Putting down an old goat

alidansma · #1 02/05/11, 07:52 PM

Poor old fella - he is about 14 or 15 years old. He is an unregistered angora buck.
Last week he didn't get up for breakfast. I decided to watch him for a few days and see what was going on. I brought him food - he eats fine, brought him water, he drinks. But he has not gotten up in a week and though he is just hanging out and in no obvious distress, the fact is - he ain't getting up again.
So I have a couple of concerns. I have a 22 LR - and he is already laying down. But his horns...I am a little concerned about having a twitch of his head knocking my aim off. here is a picture so you can see what I am talking about:
Putting down an old goat - Goats

I thought about calling the vet - but I remember trying to draw blood on this boy when I got him last year and his skin is thick. I can not imagine a vet having a good time fishing for a vein on him - nor can I imagine him enjoying it. I don't want to stress him out. The little goats I have butchered I have just slit the throat and bled out - but once again - old man skin is not going to make that a good option.
My other concern is more for the emotional side of things. Personally I am okay with it - he is an old boy and his quality of life is destined to go downhill from here....but my dad is older and has become quite attached to this goat. He lives here with us and I think he will be upset with me for taking this line of action...not sure if anyone has any words of wisdom there...
We are not going to eat this fella - we will likely bury him.

Tips?

Minelson · #2 02/05/11, 07:58 PM

I would call a vet. They can sedate him so getting a vein will be easier for the lethal dose. I'm sorry..

I think your dad would feel better if he goes more gently...with sedation.

jill.costello · #3 02/05/11, 07:59 PM

An old timer just taught me to draw a line (imaginary or with a grease pen) from the Right ear to the left eye, and from the Left ear to the right eye, forming an "X". That, for any animal, is the proper place to shoot.

I am sorry you are having to deal with this, but so thankful that you are blessed that he is not suffering.

beccachow · #4 02/05/11, 08:27 PM

I PM'd you.

lasergrl · #5 02/05/11, 08:31 PM

I second the vet sedation. Would be a shame to bury those horns, so beautiful.

alidansma · #6 02/05/11, 08:38 PM

Lasergrl - I intend to keep the horns. Otherwise I would have to dig a very wide hole..

wolffeathers · #7 02/05/11, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lasergrl

I second the vet sedation. Would be a shame to bury those horns, so beautiful.

I thought the same about the horns! He is a beautiful animal and those horns are just majestic.

I think the vet would be a good way since the goat has emotional attachments. People with emotional attachement seem to accept euthanasia of an animal a little better than shooting. I would plan a nice big pan of special food, a quick shot of sedation, and then the euthanasia. Personally I don't have too much preference for euthanasia over a bullet, as long as both are performed correctly. I think the bullet tends to be quicker(and cheaper). Some animals have a gasping response to euthanasia, a bit unsettling if you were hoping for a peaceful "drifting off to sleep".

Minelson · #8 02/05/11, 08:42 PM

I don't have experience with goat euthanasia but with dogs and cats if they are sedated first there is no gasping. I work at a small animal clinic and have a lot of experience with euthanasia with small animals...did 4 yesterday...bad day

alidansma · #9 02/05/11, 08:53 PM

I also have worked for a vet and been around for alot of animals being put down. The last one I personally had put down was a goat - this old man's son in fact. and it was not easy. The little boy was dehydrated and no vein would hold the juice. After several failed attempts, eventually he had to have a needle to the heart. I felt bad for the vet, she is a real nice lady, but it seems goats react to drugs differently than other critters.

At first I thought no vet because I wasn't getting him to drink any fluids, and I didn't want dehydration to be causing unncessary trauma. however he is drinking now and it might acutally work out ok. On the other hand I think it could be in the neighborhood of $200 - and though I love the old man - I have the rest of my herd to think about and what if I need that $200 to help one of the others when kidding season comes around? tough call.

wolffeathers · #10 02/05/11, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minelson

I don't have experience with goat euthanasia but with dogs and cats if they are sedated first there is no gasping. I work at a small animal clinic and have a lot of experience with euthanasia with small animals...did 4 yesterday...bad day

I don't have experience with goats either. Just know of people who have had horses go into the gasping response. While working with a vet, there was a dog that was one of the rare few that fought the euthanasia. It was horrible. Had everyone in the room upset. Then again, I don't know if he was sedated beforehand and I don't know if the vet did it correctly. I've only known of it happening a few times, glad to here sedation prevents it.

Minelson · #11 02/05/11, 08:59 PM

That is a tough call. $200 is a lot of money to put down an animal.

Yeah...I was wondering about that with goats are so different with medications. Darn it! I wish he could just go to sleep for you and not wake up...The only other thing I can think of is if you have a trusted friend that could take him away and do the deed...so your dad doesn't hear the gunshot. I am so very sorry. I know how hard it is with aging animals

Minelson · #12 02/05/11, 09:02 PM

btw..we do a lot of "to the heart" injections when dehydration or old age just makes finding a vein impossible. Mostly with cats. We knock them out first though with sedation so it's really not an issue. Just might seem creepy to some.

wolffeathers · #13 02/05/11, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alidansma

At first I thought no vet because I wasn't getting him to drink any fluids, and I didn't want dehydration to be causing unncessary trauma. however he is drinking now and it might acutally work out ok. On the other hand I think it could be in the neighborhood of $200 - and though I love the old man - I have the rest of my herd to think about and what if I need that $200 to help one of the others when kidding season comes around? tough call.

You could always factor the skull into the euth cost(assuming you're keeping the skull and horns intact). If you shoot him, you may be putting a hole in it. If you euth, it will remain intact. If you bleed him it should remain intact too. If he's down, can you approach him?

I don't have personal experience, but it old goat hide, really so tough you couldn't bleed him out like the others?(this is mostly out of curiousity and not really pushing the method)

alidansma · #14 02/05/11, 09:04 PM

I talked to my dad a little about it. Right now the goat isn't having a hard tiem of it, but I explained to my dad that waiting until the goat is miserable and struggling is not a very nice thing to do either. I will give the vet a call tomorrow and see what she thinks of the situation.

Minelson · #15 02/05/11, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alidansma

I talked to my dad a little about it. Right now the goat isn't having a hard tiem of it, but I explained to my dad that waiting until the goat is miserable and struggling is not a very nice thing to do either. I will give the vet a call tomorrow and see what she thinks of the situation.

keep us posted on what you end up doing. He is such a beautiful goat...I am sure this is really hard

beccachow · #16 02/05/11, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minelson

That is a tough call. $200 is a lot of money to put down an animal.

Yeah...I was wondering about that with goats are so different with medications. Darn it! I wish he could just go to sleep for you and not wake up...The only other thing I can think of is if you have a trusted friend that could take him away and do the deed...so your dad doesn't hear the gunshot. I am so very sorry. I know how hard it is with aging animals

Recall the first goat that brought me here to you guys? Won't detail it, not pleasant. Remotely. Maybe goats' metabolism makes it harder somehow? Or I just had a funky experience...I know with the horse and a prior cat, was smooth as velvet.

wolffeathers · #17 02/05/11, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beccachow

Recall the first goat that brought me here to you guys? Won't detail it, not pleasant. Remotely. Maybe goats' metabolism makes it harder somehow? Or I just had a funky experience...I know with the horse and a prior cat, was smooth as velvet.

Just trying to clarify. Was it a bad experience with goat euthanasia?

beccachow · #18 02/05/11, 09:12 PM

PM'd you, too.

alidansma · #19 02/05/11, 09:14 PM

Oh wolfeathers - I am not keeping the skull...my plan is to make shofars from the horns.
The old goats skin is very, very thick...
He is super friendly I sit with him and feed him his breakfast and dinner every day. We have him in a three sided shelter with a heat lamp on him. He is being totally babied and he loves it. The first day he was grinding his teeth a bit, but now he seems comfortable. We change his positions, re-bed his area, scratch his face for him... I am just trying to think - how long could he stay down and comfortable? I would let old age just take him, but his heart lungs and digestive system are all good right now. I think he fell and injured his knee - besides that, I know he has bad hips since he was not able to breed this year. I am pretty sure the joints in his rear end are deteriorated.
If I just let him hang out and keep feeding him as long as he is willing to eat, he might be around a good deal longer, but I just don't see that hanging on to him for weeks and weeks will benifit him any.

beccachow · #20 02/05/11, 09:19 PM

never mind. ooops!