vet visit....

bee · #1 05/23/12, 10:02 AM

first time to use this vet......family practice and I expected the husband so when 2 women rolled out of the truck I asked when the vet would be joining us? Ahem..HE is AIing cows so she made the call.

Nobody told her to bring the rabies shot for my dog.......

Then we started drawing blood, buck first and went quickly and well. Then we had problems on the wether but persisted until we got it. Gave up on the buckling(6 months old) when he looked like a pincushion.

On to the does...took awhile and my gritted teeth but got blood on both of them. Pregnancy check on the older doe(long story there)..vet said her rumen was full but she thought she was not preg. Hmmmm..I have seen no heats since delivery back in November. Nigerian Dwarves and the kids have been off for at least 2 nearly 3 months and she has dried off.
Did a visual check on the rear end of the new momma and said she looks good. All goats in good flesh, pink eye membranes and no visable problems.

Ok...looked at the doeling(2 weeks old tomorrow) because I was worried she was a hermie. Vet said looks normal to her. Ok, on to the last job...dehorn the doeling. Vet pulls out and plugs in the iron and I started to sweat. Tiny little doeling and great big wire dehorner..not the small size cup style I was expecting. Vet said she was willing to do it and I finally said I wasn't.

Next blood draw I will have necks shaved and stand for restraint.
Vet was proffesional and pleasant. I am just not sure she had enough "goat time". Hope her next call does not have such a wimpy owner to deal with.

Now I wait for the blood test results...CAE, CL, TB and Brucellosis and if they have enough blood..preg test.

Should I have let her use the iron and dehorn my doeling?

75.00 trip chg and 100.00/hr...still have tests to pay for....

Alice In TX/MO · #2 05/23/12, 10:08 AM

Never have seen a wire disbudder. Hmmmm.

Dreamgoat Annie · #3 05/23/12, 10:56 AM

IMO you did absolutely the right thing. Your goats, your call. You done good.

Sue

thaiblue12 · #4 05/23/12, 11:07 AM

There was a post a while back about tiny baby Pygmys disbudded with a cow disbudder. It was awful, their eyes were swollen out of their sockets, their heads look fried. So I too would have refused a disbudder that looked too big.

If you know of goat people around you ask one of them if they can do it for you. Check on Craig's and see if anyone is selling disbudded kids, email them and ask if they know of anyone who can do your kid for a fee. But I would do it sooner then later. Mine as done around a week old, it is eaiser on them. I pay someone to do it for me. I do not have the stomach or heart for it.

PNP Katahdins · #5 05/23/12, 11:53 AM

Make sure one of them comes back with the rabies shot that should be included on the same trip charge.

Sorry you had to go through this. Our vet service has three that do farm visits and all are good with small livestock. Lots of dairy goats in this area. We always request the young sheep specialist but it's okay if one of the practice owners shows up instead. Their rates are a lot better too.

Peg

prairiedog · #6 05/23/12, 12:04 PM

Get so you can draw your own blood and disbudding you can save a bundle.

CarolT · #7 05/23/12, 08:28 PM

I guess what my vet uses could be called "wire", it looks like the heating element out of a water heater to me. Thick metal comes down, makes almost a loop then goes back up. It's the only one I've ever seen, so wouldn't know if it looked too big, but know it's worked well the last 2 years, so I am happy with it

Any time you don't feel right about something, don't do it. Better safe than sorry! I have known this vet all my life, I'm comfortable with him, if I am too worried about something, he either explains it till I'm happy or we don't do it.

Ford Zoo · #8 05/24/12, 04:17 PM

I hope they don't charge too much for the tests. My vet charged $20 to draw 2 goats, then needed another $50 each to send in for CL. I had him draw but sent the blood myself for 4 different tests on each goat which cost around $50 for all the testing. Just a thought for you for next time. Send it in yourself. I do believe the vet was using the same lab I did anyway.

And if you don't feel comfortable with a vet, right on to disagree with him/her!

Creamers · #9 05/24/12, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Should I have let her use the iron and dehorn my doeling?

No. Don't consider it. . . probably one of these - they are too big. . . Electric Calf Dehorner for Cattle Dehorning - Best Vet Store – One Stop Online Veterinary Shop – Pet Supplies
You'll end up with severe issues if you do it.

Your best bet is learn to draw blood yourself and send it in - you will save a fortune.

My vet charges $35 for CAE testing plus a fee to pull blood - we pull it and mail it and spend $4 each.

bee · #10 05/24/12, 11:35 PM

yup..that looks like the de-horner,,,but bigger!

I am going to the breeders house tomorrow morning and use her equipment and help..but I have to use the iron.. Any advice besides.."don't"??

prairiedog · #11 05/25/12, 06:52 AM

Make sure it is good and hot and burn for long enough.

Alice In TX/MO · #12 05/25/12, 06:56 AM

Be sure it's plugged in close to the breaker box and NOT on a long extension cord. Electricity loosed OOOMPH over long distances if you use small cords. I had some bad scurs doing the disbudding too far from the box.

bee · #13 05/25/12, 10:55 AM

well...all involved survived. I took a couple of pics and willl post them to a new thread..thanx all!

Just called the vet's office and they don't have the pricing info yet...blood drawn wednesday. Won't have info and send blood until tuesday(after the holiday)..what do you think..should I go pick it up and send it myself and who does Brucellosis and TB testing?