lame goat

[brettz]

One of my does was barely using one of her hind legs this morning. The last time this happened I found that she'd stepped on a staple that'd been missed after cleaning up barn construction. This time though I cannot find anything. I thought maybe it felt a bit warm between her toes but didn't see any redness or sign of infection. Her hooves were pretty overdue for trimming. I generally trim monthly but this time it was three months and they were nasty. So I trimmed her hooves, washed them with soap and water, clipped all the hair up to an inch above her hooves and didn't see anything. I thought maybe I got a whiff of a rotten smell when I was first digging them out but I didn't smell it again (although I do have a cold now) and couldn't find any tissue that looked rotten. She doesn't have any point tenderness and I palpated up her leg as well. I sprayed her hoof with an anti-biotic/anti-fungal and put her in a separate stall from the main group. I figure I'll clean it up and reapply medication a couple times a day and see how she does. I'm a little stumped though. It is super wet and nasty out as it's Western Oregon - but they have a dry barn they spend most of their time when it's really gross out, and we've had more dry cold days than rain lately. Anything else I should be considering?

[Pony]

It's possible she slipped and twisted something, but if there's no tenderness or anything up and down her leg... Hm..

Does she free range graze?

[brettz]

Well when I was palping her leg she didn't get a little squirrely when I was feeling above her hock on that side. But, I did the same on the other side and then went back to the lame side and she didn't react as strongly. Just now when I checked on her in her stall she's standing holding her foot about half an inch off the ground. Definitely possible she slipped.. They have play structures they use and it's also been pouring since last night so it got muddy.

They aren't really free range.. they just have a paddock they are in, about 6000 square feet between 7 Nigerian Dwarf does/fat doelings.

[gila_dog]

I lost of my packgoat wethers to a similar problem a couple months ago. It was wet and muddy and he started limping around and carrying one of his front feet. No swelling or wound was visible. I took him for a camping trip for a few days where it was dry and his foot got well. After being home again for a few days his other front foot got lame, his ankle swoll up, and I took him to the vet. The vet said he had some kind of infection going and gave him a penicillin shot. I took him home and gave him penicillin shots for two more days, and then he died. The vet said infections like that are fairly common when hoofed animals are in wet, muddy conditions too much. Other than getting your goats out of the mud, I don't know what else to tell you. Maybe you can put some wooden pallets and cable spools in the pen so the goats can get out of the mud.

[GoldenWood Farm]

Where there any black spots on her hoof? Any spots where the hoof wall was coming away? My first thought with this mud, muck and rain is hoof rot. That can make them pretty lame (ask me how I know ) and that is my first guess besides her just slipping and twisting something.

I am not far from you and if you want a second pair of eyes if she isn't better, next week I am sure I could make a trip out .

Justine

[brettz]

Justine, thanks so much. I may take you up on the offer if she's still off after the weekend. The thing that's weird is that there's isn't even all that much mud in their pen right now. Right in front of their door it's gross but that's about it. The only thing I can think is that she got muck in her hoof since it was so overgrown and then it festered. I just don't smell or see anything abnormal - no pulling away from hoof wall or spots but I'll check again tomorrow when it's light out and make sure I didn't miss it. For the time being she seems happy in the kidding stall with clean shavings and her own bin of hay.

Also, gila, I'm sorry to hear about your goat that died - what a sudden loss. Thanks for the perspective though - sometimes this kinda stuff seems fine and suddenly isn't.

[GoldenWood Farm]

My guess is she twisted it, if there is no swelling and nothing you can visually see on the hoof in my cases they twisted something. Keeping her in a confined area like you are doing is perfect to help keep her from hurting any sprains further .

Justine