Help!! Does my goat need stitches? What should I do??

TheBanditQueen · #1 07/01/14, 11:05 AM

I found her this morning with a gash in the middle of her side. It's fairly shallow, but as long as my thumb and somewhat wider. All the skin is gone, so it's open.

I have no idea what happened. Everybody else is fine.

Called my husband at work and he said that in his experience with livestock on pasture, he's seen fewer infections with this type of injury just left open to heal, rather than getting it stitched. I didn't know if this one even could be stitched. But I don't want her to get infected either way...

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The hair kind of covers the right hand side and the top of it.

I have a first aid critter wound spray that I could spray on it, but the bottle says "protective dressing for minor cuts, skin irritations, and abrasions" and "for external use only, not for deep puncture wounds", etc. This looks like more than a minor cut to me. Should I spray it? Or is there something else I should do or put on it??

**mygoat** · #2 07/01/14, 11:38 AM

If I can catch a goat with a wound like that (we ran untame boer goats for a while, lol) then I'd spray it with chlorhexidine or 1% iodine spray. I'm sure your wound spray is just fine. Chances are, it will heal just fine if you left it alone, too.

It looks very clean and should heal fast.

TheBanditQueen · #3 07/01/14, 11:45 AM

Whew! Thanks, mygoat!!

Alice In TX/MO · #4 07/01/14, 11:49 AM

Look for a piece of sheet metal that she may have rubbed against.

TheBanditQueen · #5 07/01/14, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

Look for a piece of sheet metal that she may have rubbed against.

Yeah...

wintrrwolf · #6 07/01/14, 01:10 PM

yeah find the culprit and remove it so it doesn't happen again. Since this is the season for flies I would spray it with the iodine, that's me the iodine queen

momagoat61 · #7 07/01/14, 02:19 PM

Had one get an injury just like that, same area about 3 years ago, was cause by a cattle panel that I had cut in sections and one of the cut end stuck out about the length of the tip of my pinky finger and that's what had caused mine to get injuried, I found the hair and skin on the panel. Terramycin ointment and Blue antiseptic spray for a couple weeks and it was fine.. I did give a tetanus booster shot.

TheBanditQueen · #8 07/01/14, 03:03 PM

Grr...haven't found a speck of hair or blood yet. I hate invisible culprits.

Backfourty,MI. · #9 07/01/14, 03:44 PM

I'd also spray it with your wound spray or iodine. Keep an eye on it & if the flies are bothering that area I'd also spray it with Screw worm spray, TSC sell's it. It's the same spray I used on bucklings that were cut this year. They healed right up & no fly problems.

TheBanditQueen · #10 07/01/14, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Backfourty,MI.

I'd also spray it with your wound spray or iodine. Keep an eye on it & if the flies are bothering that area I'd also spray it with Screw worm spray, TSC sell's it. It's the same spray I used on bucklings that were cut this year. They healed right up & no fly problems.

Good to know.

aart · #11 07/02/14, 04:45 AM

Looks like the classic 'corner tear', like when you catch a piece of clothing on something sharp .....my pup has had these twice at the widest part of his ribcage, running thru the woods catching a sharp stick....skins probably not gone, it's just sagging open.

I shaved it close then had the vet tack it closed with a couple stiches 30 hours after the fact (they always do these things on Sundays). Had to keep him in a 'coat' to keep it clean and protect it from back leg scratches also used a collar to keep him from chewing on it.

Might be different treatment for a goat. Do goats chew at wounds?

TheBanditQueen · #12 07/02/14, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aart

Looks like the classic 'corner tear', like when you catch a piece of clothing on something sharp .....my pup has had these twice at the widest part of his ribcage, running thru the woods catching a sharp stick....skins probably not gone, it's just sagging open.

I shaved it close then had the vet tack it closed with a couple stiches 30 hours after the fact (they always do these things on Sundays). Had to keep him in a 'coat' to keep it clean and protect it from back leg scratches also used a collar to keep him from chewing on it.

Might be different treatment for a goat. Do goats chew at wounds?

Yeah, that's probably what it was. :/

I wasn't sure about chewing, but she hasn't been.

Goats Galore · #13 07/02/14, 11:29 AM

Goats find trouble even when you have done everything you can to keep them safe. Thank goodness they have been blessed with the ability to heal quickly. An antibacterial spray should always be on hand. This week one of our bucklings cut the outside of his knee on the barn siding. Goats have lived there for years without any problems, but this little fellow found trouble. I sprayed, butterflied it, and put on a tape bandage...he did not take it off! All healed now.

ozark_jewels · #14 07/03/14, 05:44 PM

I'd vote for clorhexadine also. I like it a bit better than iodine(though I'd likely clean it with iodine initially) for healing cuts because it cleans and promotes healing, keeping the skin soft yet not wet. Iodine cleans but also dries skin out, which slows healing. If she were mine I'd keep a close eye on it and spray twice or more daily with clorhexadine. I buy mine in the feed store. Lots of companies make it, but I like the Durvet the best. I do not dilute it.