Hen23's Journal~Goodbye

[freemotion]

Ah, the wrenching of the heart begins, and so soon! When Ginger was a baby, she was completely three-legged lame one morning, and this same morning a friend stopped in before chores and she and I found lame Ginger together. I was almost in tears. Without even touching Ginger, I'd decided it was broken. Silly me. My friend talked me out of the rafters by pointing out that Ginger was touching the foot down a little, so wait a few hours and watch her before calling the vet.

Sure enough, by noon I could no longer tell which foot it was. Hopefully, Thomas will be the same.

If not, do a close and careful inspection for cuts and anything stuck in the foot, including between the claws. Gently palpate the entire leg and shoulder. He is probably going to be just fine, though. Probably slipped, or got bonked, or caught his foot somewhere then got it out before you saw it.

 

[Henrietta23]

Now that I think about it the dog got out this morning and was running around like a maniac. The goats all hopped into the barn in a hurry. The dog crashed into my ankle though, not Thomas'!
Okay, I'll try to stay calm for a few hours. Ha!
Thanks for talking me down. I can just hear that call, "I can't come to work today, I've got a gimpy goat."

 

[noobiechickenlady]

Oh to be a fly on the wall in the office the day that call has to be made!
Hope he gets to feeling better!

Free, you are a superhero

 

[freemotion]

Aw, shucks. Not really, I just talk a lot.....

 

[Henrietta23]

:/ Well, I went home at lunch and he was walking around with the other two, not distressed but still limpling. I went in and noticed he had a twig between his toes on that foot. It came right out but he continued to limp. It didn't look like anything that would cause him to limp. He's still climbing on rocks, etc. I felt the whole leg again and it's not hot or swollen. He was eating hay when I left. I guess I'm suffering more than he is!

 

[FarmerDenise]

I feel for you H23
Hey pick up some liquid children's ibuprofen, if you don't already have it. I have been giving it to Flower and it is making her feel better. I am giving her slightly more than 1/2 the recommended dose for children. I could probably give her more, but the goat site that I got the info from didn't state the dosage.
I wouldn't rush to give it to Thomas though, sometimes a little pain is good, in order to keep him from making it worse

 

[freemotion]

I agree, you need the medication more. I am prescribing a beer or a glass of wine for you, to be taken with the feet elevated!

 

[Henrietta23]

Thanks guys, I need the support. Now Daisy's horn bud is a little bloody and looks like part has broken off. I don't know how it happened. She was fine when I was milking Donki (ALL BY MYSELF!!) and then we went to a church picnic for two hours. Came back and there it was.... I've been owned these twins for one week tonight and both of them are injured. I'm feeling completely incompetent and insecure as a goat owner.
And yes, Donki hopped up and let me milk her with DH not even in the barn. Only problem I had was that she finished her grain about 3 seconds before I finished the last squirt. It went awry and I was glad to be wearing glasses otherwise I would have squirted myself in the eye.
Going to do a little bloody disbudded horn research then off to bed. It's been a long week.

 

[ksalvagno]

More than likely the little stinker caused the horn to break off. Probably butting heads with her brother. it will be fine. At least you don't have scurs on her now.

 

[freemotion]

Not to worry.....Ginger has scurs that grow and grow and I finally learned to let her snap 'em off herself....sometimes she breaks one off at the halfway point, sometimes she wrenches it off at her skull and owie! At least you don't need to worry about trimming one for a while now! Cause for rejoicing!

Remember, it is a head wound so can bleed more than expected. It will look worse because Daisy is almost white, but it's no biggie. Really. Have another beer....feet up!

Yay on the milking! I've squirted myself all over, still do!