Goat Buck Collapsed

boren · #1 06/07/08, 09:46 PM

Hey guys, it's been a long time. I haven't seen anything here about this so I thought post and get some thoughts.

Was out walking by my buck his pasture when he came bounding over to see me. I don't mean running he was so happy he was actually bounding. As he got to the fence he let out a scream and collapsed to the ground. I jumped over the fence and worked him over. No broken bones, no dislocated joints, no hooves split open, no bee stings. He's almost comatose, eyes shut, tongue hanging out, breathing ok. I rolled him back over and get a good grunt of pain.

A call into the large animal vet and I get a plan. Vet thinks he may have slipped a disk in his spine. He's had the exact same description of events on dogs before. Fairly different animal but he everything matched up. By the end of the phone call the buck (Bonafide) had rolled onto his knees and was trying to get up, albeit without any luck.

Current plan is to get him comfortable and feed him ibuprofen to help keep the swelling and pain down. In the morning we'll try more ibuprofen if needed and reevaluate.

Thoughts? Anyone seen this before?

fishhead · #2 06/07/08, 10:16 PM

Some vets do chiropractic care and some chiropractors work on animals.

It might help to get some muscle relaxer in him to stop the spasms. That will make it easier to move the vertebrae back into place. I would think you would be able to feel it if you slowly feel each vertebrae.

reicheru · #3 06/08/08, 02:23 AM

oooouch. I'm not sure about goats, but I know with humans you can't really palpate for a slipped disc. We didn't find out the fiance had a slipped disc until an MRI after 3 weeks of pain and I don't even want to imagine his reaction if someone tried to palpate him. hahaha He's still on heavy duty pain killers and muscle relaxers even after therapy and he's about to see another doctor about surgery, 2.5 months later.

poor dudes. I hope your guy starts feeling better soon.

Minelson · #4 06/08/08, 07:12 AM

How is he doing this morning?

boren · #5 06/08/08, 08:20 AM

This morning he is up, and very sore especially in the hind quarter. He's able to move around slowly so he can get to water and maybe browse a little. The two ibuprofen I gave him this morning seemed to help a good bit.

Fishhead, Bonafide while a sweet guy he is a working animal. A couple up the way do chiropractic care for horses and I know the amount they charge. Sadly if he can't resolve this himself with the aid of anti inflammatory meds/pain killers he'll have to be put down. Plus if this is genetic the last thing I need in my herd are spinal problems. He truely is half the herd and this year was going to be his last season here.

DQ · #6 06/08/08, 09:06 AM

take heart! my doe was injured while getting bred last fall, apparently some kind of nerve/spinal type injury. a few days of banamine an she would get up by herself occasionally. after a few months and slow recovery she was completely normal. keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Backfourty,MI. · #7 06/08/08, 10:44 AM

Hope He recovers with the med's. It sounds like he will since he's already up. It doesn't sound like it's hereditary, just happy to see you & screwed up his back while bounding over to see you. Good luck to you & Bonafide! will be thinking of him, let us know how he's doing in a day or so?