Chronic Limping

moonspinner · #1 12/29/14, 08:10 AM

I have a 4.5 yr old buck who has shown a pronounced limp on and off for at least the past two years. It can be any leg and he often holds up a foot. Of course it's worse on rutty/icy surfaces, but can also occur during nice weather. He can go months being fine and then it hits again.
I had someone come for stud service recently and he wasn't limping but although very interested in the doe (she was definitely in heat) he seemed reluctant to mount her.
He is CAE/Johnes neg. I just don't get it - chronic laminitis maybe? I have given vitE/sel gel but maybe BOSE is needed?
Any ideas?

Clovers_Clan · #2 12/29/14, 07:42 PM

Is it possible he could have had a past history of something neurological like meningeal worm, listeriosis or back injury that just never completely healed up? Goats can have arthritis that is not CAE related, although at his age that would be unusual. Has he had hoof problems? What breed is he? Body Condition Score? Feed regimen?

moonspinner · #3 12/31/14, 08:38 AM

He's nigerian. On good timothy mix hay and a cup/day of fresh custom milled dairy mash. Has regular hoof trims. I would think any past nerve damage would show constant limping. He can go months moving perfectly normal. Very odd.

**mygoat** · #4 12/31/14, 09:45 AM

How is his hoof quality? It's different feet? That would really lead me to believe he's got some sort of deep between wall and sole infection. Does his hoof wall separate from the sole at all? Some of those can abscess too and until it grows out, can be painful. If so, spray it out with a hose and trim the wall back so that no more mud can get packed in there. Then soak it down with a hoof treatment like copper napthalate. Finally, I'd do a 7 day systemic antibiotic - I prefer biomycin. If at all possible, move housing, water bins, feeders to get them out of the mud. Something as simple as moving these things every month or two can keep the mud problems down and reduce hoof problems.

Another option is founder. What diet is he on? If he's on alfalfa, perhaps cutting that out would be helpful. I used to see really bad urine burn on my bucks when I fed alfalfa, and since going to a grass they never have a problem. But, I've also heard these rich diets can lead to founder - I believe a good friend of mine who was feeding an alfalfa balage managed to founder her buck and boy did he look sore on and off.

Frosted Mini's · #5 12/31/14, 04:53 PM

Spray the foot out with a hose? LOL...around here if we did that right now, it would freeze on the poor goaty's foot before it could dry!

**mygoat** · #6 12/31/14, 05:58 PM

It's cold here too but can't be much different than walking around in snow all day, I figure.

Frosted Mini's · #7 12/31/14, 10:34 PM

Well, it was too cold to snow here today.

Will be back to much milder 30 highs/teen lows though in the next couple days, rather than single digits.

I guess they lay down with their feet tucked up so could warm back up that way.