Dang it...Kenobi's lump was diagnosed as CL

Ravenlost · #1 08/07/12, 02:30 PM

I wasn't home yesterday when hubby called and told me Kenobi's lump had ruptured.

I was SO upset. I knew that was going to happen. Darn vet said wait until the lump got soft...well, I kept waiting and it ruptures instead. So hubby takes her in this morning and it's CL. Now the other two will probably get it. I'll be watching them like a hawk.

He said she's not sick...she's very healthy and he believes this abcess will heal with no problems. He didn't send her home with any meds, just said to irrigate the wound several times a day with an antibacterial solution.

Does she need to be on meds?

Minelson · #2 08/07/12, 02:54 PM

It's not too late to isolate her from the others while the wound heals to prevent any further contamination. That is what I would do. How much of an area did she cover while it was oozing. Any way to remove the other 2 from where Kenobi was?
I don't know if any antibiotics are needed now...unless she has an elevated temp and/or the site is infected.
I'm so sorry Ravenlost

((((hugs)))

punchiepal · #3 08/07/12, 03:10 PM

Did the vet run a culture to test for CL? That is the only positive way of knowing 100%. Not every lump that is filled with pus is CL.

The Tin Mom · #4 08/07/12, 03:12 PM

I am so sorry! I agree with the others, isolate her now and make sure you get a culture. ((((hugs))))

Ravenlost · #5 08/07/12, 03:21 PM

Yes, a culture was done. Yes, she is now isolated, but I figure that it's to late. Not only have the other two goats been exposed, so has hubby and the dogs. I just talked to him on the phone (he was called in for overtime today) and found out what happened while I was gone yesterday.

He went out to feed the goats yesterday evening and discovered the abcess had ruptured. He squeezed it WITH HIS BARE HANDS and tossed a big lump of pus out of the pen. The dogs ran over to sniff it!!!

I am sitting here fighting tears. If I had listened to my intuition Kenobi would have been at the vet's and had this lanced before it ruptured. Instead I let my hubby browbeat me and push me around. Here I've been researching, reading and worrying about CL and he, who hasn't read ONE SINGLE WORD about CL has been telling me I'm over reacting, I don't know what I'm talking about, etc. etc.

I am so angry with myself! When did I lose my backbone? Why do I let this man tell me what to do? Why do I believe him when he tells me I'm wrong? Why am I so weak? Because of my inability to stand up for myself and do what I knew was right all my goats, my dogs and my ... hubby are probably infected.

Oh, me too. I could just scream.

mpete · #6 08/07/12, 03:25 PM

Just because there is an exposure does not mean that the others will get it.

Take a deep breathe, honey, try to calm down.

Are your goats pets? or breeders?

mpete · #7 08/07/12, 03:26 PM

There are no medications for CL. You can try to vaccinate each goat

I don't think it's going to transfer to your dogs, and humans contacting it is so rare

Minelson · #8 08/07/12, 03:38 PM

It takes 3 weeks to culture!~I'm confused.
Ravenlost we will help you through it. Like Mpete says...take deep breaths. We all don't follow our intuition, gut sometimes and then REALLY regret it. Your hubby sounds bullheaded but I also know he is a loving man with a soft heart. I bet he feels really bad about it too

The dogs won't get it.
Let's let the shock wear off and think this through....
Huggs and prayers

Minelson · #9 08/07/12, 03:55 PM

Ravenlost...go to this thread and read post #52. I think you will find it very helpful. (great post by Where I Want To)

No Such Thing as CL-Free?

The Tin Mom · #10 08/07/12, 03:58 PM

I don't know very much about CL cultures or vaccinations, but Minelson is right. Take a deep breath. There are a lot of people on this board with a lot of good knowledge. We will help you in any way that we can.

Ravenlost · #11 08/07/12, 05:35 PM

Three weeks? Then I wonder what the vet did...I'm just going on what hubby told me as I didn't go with him and the goat. In fact, I had to call and ask what they'd diagnosed it as since he couldn't remember when he got home.

Hmmm...is it possible it wasn't CL? That the vet is just guessing and is wrong? I did ask hubby yesterday when he called to tell me it had ruptured what the pus looked like and his description did NOT fit what I've read about CL.

The goats are pets. I was thinking of breeding one next year so I could have a milking goat, but I'm not going to do that now.

Yes Minelson, you're right. Hubby is as bull headed as he is soft hearted. If I said the sky was blue he would argue that it was green. He's just that way and it is very frustrating. I have got to stop letting him bully me when I know I'm right.

Minelson · #12 08/07/12, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ravenlost

Three weeks? Then I wonder what the vet did...I'm just going on what hubby told me as I didn't go with him and the goat. In fact, I had to call and ask what they'd diagnosed it as since he couldn't remember when he got home.

Hmmm...is it possible it wasn't CL? That the vet is just guessing and is wrong? I did ask hubby yesterday when he called to tell me it had ruptured what the pus looked like and his description did NOT fit what I've read about CL.

The goats are pets. I was thinking of breeding one next year so I could have a milking goat, but I'm not going to do that now.

Yes Minelson, you're right. Hubby is as bull headed as he is soft hearted. If I said the sky was blue he would argue that it was green. He's just that way and it is very frustrating. I have got to stop letting him bully me when I know I'm right.

Yes....As far as I know only WADDL does the culture test. And a culture is something that has to grow...it takes time. I have a feeling the vet might have just gone by appearance. I think your first step with this is call the vet and get the right info instead of second hand from hubby.

FrogTacos · #13 08/07/12, 05:43 PM

How long was the lump on the goat? Did the hair fall off of it before it ruptured?

Minelson · #14 08/07/12, 05:43 PM

This is the website but it's from this past March so before they came out with the new goat CL vaccine.
Update on Caseous Lymphadenitis of Sheep and Goats from Washington State University

dosthouhavemilk · #15 08/07/12, 05:56 PM

WADDL is not the only lab that can culture for CL, but it does tend to be the go to lab for goat breeders sending in contents themselves.
I do not remember how long it took for them to culture the contents of Marguerite's cheek (not CL, just as we figured). I think a couple of weeks for the results.
I know Ohio State will run cultures for our local vets.
If there is any abcess content left I would collect it and send it to WADDL. You can call them and they can help you fill out the forms needed for testing. I would mention on the form that the abcess was irrigated with antibactieral solutions.
Definitely speak directly with the vet as well.

CaliannG · #16 08/07/12, 07:06 PM

I does take weeks to run a culture....and it takes days to do the bloodwork. The vet was going on what it LOOKED like.

Now, deep breath. Another. Things can be done.

Since your goats are in a pen, it makes disinfecting the area easier. Yes, you CAN kill CL bacteria in the soil. It is a bacteria, and it dies just like any other bacteria.

First, you get yourself a hose-attached garden sprayer, like the kind they use to spray concentrated fertilizers or insectacides on lawns. Then you fill it with bleach and set your sprayer at 5 ounces per gallon. Then you remove your goats from the pen and spray the bejeebus out of the pen. Refill as necessary until you feel it is sufficiently soaked.

Next, give your goats a bath with a good, anti-bacterial soap. They probably won't like it, but you can insure that there isn't any bacteria ON them.

Now you can put them back in the pen.

Next, either draw blood, or get blood drawn (Sorry that it is too late for an abscess culture, since it was flushed. But the blood tests are pretty good.), and send it in to have it tested. As Roseanna said, most of us use WADDL.

It generally takes WADDL 2 to 3 days to have my tests done. You can call them for results. Or you can use a more local lab.

She may not have CL. Keep hoping, but also prepare for what you will do if she comes back positive.

And tell your hubby that they are YOUR goats and you will over-react if you want to.

Ravenlost · #17 08/07/12, 07:21 PM

She's had the lump three or four weeks. No hair loss at all. Some days it would seem larger and then go down. She hasn't acted like she's felt bad at all..good appetite the whole time and never minded me handling it.

SIGH...

mpete · #18 08/07/12, 07:24 PM

retest

Ravenlost · #19 08/07/12, 08:04 PM

At this point mpete I think it's going to be test, not retest. I'm calling the vet first thing in the morning.

PaulNKS · #20 08/07/12, 08:14 PM

I'm sorry you are having a hard time.

Many times a vet can tell by looking at the content of the abscess. A normal non CL abscess does look different than a CL abscess. However, he could have been wrong.

As far as your husband. Men tend to not worry as much as women. You know that. Or if they do, they dont' admit it.

But, I would certainly not have berated and run him down on a public forum the way you did. If I found my partner had done that or I had done it to him, we would have been livid.

I'm sure your husband feels terrible knowing what this is doing to you. Give him some slack. Be a little understanding. Maybe you should give him a hug instead of coming here and telling us what an idiot he is.

Just because your goat may have CL isn't the end of the world. But... don't jump to conclusions. do like the others have suggested and don't worry about it until you get a confirmation.

Good luck. I hope it isn't CL. oh.. usually, you will lose hair on the abscess before it ruptures if it is CL and you said she didn't.

Take a deep breath. Go apologize to your husband and give him a big hug. Then sit down and talk it over and tell him how you are feeling and why you feel the way you do.

P.S. Human infection is very rare. Your husband most likely doesn't have to worry. Also, antibiotics do nothing for CL. So no, there's nothing you can do except keep it clean while it heals.