My problem child

[GoldenWood Farm]

Okay I need everyone to put their thinking caps back on! Rhapsody AGAIN is having issues . This time she isn't sick (thank heavens!) but seems to have some sort of spinal/neck/hip injury. It started night before last when my mom went out to milk and noticed Rhaps was acting off and she cried out when jumping on the milk stand. I got home from work and went out to the barn to investigate for myself what was going on, took her temp and she didn't have any fevers or sub temp and when offered hay she act with gusto. But she very obviously was in pain (teeth grinding, slight muscle trembling and holding her body at a very odd angle with her head slightly stretched out) so I went ahead and gave her some banamine and left her alone for the night to see how she did.

Yesterday morning she was back to her peachy keen self and seemed perfectly fine (though I knew the banamine was part of that). This morning we are back to the same condition though she seems to be in worse pain, she is most definitely NOT sick but seems to have suffered some sort of injury. I have pressed all along the back of her spine, down along her hips and she doesn't even flinch. But it hurts her to jump on the milkstand or to put her head down below her shoulders. I don't see/feel any heat anywhere or swelling and I am rather stumped as to what on earth she could have done. I have her closed up in a kidding stall and I gave her another dose of banamine (poor thing was trembling all over from the pain but then again she is a big baby so partly it is dramatics).

Should I suck it up and take her in to the vets to be looked at? Right now I am planning on just drying her up and getting a bit of weight back on her (she hasn't fully bounced back from her toxemia and premie delivery like I would have wanted to see). This "injury" just makes me feel all the more like I should dry her up and get her back on the mend. Any thoughts/advise on what I should be looking/feeling for? I have never had any goats do this before, she has complete control of her hind quarters so I don't think it is a pinched nerve or if it is then it isn't affecting her motor skills. I am just plain stumped!

Justine

[nehimama]

Oh, Dear, Rhaps! I have no advice to offer, but I do offer good wishes and prayers!

[CJBegins]

You need a goat chiropractor. My vet manipulated a yearling filly for me once. She did something to her neck and was in tremendous pain. Maybe your vet can figure it out for her.

Hope she gets to feeling better soon!

[Minelson]

I would call the vet I guess. Maybe some Dex is in order because you can't keep doing banamine. It really sounds like something is pinching. Since her hind end is working I'm thinking more around the shoulders and/or neck. Nerves take a long time to heal sometimes.
I have friends that have had really good experience with horse chiropractors...I would look into that also.... sending healing vibes to Rhaps!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

[GoldenWood Farm]

*sighs* where is a smilie bashing it's head against the wall when you need it. I won't be able to take her in to the vet until probably Friday. I can try and get her there earlier but with work it makes it difficult. If they can't figure out what is wrong with her I am about ready to just have her butchered. I don't have a ton of money to keep throwing at her and with all her issues she has had this year I am just about done.

I love my animals but I am not made of money and it seems like Rhaps just keeps having issues this year. I am not going to do anything drastic but I have to be realistic as well. I am praying whatever this is can be cleared up easily and simply because if not....

Justine

[Minelson]

(((hugs))) Hopefully it will clear up by Friday...Rest is the best thing for her until then

[dozedotz]

Tough one. No doubt about it. I agree that sometimes you just have to be practical - but that is very, very tough. Sorry you are having this problem in your girl. Good luck.