I really messed up

[lamoncha lover]

Anyone with advice appreciated. If you are gonna thrash me..I really don't need it right now.
I saved a newborn baby buck..took alot of work. the story is listed in goats need help now please. Baby is 3 wks old was doing great. He had some weakness in one hind pastern...so I vet wrapped it. Long story short..it must have been wrapped too tight and now I have a mess. Per vets advice he's on antibiotics. But I am afraid he will lose that foot and prob a lil of his leg. How many would have a surgical amputation done? 150 $ which I will do..but please keep in mind we are both unemplyed and raising 4 grand kids with 2 teens in college.
I already hate myself..please don''t attack. What are chances of baby waking up from surgery? I will keep him if the hom eI found doesnt want an amputated weather. I just don't want to spend money if he isnt going to survive anyway.

[HappyFarmer]

We all do things we regret. No attack coming from me.

Personally I wouldn't have the surgery performed-particularly if I needed the money for food on MY table.

Which leg was it? Many years ago we were given Tripod, a 3-legged goat. He had lost a rear leg for some reason unknown. He managed fine, was able to browse & be a pet. If a stray had come into the yard he would have been a goner though.

Anethesia & goats isn't a good combination or so they say. We've had 2 receive Aneth. & came out of it fine, they were maybe 7 or 8 months old or so. It's a chance you will be taking.

What do you mean by a mess? Rotting & deformed flesh, deformed bone? What other than antiobiotics did the vet prescribe?

Happyfarmer

[Bay Mare]

No reason to thrash you - you were doing what you thought was right to help him. You made a mistake and it didn't go so well. Unfortunately, we all learn things the hard way sometimes. (Don't ask how I know!) And you won't make the same mistake again.

Now about amputating part of the leg. No, I wouldn't. For several different reasons. First the money - this is livestock no matter how attached we get and your grandchildren are more important. Second, unless you are prepared to keep this goat for the rest of his life you never know what will happen to him. Now that is true for all of the animals we sell but only having part of a hind leg will make his life harder. Once he is out of you hands you have no say over his care. Even if the home is wonderful, they may sell him later to a not so good one. Third, even if he were to stay with you, I would think that missing part of a leg would make him more susceptible to things like dog attacks, poor balance and then getting head butted another goat, etc

Sorry you have to make this decision but try not to beat yourself up too much. You were only doing what you thought was right. And it was right, just a little too tight on the bandage.

Angela

[Wonderland]

Don't hate yourself! I know you did the best you could. That would be an easy mistake to make. I would follow the vets advice, and wait and see before I amputated. But I've never been in this situation before; that's just what I would naturally be inclined to do, not something I know from experience.

I'm really sorry this happened. I'm praying for the little guy!

[Karenrbw]

We got a goat that lost her back hoof and part of her leg. She was on a round bale and got it tangled in the twine as she jumped off. She hung so long that she was almost dead when they found her. After the foot fell off, it healed over and she did fine. She had huge kids (always singles) and would only let them nurse off the other side. She got around fine and didn't seem to have any problems with it. I can't give you any advice on the surgery but I can tell you that goats can function well while missing part of a limb. I noticed that she seemed to be at the bottom of the pecking order but the others didn't really bother her too much.

[Laverne]

I'm so sorry for your dilema. You went the extra mile for this kid. I would wait for the antibiotics to work and go from there. It may not be as bad as you think if the vet didn't actually see it. He may have like a 'bed sore' , from laying around too much, and it will heal. Maybe some topical antibiotic cream would help also. I wouldn't go for the surgery and an amputed goat.

[Tallabred]

Is the foot warm? Does it get circulation? If it is then give it some time. Animals can heal amazingly well. I would not go for the surgery. Do you have any silversulfamethodine(sp- I butchered that word) It is a white cream that I got from the vet - works great. Other than that flush flush flush - the more the better.

Hope and prayers are with you and your little guy.

[Jyllie63]

Awe...I'm sorry you're dealing with this...you certainly did the best you knew to do! My goats are considered pets and not "livestock" so I would do the surgery if it's needed. The antibiotics might do the trick though.....I hope they do!

[lamoncha lover]

the foot is shriveled and cold. the leg above where bandage is is swollen. There is a bad odor to the leg. Vet said he may slough off skin..or he may slough off a foot.to keep it unwrapped and put on a cream to repell flies. and to give the antibiotics.and to watch and wait. he seemed surprised I asked about amputation. guess it seems silly to invest 5 times what the goat is worth. But he did seem happy I wasn't just going to put down with out looking at options. He also mentioned withdrawl time from antibiotic before he could be sold to slaughter..OMG he doesnt know me well? SLAUGHTER something I bottle fed?every 2 hours..for weeks?
I know so much better, that is what kills me. I even took off the first wrap to rewrap again cuz I wanted to be sure wasn't too tight. ugh.

[Minelson]

Try to stop beating yourself up! Would you be so hard on a friend who had this happen to? Nooo...so quit doing it to yourself.
Watch and wait and see what happens. See what tomorrow brings. Animals are amazing at healing it just takes a little time.
You are still an awesome goat mama

[Jyllie63]

There is a member on HT that used to post on the goat board occasionally. She lives about 30 minutes from me. She had a doeling who injured her leg and it (the bottom part...not all of it) fell of on it's own. I think it took quite awhile to happen, but if I remember right the doeling didn't have any problems with it at all.

[Lizza]

I agree, please stop beating yourself up. I managed to love one of my goats to death (literally) last year.

I too would wait a day or two and see how it heals, you might be really surprised and not even have to worry about amputation.

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

I don't see how it's helping to pretend that compounding one bad decision upon another and not giving advice to wait even longer and now maybe a $150 surgery with more antibiotics is an answer a livestock forum should be giving out.

Like it or not males are a disposable commonidty on the farm unless destined to become a breeding sire. Making males wethers for anything other than meat is wasteful, anything a wether can do, can be done by a doe who will give you milk and meat kids, all the companionship, cart pulling, hiking etc..

When a kid is born you make the decison whether it should live or die, since you made the decision to breed the doe. In most cases for bucks it's more humane to choose him for the dinner table when weaned or a swift death at birth when they have problems.

You become emotionally involved with your livestock destined for the table, and soon you are out of business because you have pens full of unproductive stock. They don't find forever homes however well meaning you try to be. Your time and energy and now your money is wasted on a buck, and the other kids and animals, your garden, your children all suffer from this time not spent with them.

Imgine this conversation happening on a working farm with 50 kids born, nobody would take the time to baby a buckling like this....babying also weakens your herd.

Not trying to beat you up at all....but the other side of this conversation has to be said...when we cause problems like this by loving our goats to death, accept responsibility and put them down.

With the economy the way it is, and hopefuly most have goats for milk and meat for their homestead, this way of thinking shouldn't have to be talked about, it should be automatic. Vicki

[DairyGoatSlave]

I disagree with what Vicki said. If you have the means and are willing to take care of this little guy, AND it wouldn't put your finically in a tough spot. Do the best you can. If you can not cure the guy well..I put him to sleep OR try to find someone who is capable of caring for him(there are people out there, one person in my area advertises all the time). Im going through a problem with my doe right now, shes not doing good, no one knows whats wrong and If she gives up then I will let her and help her go quietly.

I wouldnt beat yourself up about it, however I would try to learn from it, which is obviously what you are doing

and In my opinion, the "best way" of thinking is not the same for everyone, Im quite sure that we

[Bearfootfarm]

If you have the means and are willing to take care of this little guy, AND it wouldn't put your finically in a tough spot

please keep in mind we are both unemplyed and raising 4 grand kids with 2 teens in college.

I wouldnt be spending money on Vet bills for a wether.

[Pammielu]

I understand both sides of this situation. I personally support the pet side of the situation. I would and have put money into a whether that is nothing more than a money pit, most would say. Everytime I kiss his nose, I know I done the right thing. And would do it again without hesitation. I plan on helping all the animals I can for the rest of my life. I actually rescued a three legged toad today.


All living creatures deserve a chance if it is humane to the animal, not our hearts. We all make tough decisions every day. Money making livestock and pet livestock are two seperated ways of life. I am in no way trying to make a living off livestock, if I was my thinking may change. I would do whatever it takes to save an animal as long as my family does not suffer from it. I have nursed and rehabilitated so many different kinds of animals. A lot of heartbreak, but a lot more rewards. Do what you feel is right. You are a wonderful person. Stay strong, and never get down on yourself.

Thats just MHO.

[grandmajo]

Ok, well I'm probably going to be the odd man out here, but I agree with Vicki. This is going to have to be an economic decision for you.

You mentioned that you had found a home for him, but now with this thing that happened they may not want him. That tells me, that you hadn't planned on keeping him prior to this happening. If they don't want him, then it is going to cost you more than just the $150 that the vet would charge for the surgery. You are going to have the extra expense of feeding him, vetting him (worming, etc). Considering your current financials, can you afford to keep a non-producing animal? That has to be the question that you ask yourself.

[Cannon_Farms]

If I could come up with the money, which I couldnt I would give this guy a home, we have several three legged critters here and I need a companion for my daughters wether that i am now stuck with (no more show wethers for us). I have a donkey in the pasture and a lgd on the outside for safety. This girls really dont like chuck and i feel bad for him.
I know that every one has that special goat and its hard to put something down that is otherwise full of life, especially a cute baby. Some of us just dont have what it takes to be a culler, I dont think thats a bad thing, but its not a good thing when your raising livestock.
Ill call my vet and see what he prices it at.

[Whisperwindkat]

I know it sounds cruel, but Vicki is right. Now one option that you might not have thought about is to donate him to your nearest vet school. They often take donations for the students to learn from real experience, then when the animal is healed or recovered the school sells them. I used to buy ponies this way. The little goat will get the vet care that he deserves, you will be helping one more vet know a little bit more about goats (there are so few that do), and you will be saving your family pocket book. God bless.

[Backfourty,MI.]

I agree with Vicki on some things & also some of the others here as well. We alos Love our goats here & they are pets here as well. We have had an occasional wether butchered because we had to many & the meat was really good, we liked it.
We don't make a habit of butchering our animals but I believe they all have a purpose & that's what God has intended.
It doesn't sound like you can really afford the surgery & take away from the family your trying to support.
I would give him the antibiotics & see if it heals up, like the vet said but if it gets worse & looks really bad for him I would have him put down. At this age you would'n have him butchered anyways but putting him down would be the humane thing to do if the antibiotics don't work.
Best of Luck to the little Guy & to you & your family through this.

Oh & don't feel bad, we all know you are trying everything you can at this point.