Hello, I'm new to this forum. I have a small herd of Nigerian dwarf goats. My two does kidded in April. Sadly yesterday my neighbor's dog got into their pasture and got a hold of one of my baby boys. He had some puncture and open wounds I flushed with water. The wounds today look like they have scabbed over. His neck however is still damaged. He can move it from side to side but he can't hold it upright in a normal way. I saw him drink water but he's having a bit of trouble eating. He can nurse but it is painful. He is moving around with his mother but I'm worried his neck will never heal. I'm new to this. Any advice will be appreciated.
Goat neck injury dog attack
- Thread starter Bonnie Jo
- Start date
Goat Whisperer
Herd Master
Welcome to BYH's! 
Honestly, I think it would be best to have a vet look him. The vet should be able to tell you if it will heal or if this will be a permanent issue. It may be as simple as keeping him on banamine for a few days. I have given aspirin before, but I don't know if it would work in your case.
Having a relationship with your vet is very important when raising goats. If you don't have GET ONE
The fact that he can't hold his head up would have me very worried, not just about his neck but his rumen too... Can he still chew his cud? Burp? You do NOT want an out of wack rumen. You also don't want him getting worn down or dehydrated.
Have you given them their CDT vaccines?
You may want to consider giving a tetanus anti-toxin too.
ETA- Take his temp regularly, watch very closely for infection.
Honestly, I think it would be best to have a vet look him. The vet should be able to tell you if it will heal or if this will be a permanent issue. It may be as simple as keeping him on banamine for a few days. I have given aspirin before, but I don't know if it would work in your case.
Having a relationship with your vet is very important when raising goats. If you don't have GET ONE
The fact that he can't hold his head up would have me very worried, not just about his neck but his rumen too... Can he still chew his cud? Burp? You do NOT want an out of wack rumen. You also don't want him getting worn down or dehydrated.
Have you given them their CDT vaccines?
You may want to consider giving a tetanus anti-toxin too.
ETA- Take his temp regularly, watch very closely for infection.
Hens and Roos
Herd Master
Welcome
Sorry to hear about your kid getting hurt, I agree with @Goat Whisperer about having a vet look at him.
keep us posted on how he does
Sorry to hear about your kid getting hurt, I agree with @Goat Whisperer about having a vet look at him.
keep us posted on how he does
bonbean01
Herd Master
So sorry this happened and I agree with all the advice Goat Whisperer gave you. Hope your little one will be okay.Welcome to BYH
- Thread starter
- #5
I recently moved to this very rural area. I asked around about a vet, but the woman I purchased my buck from says there are no good vets in the area who work with goats. I will continue my search. For now we are on our own. I sat with my little boy all day yesterday and sadly he continued to fade. I kept hoping to see him bounce back. His neck was so badly damaged he stopped nursing and wouldn't even take milk from a bottle. As goat whisperer suggested I watched to see if he could burp and chew his cud. He was so little he was in the weaning process. For two days I didn't see him eat.
I hate to see animals suffer and even with neck surgery (My husband and I are pretty sure his neck was broken, or the tendon that runs along his neck was severed) I couldn't see how this little guy was going to get better. We decided to euthanize him.
It was really hard because I helped his mother birth him less than two months ago. Although this is my first herd I am raising with my husband, when I was a girl I raised pygmy goats. I have been through this before but it never gets easier.
My neighbors who owned the dog are being very cooperative and understanding. They feel terrible. They are going to buy another baby nigerian dwarf for us. Still I just get so attached to these little ones.
Goat whisperer, I am aware of the CDT vaccination. I have a vile of that in my fridge and some pen-G. I also have probios and aspirin. Are there any other vaccinations you give your herd? What other medicines would you reccomend having on hand for when emergencies like this happen.
I hate to see animals suffer and even with neck surgery (My husband and I are pretty sure his neck was broken, or the tendon that runs along his neck was severed) I couldn't see how this little guy was going to get better. We decided to euthanize him.
It was really hard because I helped his mother birth him less than two months ago. Although this is my first herd I am raising with my husband, when I was a girl I raised pygmy goats. I have been through this before but it never gets easier.
My neighbors who owned the dog are being very cooperative and understanding. They feel terrible. They are going to buy another baby nigerian dwarf for us. Still I just get so attached to these little ones.
Goat whisperer, I am aware of the CDT vaccination. I have a vile of that in my fridge and some pen-G. I also have probios and aspirin. Are there any other vaccinations you give your herd? What other medicines would you reccomend having on hand for when emergencies like this happen.
- Thread starter
- #6
Hens and Roos
Herd Master
What a cutie, how's he doing this morning?
- Thread starter
- #8
Hens and Roos
Herd Master
so sorry to hear this
Goat Whisperer
Herd Master
I am so sorry you had to put him down, I was hoping he would be okay It sounds like you did the right thing for him
I vaccinate my herd for anything other then CDT. I only use Goat Vac CDT because the Bar Vac gave all my goats nasty lumps!
As far as vets, have you seen this list? They may be to far but I figured I would post it anyway
Tri County Vet service's
Linda Richardes
Petterstown ,WV 24963
Dr. John Sangenario, Jr.
Dominion Equine Clinic
2451 Lake Cohoon Road
Suffolk, VA 23434
757-925-1234
Dr. Donna Mathews (excellent "ruminent" vet specializing in goats, sheep)
Luray, VA
540-743-7298
Petersburg Animal Hospital
Dr Jennifer Coates, DVM
3297 South Crater Road
Petersburg ,Virginia 23805
(804)732-4905
Valley View Animal Hosp
Dr. David Redwine
Rt. 4
Gate City, Va. 24251
276-386-6101 Mon.- Fri.
This vet does NC & VA
Dr. Allen Cannedy
919-618-1322
http://mymobilevet.com/index.html
I will put an emergency list in the next post.
It sounds like you did the right thing for him I vaccinate my herd for anything other then CDT. I only use Goat Vac CDT because the Bar Vac gave all my goats nasty lumps!
As far as vets, have you seen this list? They may be to far but I figured I would post it anyway
Tri County Vet service's
Linda Richardes
Petterstown ,WV 24963
Dr. John Sangenario, Jr.
Dominion Equine Clinic
2451 Lake Cohoon Road
Suffolk, VA 23434
757-925-1234
Dr. Donna Mathews (excellent "ruminent" vet specializing in goats, sheep)
Luray, VA
540-743-7298
Petersburg Animal Hospital
Dr Jennifer Coates, DVM
3297 South Crater Road
Petersburg ,Virginia 23805
(804)732-4905
Valley View Animal Hosp
Dr. David Redwine
Rt. 4
Gate City, Va. 24251
276-386-6101 Mon.- Fri.
This vet does NC & VA
Dr. Allen Cannedy
919-618-1322
http://mymobilevet.com/index.html
I will put an emergency list in the next post.
