mentaly retarded kid

DairyGoatSlave · #1 03/18/09, 10:50 AM

my friend has a little do kid, around a month old. When she was born she would not stand on her front legs. It took around four days for her to stand, when she finaly started walking she would wobble and run into things and fall over. at first we thought she was just weak in the front legs. No one was there when she was born, but right afterwords. we made sure she got colostorum, so its not that. We have not de hornd her in fear of her spazing out. when you pick her up she puts her front legs backwards, like a skier. when she is playing with the other kids she runs arond and smaks into things. her eyes are okay, so she can see. she has the weidest habbit, when she gets scared or over excited she runs aroud in a circle! non stop till you pick her up. Any ideas why? her mom was a ff, the doeling(valintine) has no other health problems except for her oddness. Is thier anything we can do?
Thanks

Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians · #2 03/18/09, 01:32 PM

I would put her down. Not all livestock is destended to be breeders. She likely lacked oxygen when being born, either because she was not delivered quickly or was born with the sack on her face and the inexperienced mom didn't lick the face first.

If this was a selenium issue when first born, with her legs, you would have seen sucking issues, no suck reflex or a poor one. Now, it's simple neurological problems. Vicki

powderhooves · #3 03/18/09, 04:40 PM

I would just love her. That's just me. I wouldn't breed her and probably have her sterilized or keep her away from the buck.

Jyllie63 · #4 03/18/09, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powderhooves

I would just love her. That's just me. I wouldn't breed her and probably have her sterilized or keep her away from the buck.

Me too! She would become a beloved pet!

Jcran · #5 03/18/09, 05:19 PM

I have those same symptoms whenever its time to clean house...ok, lame joke.

Minelson · #6 03/18/09, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jcran

I have those same symptoms whenever its time to clean house...ok, lame joke.

LOL! I hope you wear a helmet

I too would keep the little girl and try to keep her safe and healthy...with lots of love. It does sound like some kind of brain damage...but we all have a little of that don't we?

**mygoat** · #7 03/18/09, 05:53 PM

It's just not practical to keep an animal that will never give back, especially with the economy right now.

Also, is it humane? She could run in fear of something and run into something that she could get tangled in, like fencing/brush - especially if not disbudded. She won't be able to run away from predators if she can only run in circles. Even if they sell it to someone as a pet, there is no way it can ever be sure that it will not be sold and end up in a bad home, or preggo.

DairyGoatSlave · #8 03/18/09, 05:54 PM

ok, i will definatly let my friend know your awnsers, shes so sweet, i just couldt bear the thought of her sending valintine to auction! poor lil girl shes the nicest thing but so spazy! jcran- me too!!

KimM · #9 03/19/09, 08:02 AM

So sorry for the little doe

but I agree with Vicki and mygoat. I can't imagine her being happy or safe living that way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jcran

I have those same symptoms whenever its time to clean house...ok, lame joke.

!!

KittenMittens89 · #10 03/19/09, 08:34 AM

I would keep her to. Just because something has something wrong with it doesn't mean end them.

**mygoat** · #11 03/19/09, 10:36 AM

With poor quality or defective animals, it's often best to put them down. That's how animal husbandry works. With livestock, you want to raise animals that give back and make a profit.

It's hard enough to find a 'good' home for goats that are normal - IE, responsible. Unless you plan on keeping it FOREVER, you cannot guarantee that animal a humane, safe life. If you are planning on keeping it FOREVER, go for it. But not many people can guarantee that they can keep a non productive animal for it's lifetime. With goats, that can be as long as 15 years.

DairyGoatSlave · #12 03/19/09, 10:41 AM

She will probably keep it, if it was my kid it would have been gone already. to be honest its a bit rediculous b/c shes running out of room

KittenMittens89 · #13 03/19/09, 10:54 AM

I think we are responsible to keep them forever as long as they are alive. Wether you raise them for meat or whatever. But to shoot an animal who could have a purpose is a waste. It can be profit. Raise the doe for meat if nothing else. I would keep her as a pet personally. I know forever homes that they could go to. I would NEVER put down an animal without first thinking is there any way it can be saved. I would personally take it if I lived close enough. That's just my thoughts. I am not saying your wrong at all that's just what I would do and how I feel about it.

DairyGoatSlave · #14 03/19/09, 10:57 AM

For me. yes it would be sad, however i wouldnt be able to afford to feed an animal that has no use( i dont eat goat meat). I know im going to have a hard time getting rid of any buck kids, but thats what im gona have to do if i want to keep my herd size managable.

end result___
My friend has decided to keep her permantly as a pet, not meat, so the doelings fate is decided

thanks for everyones openion

coso · #15 03/19/09, 11:02 AM

Just as people get married thinking they will never get divorced. There are no forever homes. No matter how hard we want to believe in them. People change, situations change, economy changes. I would put it down in a heartbeat. Livestock needs to treated like livestock. My .02

Gailann Schrader · #16 03/19/09, 11:54 AM

I would put her down too. Sorry.

I've tried to keep these "special needs" animals because I'm such a softie. Well, it's fine when they weigh 5-7# and you can deal with them... When she gets to 50+ lbs. and her legs continually collapse and she whirls in circles? It ain't cool or neat at all. It's about the most distressing thing ever.

How do I know this? Because I kept a doeling like that. Think of when she will eventually come into heat and is crying to be bred. Do you want that genetic problem in your herd? Or even if it's just O2 deprivation, do you want to have a prostrate goat in Summer heat? With starving babies because she can't stand to feed them?

I have coyotes around me. LOTS of them. Do I want her eaten alive? Screaming? Uh, no.

And in response to your unspoken question? I shot my beloved doeling at about 3 months old. She was getting worse and was panic-stricken over noises and such. Maybe Autism? Maybe something else? Her sister was fine and had fine babies. Yes, it's heart-breaking, but so is suffering. Especially when it's needless. It's NOT a human child. And NOT something you can overcome with her.

Trust me, a .22 load is better than a painful life....

KimM · #17 03/19/09, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coso

Just as people get married thinking they will never get divorced.

Very true.

Quote:

Originally Posted by coso

There are no forever homes. No matter how hard we want to believe in them.

There certainly are forever homes (as in for the rest of their life) it's just not guaranteed in most cases. My dog has a forever home here. Should anything happen to me (or us) he'll be put down but he will not go to another home. (he's almost 16 yrs old). Never say never.

Quote:

Originally Posted by coso

People change, situations change, economy changes. I would put it down in a heartbeat.

I agree.

Quote:

Originally Posted by coso

Livestock needs to treated like livestock. My .02

Sorry but just because an animal is classified as "livestock" (a man-made label) doesn't mean they can't be pets and shouldn't be treated as a beloved pet.
What does that mean anyway? How should livestock be treated? My goats live in the barn, pens, pasture, they get treated by a large animal vet when need be, they're fed hay and grain. My livestock and my pets alike are treated the same - with respect, in that I acknowledge how they feel (cold, hot, fearful, etc) and try to give them a comfortable and secure life including my steers that will be butchered this fall. If they suffer, I'll do whatever I can to alleviate that suffering. Is this a bad thing?

This lady has made her decision and I wish her luck but I hope that if things go bad, she'll do what's right by the little doe.

shiandpete.1 · #18 03/19/09, 03:08 PM

I would put her down, whether you do it yourself with a 22 or have the vet euthanize her. I know it is sad but that is a fact of life when you raise animals. Sadly sometime ago I had a dog get in with my herd (she chewed through a barn door to get in withthem) and attacked the matriarch of my herd. It damaged her and could have been fixed but she would not have been able to have kids anymore and would have been lame for the rest of her life and in a bit of pain. I chose to put her down, yes I cried, and felt horrible but in the end I knew it was the right thing to do.

Sarah
M&L La Manchas

Jyllie63 · #19 03/19/09, 03:17 PM

Oh I'm so glad she's giving her a chance! All of my EIGHT goats are pets and I expect nothing in return except a few laughs and lots of love. We all raise animals for different reasons and enjoyment is mine

Goatdad · #20 03/19/09, 03:35 PM

Where in California is the little retarded girl? If she is in Nor Cal I would take her rather then have her destroyed if she is that sweet. I don't keep them to make a profit. Mine are just over loved weed eaters.