doubt the healing would have been so easy even if he'd been treated by a physician.

nduetime · #10 12/06/06, 03:19 PM

Well, good news! According to the radiographs, Rosie has a nasty chip but no fracture. The vet thinks she may be just as well off with no splint now that it has been awhile and will not need a cast. Since there is no fracture, there really is not anything to stabilize and the 24 hour splint did the trick ok for the initial injury. She now has some banamine for pain and totally loves riding in the back seat of the truck.
Felt kind of bad about the bill for a chip but I was bringing her in anyway as Dh loves this gals milk. Not sure he would have allowed it for anyone else but she is a great producer and gives wonderfully sweet milk. All is well that ends well and she is happy to be home, no berries or potty in the truck = BONUS!