Okay.....got another goat 'emergency'.....

[copperkid3]

although perhaps not as serious as the last one. And first off, before I continue, I want to apologize
for getting in a 'snit' because of what I perceived someone was trying to say ......I fear that I was looking
at it from a gloom & doom viewpoint and that just pushed me over the edge. To whom it may concern,
no problems on the pm; hope we're square on that account & sorry that I didn't reply.....had other
things on my plate of late and this is hard enough coming here and asking for help.....again.

Went to go close up the barn and check on the goats before the sun was down and noticed that the
twin bucklings were being chased by the dog and tried calling him off his playtime......then it suddenly
occurred to me: "where's their mom?", as she is quite protective and doesn't put up with that kind of
teasing from the pup.....and then in the same instant, I could swear I heard a goat crying in the distance......
down towards the crick. I started doing a head count, but before I could finish, I heard that pitiful
moaning again and started running towards the sound. As I crested the top of the ridge, I saw her in
the middle of the water in the area that is very mucky.....she was stuck in the stream bottom with
her lower portion in the chilly water and looked and sounded terrible. I called down to her and then
hurried down the hill and over to where she was and began trying to pry her out of the mire. No use.....
she was stuck fast and I was starting to go down into it as well. Finally I was able to get behind
her front legs and put my arms under her and slowly pull upward. The front legs came out slowly and
she sagged forward onto the bank but would not/could not get up.....I thought at first that she
was weak (she is) but then realized that her rear feet were sunk in the crick bottom, as well.
Repeated the process and pulled her ashore, but as much as I tried, could not keep her up on all
4 feet.....she just slumped and then moaned and cried.....the scariest sound that I know.....finally
got an idea and told her to wait there and I'd be right back......(as if she was going anywhere@!!)
got the wheel barrow from the front of the property and came back and picked her up and set her in
and up the hill to the barn we went. She did not think it was quite dignified for the herd queen to be
carried about so and made a few vain attempts to try and disembark, but I persuaded her that royalty
was used to being pampered as such and besides we didn't have that much further to go and we soon
arrived and I had her inside and out of a gathering cool wind that started as it became dark out. I then
found an extension cord that worked (also found one with a short - will have to work on that later), a
heat lamp and a vacant stall that I quickly laid some loose straw & hay down for a bed to lie on. I then
unceremoniously rolled her highness into the middle of the stall and dumped her out, under the now warming
heat lamp. I then helped her up to her unsteady feet and noticed that she was grinding her teeth, which I
know is a symptom of distress and/or discomfort. She is a black and muddy, mucky mess from belly on down
to her feet and is still cold and wet. Looks like half an Oreo; the upper half Saanan, the lower half a creature
from the black lagoon. I brought in her hungry boys, but of course because of the stress, they got nothing to eat......
but it was either that or let them stay outside the barn and cry all night. What more needs to be done to save the
mother and of course the boys.....because if she goes, I'm going to have problems doing formula 5 times a day/night???


ETA: Well I just went back out to the barn to check her & the kids.....been about a half hour since getting
them in and also figured that if I put another heat lamp on the other side of the narrow stall, she'd get warmed
on both sides. Well.....she appears more alert, her eyes are much brighter and she's stopped grinding her teeth...
all good signs. She still looks wet and miserable and has a slight shiver at times. I grabbed an old towel and
started wiping her down and getting her rubbed all over to get and keep the blood circulating. Probably got about
a pound of water into the towel.....that and mud. I then noticed that she looks like her stomach is a bit distended
and there are 'sounds' of low growling therein......but then I also saw that she was regurgitating and chewing her cud
so again.....some good news??? Decided that she needed a bit of quick calories and it's been some time since giving
ANY of the goats a treat.....and by treat, I mean anything that they love and shouldn't normally have.....i.e. all stock feed.
Poured a small scoopful into a low rubber pan and she dove into it.....and one of her 3 week old boys joined her. He didn't
get much, so no worries there. Anyway, while all this is going on, I got the other heat lamp up and running and she is slowly
warming up and looks much better. Again.....any other advise, since when I tried posting this, it wouldn't because they were
doing work on the Fiber Forum....and it wouldn't take it then?

[beccachow]

If she is dry and warm now, nothing much to do but wait it out, I'm afraid. Is there any way you can feed the kids for tonight and give her a chance to rest? The fact that she was fighting the wheelbarrow and such is a great sign; she is exhausted though from fighting the mire and muck. I betcha she will be back to full sail in the AM. I wouldn't stress her out right now with cleaning her off any more as long as she is dry and warm, unless you can just brush some off.

Goodness, you have been through it, haven't you?

See you downstairs.

[Lizza]

I agree with Becca, keep her as warm as you can (by being dry and the heat lamp), and check her in the morning. I also agree that feeding the boys tonight would be helpful for both doe and kids. Having clean dry straw will help too (which it sounds like you already did).

You did a great job getting her out of that creak!

[Oat Bucket Farm]

You did a great job getting her out and into a warm dry stall. Sounds like she is perking up for you. I'm not sure there is anything else you need to do right now.

[thaiblue12]

Since the boys are 3 weeks old I doubt they will take a bottle. I would make sure they all have hay since that will warm her as well and keep her boys from getting too hungry.
If you have any Bounce Back or electrolytes I would put it in some water and give it to her, it cannot hurt if the boys drink it as well.

I would also make sure the heat lamp does not cover the entire area they are in so if any get too warm they can get away from the lamp.

So glad you heard her and got her out of the creek.
Mine love to ride in the wheel barrow and think I have it out for them

[Goat Servant]

Wow what an ordeal! Like Beccachow said about her fighting the wheelbarrow thats good.
Sounds like youve covered all bases, she dove into the feed she's eating this is very very good.
Do keep us updated.

[copperkid3]

Originally Posted by beccachow

If she is dry and warm now, nothing much to do but wait it out, I'm afraid. Is there any way you can feed the kids for tonight and give her a chance to rest? The fact that she was fighting the wheelbarrow and such is a great sign; she is exhausted though from fighting the mire and muck. I betcha she will be back to full sail in the AM. I wouldn't stress her out right now with cleaning her off any more as long as she is dry and warm, unless you can just brush some off.

Goodness, you have been through it, haven't you?

See you downstairs.

************************************************** ******
When I came up over the ridge top and saw her down there in the middle of the crick bottom.....
I thought.....now what? This is the FIRST TIME that I've ever had (or even thought) that I'd
have to rescue a mud-stuck goat!!! And I figured.....piece of cake.....until I started and nothing
happened......then there was that momentary sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.....I had no
idea how long she had been there, and if she hadn't been found when she was *(thank goodness
she has a good set of pipes on her), she would NEVER have made it to morning......hypothermia
would have killed her in another hour I'm sure. If I had to guesstimate.....based on
the degree of distress she was in when found, then my best would be that she had been there a
bit over an hour.....no more than two. That water was icy cold.....it got down to right around
freezing last night....nipped the pink magnolia blooms and turned them brown. I have high hopes
that we got her in time and that she will be back to normal in the morning.

I've been wondering if and when worming should be done for the rest of the herd and the exact dosages?

[prairiedog]

I would leave the boys with her if she gets full of milk it will stress her too. Offer her some warm water it will help warm her from the inside. Sounds like she will be OK. Good save.

[Backfourty,MI.]

Thank Gosh you found her when you did sounds like! It sounds like you got everything under control, be careful with the heat lamps though, they make me so nervous especially with goats since they climb & jump around so much.

[Alice In TX/MO]

You did GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!

Ditto on the warm water with molasses.

Here's a link to LOTS of info about dewormers, etc:
Wormers & Cocci Meds

[beccachow]

How is she this morning?

[copperkid3]

the twins as well......she's a VERY good mother and always has been.....would have hated
to have lost her. Gave her another scoop of grain and after she'd finished, attempted to lead her
outside to join the rest of the herd. She wanted nothing to do with "the outside" world.....and tried
to scoot past me at the barn door, but I blocked her way several times and finally had to close the
door completely. It AMAZES me how quickly you can 'spoil' a goat if you don't keep a close check
on it.......apparently the 'room service' was outstanding in her mind.

Now we just wait for the next emergency to come along.....feast or famine around here. And never a dull moment.

Thanks again.

[BoldViolet]

Yay! Glad all is well! Good job!