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- #11
Andrea Powell
Chillin' with the herd
I am so sorry Samantha! Did the little bunny make it okay? Thanks for the concern!
New goat mom in North Mississippi/Warning about Cloverhaven Vet
- Thread starter Andrea Powell
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- bad vet goats nigerian dwarf vet
- Thread starter
- #12
Andrea Powell
Chillin' with the herd
@Latestarter, he sure is a tough little guy. He is playing and romping around like nothing is wrong. It hasn't even been a month since it happened, but he is recovering at an amazing rate. We've already spent around $300. Expect to spend three times that. He is my little baby, so I couldn't bare to see him put down knowing that my little guy should be running and stomping. Being two college kids, it sure is hard. But, it's worth it to see him happy and recovering. 
The dog's owner happens to be my fiancé's grandmother. Although she is well-off, she feels it is our responsibility to take care of him. I understand where she is coming from, but she could have at least offered some help.
The dog's owner happens to be my fiancé's grandmother. Although she is well-off, she feels it is our responsibility to take care of him. I understand where she is coming from, but she could have at least offered some help.
Southern by choice
Herd Master
Ok, I am gonna be the bad guy here ... and I really don't mean to be but there is something here that should be said especially if you are to be goat owners.
YOU own the kid and should know that it is a herd animal and prey. A dog may chase and "play" causing injury. Albeit a NEWBIE mistake, these are not two animals that should have been together or "played" together. YOUR mistake, not grandmas. You had a responsibility to keep the kid goat safe, that failed and now there are repercussions. The dog is doing what dogs do. Livestock guardians are truly the only dogs that should be with livestock... they were bred and wired to tend to and care for goats/sheep. Pet dogs are a no no and one of the biggest threats to goats.
What more did you want the vet to do at this point?
2. You are blaming a vet. If the puncture started out small, as I assume it would, and THAT particular puncture went unnoticed that would NOT be unusual. You were given a shot to administer for 5 days... that more than likely was an antibiotic. At some point you should have noticed either the smell, or the growing in size of the abscess.
How do you miss a softball size wound?
3. Once the abscess was noticed you very well could have called the first vet. Instead you blame the vet as somehow it was their fault.
Here is where I am the bad guy.
You should have been checking the progress of the healing everyday several times a day. The fact you did not notice til it was huge, and rotting and had to be debreded tells me you were not monitoring your kid goat.
The fact you did not see the dog do this says you did not have the goat or dog secured.
It is your responsibility to learn and understand what it means to be a goat keeper. Find a mentor and learn what you can.
I share my own recent experience to show you how a vet relationship works.
My Nubian had a small lump on her jaw/mouth area. We know it isn't CL, but were concerned it may be salivary, or tooth abscess.
We take goat to vet, vet examines, also gets bit in the process... not quite convinced it was either but it was obvious a small lump was there. DID NOT feel it was best to lance at that point but to run a course of antibiotics and see if it clears up.
We ran the course but to no avail it did not decrease but increased in size.
This is where we come in- OBSERVATION and communicating with the vet. OUR responsibility.
Took goat in again because vet decided it would be a good idea to x-ray... making sure it isn't a bone issue...
We did x-rays, abscess was growing larger at this point.
The abscess was lanced and drained - NASTY! Large lance and drained out, put on antibiotics again til results came back from culture. Directions were to clean with betadine 3x day.
Same day-
5 pm goat was fine but a little swollen. Late that night by 10- 10:30 pm Her face was completely swollen.
Vet made emergency trip next day. The lance had clotted and nothing was draining... she was given a mild sedative, lanced open again and this time another hole to put a drain in.
In the end we and the vet think a splinter entered from the outside of her face and just got deep down in there and brought the whole thing about.
I share this because there are often steps in a situation... observation, keeping a close eye on a goat, monitoring are all husbandry skills. The goat owners involvement is CRITICAL in the care of their goat. Working with a vet and having and building a partnership is very important.
So was it my vets fault the lance had clotted and was not draining? NO- What if we weren't checking her regularly?
Should I blame the vet that the original course of treatment didn't clear up the lump? NO
I see no fault on the original clinics part I do see failure to be attentive and care for your goat kid that brought about the original problem (bite) but also contributed to the worsening condition (abscess/infection).
Suck it up, and take responsibility... this was not your vet's fault. Not once in your post did you mention anything you could have done differently... no, I didn't realize how dangerous it could be for a dog to play with my goat... no- I should have been putting my hands on him everyday and checking to see how the wound was healing ...
As a goat owner I am aware of how fast an abscess can form and I understand you are new and may not realize that these things can happen and happen fast. Experience will make you more aware.
And since no one has mentioned this your goat needs a buddy. They are herd animals and need another goat.
This may seem a bit harsh and I really don't want it to come off that way.. what my hope is that you will become a great goat owner... I am very glad to hear he is on the mend now. Is he wethered?
... and I really don't mean to be but there is something here that should be said especially if you are to be goat owners.1. The grandmother is NOT responsible for anything. PERIOD.
YOU own the kid and should know that it is a herd animal and prey. A dog may chase and "play" causing injury. Albeit a NEWBIE mistake, these are not two animals that should have been together or "played" together. YOUR mistake, not grandmas. You had a responsibility to keep the kid goat safe, that failed and now there are repercussions. The dog is doing what dogs do. Livestock guardians are truly the only dogs that should be with livestock... they were bred and wired to tend to and care for goats/sheep. Pet dogs are a no no and one of the biggest threats to goats.
What more did you want the vet to do at this point?
2. You are blaming a vet. If the puncture started out small, as I assume it would, and THAT particular puncture went unnoticed that would NOT be unusual. You were given a shot to administer for 5 days... that more than likely was an antibiotic. At some point you should have noticed either the smell, or the growing in size of the abscess.
How do you miss a softball size wound?
3. Once the abscess was noticed you very well could have called the first vet. Instead you blame the vet as somehow it was their fault.
Here is where I am the bad guy.
You should have been checking the progress of the healing everyday several times a day. The fact you did not notice til it was huge, and rotting and had to be debreded tells me you were not monitoring your kid goat.
The fact you did not see the dog do this says you did not have the goat or dog secured.
It is your responsibility to learn and understand what it means to be a goat keeper. Find a mentor and learn what you can.
I share my own recent experience to show you how a vet relationship works.
My Nubian had a small lump on her jaw/mouth area. We know it isn't CL, but were concerned it may be salivary, or tooth abscess.
We take goat to vet, vet examines, also gets bit in the process... not quite convinced it was either but it was obvious a small lump was there. DID NOT feel it was best to lance at that point but to run a course of antibiotics and see if it clears up.
We ran the course but to no avail it did not decrease but increased in size.
This is where we come in- OBSERVATION and communicating with the vet. OUR responsibility.
Took goat in again because vet decided it would be a good idea to x-ray... making sure it isn't a bone issue...
We did x-rays, abscess was growing larger at this point.
The abscess was lanced and drained - NASTY! Large lance and drained out, put on antibiotics again til results came back from culture. Directions were to clean with betadine 3x day.
Same day-
5 pm goat was fine but a little swollen. Late that night by 10- 10:30 pm Her face was completely swollen.
Vet made emergency trip next day. The lance had clotted and nothing was draining... she was given a mild sedative, lanced open again and this time another hole to put a drain in.
In the end we and the vet think a splinter entered from the outside of her face and just got deep down in there and brought the whole thing about.
I share this because there are often steps in a situation... observation, keeping a close eye on a goat, monitoring are all husbandry skills. The goat owners involvement is CRITICAL in the care of their goat. Working with a vet and having and building a partnership is very important.
So was it my vets fault the lance had clotted and was not draining? NO- What if we weren't checking her regularly?
Should I blame the vet that the original course of treatment didn't clear up the lump? NO
I see no fault on the original clinics part I do see failure to be attentive and care for your goat kid that brought about the original problem (bite) but also contributed to the worsening condition (abscess/infection).
Suck it up, and take responsibility... this was not your vet's fault. Not once in your post did you mention anything you could have done differently... no, I didn't realize how dangerous it could be for a dog to play with my goat... no- I should have been putting my hands on him everyday and checking to see how the wound was healing ...
As a goat owner I am aware of how fast an abscess can form and I understand you are new and may not realize that these things can happen and happen fast. Experience will make you more aware.
And since no one has mentioned this your goat needs a buddy. They are herd animals and need another goat.
This may seem a bit harsh and I really don't want it to come off that way.. what my hope is that you will become a great goat owner... I am very glad to hear he is on the mend now. Is he wethered?
- Thread starter
- #15
Andrea Powell
Chillin' with the herd
@Southern by choice I am doing my best to become a great goat owner. This is my first and I'm learning. I completely agree to your first point. The only thing I would like to make more clear is that I was not home when it happened. My fiancé was the one that saw it happen. The goat had gotten out of the pen we had, which is why we have made a new and more secure pen since then. I explained that I didn't think it was her responsibility, but it would have been nice for her to offer some help considering we are two college students and she is my fiancé's grandmother, who easily makes 6 figures.
To comment on #2, the entire wound wasn't softball sized. It was a softball sized area that had various small scratches. Over time, without us being able to see them due to dark and thick hair, they got worse. When we took him to the vet, we had only noticed one small puncture. She gave us a medicine, which I later learned was made for Kennel Cough for a dog and NOT meant to be used on livestock, and we administered it as she directed (she was fired a week later for nearly killing two different dogs by giving them the wrong medicine as well). We went above and beyond for the wound that we knew was there. Cleaning it twice a day, covering it with gauze, and keeping a close eye on it. The infection started very deep. As soon as the infection was visible we took him to the second vet.
As for the comment about us needing another goat, we were just about to buy a white Nigerian girl from the same woman we bought Archie from and get Archie wethered the day that this happened. Being in college, we didn't have enough money to buy another goat, since we were spending everything we had on a vet that gave us the wrong medicine. Our new vet advised that we wait until this heals to have him wethered, so we don't put too much stress on him. I really do appreciate your advice, but maybe theres a better understanding of what all happened. I truly have been doing everything I can so that he can live his life happily.
To comment on #2, the entire wound wasn't softball sized. It was a softball sized area that had various small scratches. Over time, without us being able to see them due to dark and thick hair, they got worse. When we took him to the vet, we had only noticed one small puncture. She gave us a medicine, which I later learned was made for Kennel Cough for a dog and NOT meant to be used on livestock, and we administered it as she directed (she was fired a week later for nearly killing two different dogs by giving them the wrong medicine as well). We went above and beyond for the wound that we knew was there. Cleaning it twice a day, covering it with gauze, and keeping a close eye on it. The infection started very deep. As soon as the infection was visible we took him to the second vet.
As for the comment about us needing another goat, we were just about to buy a white Nigerian girl from the same woman we bought Archie from and get Archie wethered the day that this happened. Being in college, we didn't have enough money to buy another goat, since we were spending everything we had on a vet that gave us the wrong medicine. Our new vet advised that we wait until this heals to have him wethered, so we don't put too much stress on him. I really do appreciate your advice, but maybe theres a better understanding of what all happened. I truly have been doing everything I can so that he can live his life happily.
I hope the little guy continues to recover quickly! He sure he is adorable, but wow, that wound took off didn't it?
NO comment on the vet handing out incorrect medicine…
NO comment on the vet handing out incorrect medicine…
- Thread starter
- #17
Andrea Powell
Chillin' with the herd
@Sumi It got crazy. Fast! the entire wound is almost pink now, so maybe he can be mostly sewn up in a couple of days! 
Thank you for the concern. I know this sounds bad, but I'm glad she doesn't work there anymore. After giving out the wrong medicine three times in two weeks, I think I would have fired her, too!
Thank you for the concern. I know this sounds bad, but I'm glad she doesn't work there anymore. After giving out the wrong medicine three times in two weeks, I think I would have fired her, too!
That is good news! Hopefully he'll be fully recovered soon.
Three times in one week is pretty bad, even if room is given for some error. I would not trust a vet to look after my animals if they make mistakes like that with such frequency.
Three times in one week is pretty bad, even if room is given for some error. I would not trust a vet to look after my animals if they make mistakes like that with such frequency.
Alexz7272
True BYH Addict
Glad your little guy is doing better and welcome!!
samssimonsays
Milo & Me Hoppy Tail Acres
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Sorry to be a downer... the rabbits scratch was kept clean according to vet directions and mine, it looked healthy and it never grew bigger. But it also didn't heal up any after 1.5 weeks so they brought her back into the vet even after the phone call with the vet stated they didn't have to and that everything was normal. Rabbit was totally fine and healthy otherwise. The vets examined it and said nothing was wrong and that all was well. They offered to shave around the scratch to see if that would help in the healing process. When they did this they found the skin had died around the wound. they kept shaving and found 10% of her kin had died around it. No smell, no sign. Rabbit was healthy... she was also only about 10 weeks old :/ They had to put her down rather than cause her to suffer. Freak accidents happen. They were in a fenced yard, rabbit was on a leash and the dog just barely laid paws on it. The vets missed it because there was no other sign at all.
