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12/11/07, 07:50 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: western NY
Posts: 1,507
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vet can't draw blood?
Got a call from one of my goat customers. She had her vet out to draw blood for CAE testing on several goats and the guy said he couldn't do it because he couldn't find a vein. And I guess he didn't want to shave an area? Does this sound right? I've never heard of a vet unable to draw blood.
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12/11/07, 08:06 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 693
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That does sound odd. I only shaved our goats the very first time I did it. I have one or two very stiff haired goats (pygmy cross) that can sometimes be hard to find, and then I might trim a little if need be. But still, tests need to be done, the vein is there, I will find it. 
Unless this is something odd I don't know about  New vet? maybe? Was he checking the correct side?
__________________
~ Kristen in SE Nebraska
Raising Nubian, Alpine, First Gen. Mini's & cross breed dairy goats. Est. 2004 www.LomahAcres.com
& Handmade Children's items KootieZ.com & Our Etsy Shop
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12/11/07, 08:12 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Illinois
Posts: 35
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doesn't make sense to me. Any vet should be able to draw blood on a goat. In fact, we have done it ourselves in the past. We just shaved a small spot on the neck to make the vein more easily visible, then used a 3cc syringe and 22 ga. needle. My sis-in-law and I did my whole herd (about 30 goats) in one day. I think I found a website one time that gives really good instructions for drawing blood on a goat. If I can find it again, I'll post it for you.
homersgoatlady
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12/11/07, 08:17 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 693
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__________________
~ Kristen in SE Nebraska
Raising Nubian, Alpine, First Gen. Mini's & cross breed dairy goats. Est. 2004 www.LomahAcres.com
& Handmade Children's items KootieZ.com & Our Etsy Shop
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12/11/07, 09:05 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Illinois
Posts: 35
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Yes, that's the website I used too. It's hard to believe that little girl is only 9 years old. I was probably 38 years old when I did it for the first time and I was scared to death, but it worked out just fine. We didn't have any trouble at all.
homersgoatlady
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12/11/07, 09:22 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 879
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by HomersGoatLady
Yes, that's the website I used too. It's hard to believe that little girl is only 9 years old. I was probably 38 years old when I did it for the first time and I was scared to death, but it worked out just fine. We didn't have any trouble at all.
homersgoatlady
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Harder yet to believe that that little girl is in her teens now and nearly 6 feet tall! 
Tracy
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12/11/07, 10:12 PM
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Student of goatology.
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 3,131
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I just drew blood on 3 does for the first time. The first 2 went perfectly and I had a little trouble with the 3rd, she was smaller, but I finally got it. It's not that hard to do.
__________________
Cloven Trail Farm
Lord help me be the person my dog thinks I am!
Ja-Lyn's Radio Flyer, aka "Rad" on his 17th birthday.
9/14/93 -12/3/10.
Rest peacefully my soulmate, I'll love you forever.
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12/11/07, 10:57 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: WI/IL Stateline
Posts: 1,292
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If he can't find the vein on a goat I don't think I'd let him see my cat.
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12/11/07, 11:22 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 481
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Sounds like a small animal (dog, etc) vet that is used to pulling blood out of a leg. Had a customer with a vet that tried to do that. He was successful in a couple of their animals, but most not. I have tried to locate a vein in the leg of my goats out of curiosity, and it's not easy!
Another way to get a good look at the vein on a goat without shaving is to wet the area down with a sponge and some betadine or similar.
Andrea
www.arare-breed.net
www.faintinggoat.net
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12/11/07, 11:27 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Montana
Posts: 2,133
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None of the vets I have used have ever had trouble finding the vein on a goat's neck to draw blood. I'd find another vet to do it - and also to care for the goats. If one ever needs surgery, the vet darn well better know how to hit a vein.
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12/12/07, 07:51 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: western NY
Posts: 1,507
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Would some of her does being heavily pregnant be a factor? I just don't get the problem.
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12/12/07, 09:16 AM
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Student of goatology.
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 3,131
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Many times, a small animal vet has to draw blood from the neck vein of cats and toy breed dogs, it's common practice so there's no excuse. Maybe he doesn't want to work on goats, but then should say so.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by thatcompchick
Sounds like a small animal (dog, etc) vet that is used to pulling blood out of a leg. Had a customer with a vet that tried to do that. He was successful in a couple of their animals, but most not. I have tried to locate a vein in the leg of my goats out of curiosity, and it's not easy!
Another way to get a good look at the vein on a goat without shaving is to wet the area down with a sponge and some betadine or similar.
Andrea
www.arare-breed.net
www.faintinggoat.net |
__________________
Cloven Trail Farm
Lord help me be the person my dog thinks I am!
Ja-Lyn's Radio Flyer, aka "Rad" on his 17th birthday.
9/14/93 -12/3/10.
Rest peacefully my soulmate, I'll love you forever.
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12/12/07, 02:52 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 388
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When my vet was out to draw my goats blood he did not shave any of them, One he had to try twice, but all the others went great, even the overly hairy bucks, he just stuck te needle in and that was that. Possible a young in exsperienced vet????
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12/12/07, 04:19 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: western NY
Posts: 1,507
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She told me today another factor was the vet felt she couldn't hold the goats steady enough for him. I mean she's a good sized woman and these are tame NDs. How did the vet expect her to get CAE tests? Sounds a bit flimsy to me. And I don't think he's a young guy and he is a livestock vet.
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12/12/07, 04:24 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Middle of nowhere along the Rim, Arizona
Posts: 3,096
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by KimM
Many times, a small animal vet has to draw blood from the neck vein of cats and toy breed dogs, it's common practice so there's no excuse. Maybe he doesn't want to work on goats, but then should say so.
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Yup. I've got a 45 pound dog with veins that "roll" -- my vet just draws blood from her neck. Vet should know how to do that.
Were they large breed goats? I had a dog vet once agree to look at goat in an emergency; the goat had gotten cut up on a weekend and needed stitches. When I walked into the office with a 240 pound alpine wether who was one of the tallest, lankiest goats I've ever personally seen -- he could rest his chin on my shoulder without stretching much and I'm 5'6" -- she did a major double take. It was clear she was quite intimidated by him.
She got the job done but she confessed she assumed "pygmy" when she heard goat, not "something the size of a small horse." It's easy to forget how scary working on a 200+ lb animal can be for someone who's not used to them. Even for a vet. maybe especially for a vet; I imagine a vet would treat a dog that size with extreme caution.
"Can't do it" might be an excuse for a vet who's got a good case of the wiggins over drawing blood from animals that weigh more than he does.
-- Leva
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12/12/07, 04:43 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 2,980
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Actually, some vets just are not very good. There is a "livestock" vet at our local clinic here, who is only about 35 and she's so dumb about the horses and goats that it's pitiful. She had a heck of a time drawing my goats last year and this spring she had my 21 y.o. appaloosa mare (who I've had 18 years) so wild up trying to draw blood for a coggins it was unreal. This mare stands there with no halter or lead rope on for ANYTHING, but the vet kept jabbing at her over and over. Did the same thing to my weanling mammoth donkey this fall for her test - had her so wild I couldn't catch her for 2 weeks! She's not allowed out anymore.
I drew my goats for the first time this fall and it's not that hard. DH did it as well.
__________________
ADGA Nigerian Dwarf and MDGA Mini Mancha goats for show, home use and pets www.dbarjacres.webs.com Located in North central Wisconsin
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12/12/07, 04:46 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Austin-ish, Texas
Posts: 5,000
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by thatcompchick
Sounds like a small animal (dog, etc) vet that is used to pulling blood out of a leg. Had a customer with a vet that tried to do that. He was successful in a couple of their animals, but most not. I have tried to locate a vein in the leg of my goats out of curiosity, and it's not easy!
Another way to get a good look at the vein on a goat without shaving is to wet the area down with a sponge and some betadine or similar.
Andrea
www.arare-breed.net
www.faintinggoat.net |
Alcohol helps to wet the hair down and encourages the veins to raise up, making them easier to find.
__________________
"Perhaps I'll have them string a clothesline from the hearse I am in, with my underwear waving in the breeze, as we drive to the cemetary. People worry about the dumbest things!"
by Wendy
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