Possible Fracture, need advice

bpawb · #1 04/25/12, 03:18 PM

6 Week Old Doeling, she was fine and 20 minutes later she was walking around on 3 legs. The joint just above her hoof on her front leg is swollen and tender.

This was yesterday evening, today we are keeping her in a stall and have wraped the joint w/ vet-wrap, she will not stand on or put any pressure on that leg.

She is acting fine other than the swollen joint, I looked at her naval and there is no sign of any problem there( joint ill ). It sure seems like a fracture.

Should I assume it is a fracture and procede w/ a splint?

Whats your experience?

bpawb · #2 04/26/12, 07:36 AM

She's doing about the same ( not putting pressure on the swollen joint/leg ) ...

... My question is ...

If I put a splint/cast on her, should it extend past her hoof? or should I leave her hoof exposed?

anybody have any experience in this area?

Minelson · #3 04/26/12, 08:10 AM

Sorry you are not getting speedy help on this! I have no experience so I would take to a vet to determine if it's broken or not. I'm sure some Banamine would help with pain and swelling also. Poor baby!

Blue Run Farm · #4 04/26/12, 08:14 AM

Sorry to hear about your doeling

I don't have any real advice, it's not something I've dealt with before. But I think if it was me, I might have to spend the money to have a vet check it out since she's still not using it at all. Can you take her to a vet (to avoid a farm call fee) and have an exam and x-ray done? Sorry I can't offer more advice

CaliannG · #5 04/26/12, 01:09 PM

My experience has been:

Bacteria, cuts, internal stuff- treat myself. I am more likely to know the symptoms of a mineral deficiency than my vet.

Broken bones, sprains, dislocations, major wounds- Vet. They have X-ray machines and stuff.

bpawb · #6 04/26/12, 01:20 PM

My wife called the vet we somtimes use for K-9 heart-worm meds and they get, $50 visit and $55 xray and approx. $35 for the cast.

I think were going to carefully make up some kind of removable splint/cast, install it and then keep a close eye on her.

We value her very much, but from a economic stand point, we cant go to the vet every time something crops up

... I hope y'all understand ...

This is a pretty new farm adventure ( 6 years in the making ) & ( a little over 1 year w/ dairy goats )

I hope i'm making the right decision

CaliannG · #7 04/26/12, 02:43 PM

You know your circumstances better than we do.

I have splinted fractures before and had them turn out fine. My *own* preference, though, is to take them to the vet for physical injuries, as they have the equipment to diagnose it and deal with it better.

With other things? Well, I can look into a microscope and count eggs just as good as they can. I can draw blood and send it to a lab just as good as they can. I can recognize and treat the common goat deficiencies/diseases/problems just as well (and in most cases, better) as they can. So in those areas, I don't waste my money.

But with major injuries, I tend to go with my vet. I don't have an X-ray machine, so I can't diagnose as well. I don't have access to anesthesia, or major pain killers and muscle relaxants that help when setting bones or fixing dislocations. So, I wouldn't be able to tell in some instances, whether it is a fracture than can be splinted, or a break that needs to be set. Even if I could tell, I would need muscle relaxers to be able to set the break, and a Rx anti-inflammatory would come in handy. A broken bone that heals wrong can lame a goat or other livestock for life.

That being said, no one is going to judge you if you simply cannot afford it and instead chose to do the best you can at home.

bpawb · #8 05/18/12, 08:15 PM

Its been 3&1/2 weeks since we splinted her leg

For the 1st week she would not put any pressure on the injured leg.

The 2nd week she started putting light pressure on it.

At the end of the 3rd week shes playing like crazy.

So Far so Good Praise God

We changed her splint at least 4 times and have keep her partly isolated.

could not get any still shots of her.

[IMG] Possible Fracture, need advice - Goats

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Pony · #9 05/18/12, 08:22 PM

Sorry I missed this when you first posted.

I would have advised pretty much what you did: Splint and observe.

You obviously did a very good job!

We had a buckling snap his foreleg in two at 2 a.m. We splinted it (using PVC pipe and tape), and a few weeks later, he was dandy. Trub did a spiral to her foreleg (got it stuck in a tree crotch); we also splinted that and she is fine.

Elsbet · #10 05/18/12, 08:50 PM

looks like she is doing great!

KrisD · #11 05/18/12, 09:50 PM

Look up a Robert Jones bandage. I use paint stir sticks wrap them in gauze so they won't rub. Buy some rolled cotton and vet wrap. Starting at the hoof wrap from the bottom up past the knee with a paint stick on either side. Wrap snug but not super tight, you don't want to cut off circulation but you need to immobilize it. I use these all the time. They work for sprains and breaks.

CJBegins · #12 05/18/12, 11:20 PM

Omg, she is gorgeous. Your pictures are hilarous. She obviously isn't hurting too much.

Chaty · #13 05/19/12, 06:53 AM

Had a doeling snap her leg last year and I used the foam insulation that goes on pipes, its soft but firm enough to do its job on the leg. Then I used vet wrap to hold in place. It worked wonderful and didnt get any sore spots from it rubbing. Glad to hear she is doing so much better. Even if it was a bad sprain you helped her alot by stableizing it where she weight wouldnt make it worse....

Minelson · #14 05/19/12, 07:47 AM

That made me laugh out loud!! Great pictures and she obviously is feeling no pain!! Too funny! GREAT JOB on your part!