Huge Scare!

Goat Freak · #1 07/14/08, 12:10 AM

Some of you might remember my bottle baby from two years ago. Seke's mom died when he was 10 days old, and he was really sick, everyone thought he'd die, but he didn't. He's always been a little wierd, like bing pushed by other goats then not being able to get up again, not being able to jump, being VERY quiet, having NO sex drive, and overall just being weird. Today I couldn't find him. My friend had been over, and accidently let a few goats into the yard, but Zeke wasn't there, after lots of searching in the dark I found him, he's hard to see because he's brown. Zeke was on his side, not moving, so I sent my sister in the house, without telling her, so she wouldn't have to know. I jsut had a feeling he was dead. I went up to him and he wasn't moving. And then his ear moved, and I noticed his eyes were too, so I took him up to the house, where for a good ten minutes I was crying and trying to pick him up while he was dying. He was crying a little and jerking, I felt horrible. I finally got him up, and you know what? The little crapper started walking toward a tree, ate some leaves, and overall acted fine, just a little stiff.

So this is my theory, I think he got pushed over sometime today, and since he can't get off his side, he waits for me to get him up, I think he just laid there, got stiff and uncomfortable, and scared the crap out of me. He's acting fine now, as fine as Zeke ever does

. So after today, I am incredibly happy and glad and praising God that my baby is alive, I thought I'd lost him.

Sorry this is so long. By the way, Zeke is going anorexic and refusing to eat, he's gotten skinny doing that

, he just drives me crazy sometimes, I've tried worming him, giving him his favorites, and usually he just doesn't want to do more than nibble, although today he was STARVING after "playing dead" for who knows how long. So I'm hoping his appetite is back but if not I need to find a solution for my wacky little fellow

. Thanks guys, for reading my story, and for any suggestions and comments. Thanks, bye.

CookingPam777 · #2 07/14/08, 06:50 AM

Sounds quite interesting hehehe! Glad to hear he was alright that would have scared me real bad to. When Rose broke her horn and her head was bleeding everywhere the vet said heads bleed a lot get her here and she'll be okay. I was crying and saying how do they know what they are talking about they can't see her. It was very funny I was totally unconvinced the vet was right and thought she'd die. Looking back I was a crazy mess. Very worried goat mama. I also panicked 5 minuites into my goat giving birth thinking it was stuck. What I found works for anorexic goats is let them starve and get hungry don't even let them nibble also give his food to someone else and make him jealous if he goes for it hold him back and let him watch another goat eat it's food. The next day he will be hungry and worried another goat is going to eat his food and gobble it up. Worked for mine but I have to get it jealous. Or she would starve. If this doesn't work I am unsure what to do.

Minelson · #3 07/14/08, 08:16 AM

That does sound scary! I would have totally freaked out. I wonder if he is a little too fragile to hang out with the others? Although, he may be terribly unhappy not being with the rest of the heard...It's very difficult to have a vulnerable critter running with the big boys, you have to keep a constant eye on them and that can be stressful. I am so happy he's ok!!

Starsmom · #4 07/14/08, 11:12 AM

To help increase his appetite, try giving him some vit b. It seems to help boost the appetite and increase eating. Once he has started eating properly, he will balance out.

Goat Freak · #5 07/14/08, 11:40 AM

I've already given him, and the whole herd a dose of vit B, and he doesn't get jeolous with food, and he doesn't really like the other goats. Right now he's in with my chickens in their coop. He doesn't know to get out of the rain, and last night was bad so he got put in with the chickens. They don't bother him, they just hope on his back every now and then. He's perfectly fine now. We're downsizing our herd, getting rid of the bad mothers, and the ones that don't throw babies that are registration material. When we're done down sizing, we'll have more pens available and Zeke will get moved into a pen by himself, or a pasture, he'll have goats through the fence to socialise with, if he suddenly changes his mind and wants to be a goat, and not a "human". He's so freaky!

Thanks guys. Bye.

Starsmom · #6 07/14/08, 01:16 PM

Could he possibly have a problem with chewing? maybe his back teeth aren't aligned. Have you noticed any food dropping from his mouth? Maybe he gets tired of trying to eat so he quits or gives up. Maybe he eats too slow to compete with the others, so he doesn't get his fair share so he just doesn't try. Have you tried beet pulp? Most goats like that and it is really good for them and puts weight on quickly. Just a thought.