freemotion
Self Sufficient Queen
My little doeling was upside-down in the big rubber feed tub that the smaller goats like to curl up in. I went out about an hour ago, calling as I approached the barn, and the other three came to the gate but not the baby, but I could hear her calling. I peaked in the window and saw her belly and legs, perfectly still, and she was crying.
Her neck and head were completely to one side, and she was in a puddle of urine and poops, unable to move, and not even struggling. I thought her neck must be broken. I picked her up and got her out of the tub, setting her on her feet, and she stood shakily in a crouch, then she shook (imagine how I smell right now....) but mostly just her head and ears, poor little thing.
I put my hand under her chest to steady her, and half guided and half carried her to her stall so she could be safe while I called the vet. It took me some time to actually speak to a vet, and was told that she was probably just disoriented and to wait an hour and call back! Sheesh! This is why I left that practice years ago. Usually it was the desk help who would tell me such things. I returned to this practice after my horse was put down by my wonderful horse vet, who was useless (and outrageously expensive) in my last goat emergency. This practice is no better, but at least is about 1/4 the cost. And one of the many vets just got four baby goats, so there is hope. Of course, she was not in today.
Now the baby is mouthing some hay, she had a couple of pees and a poop, and the pee did not look bloody. I didn't think to catch some of the urine until she was done, but I got a good look at the stream, and to the eye, it was clear yellow and normal looking.
She is standing and moving about a tiny bit, not so shakey. I gently palpated her, she tolerated it well, seems to have a sore spot around her lumbar spine and iliac crest (not sure what it is called on a goat) but does not appear to be a bad break, if it is fractured at all.
She is not shaking. I am.
What do you experts think? Username? Helmstead? Rolling? Anyone I've forgotten (my brain is addled right now.)
Her neck and head were completely to one side, and she was in a puddle of urine and poops, unable to move, and not even struggling. I thought her neck must be broken. I picked her up and got her out of the tub, setting her on her feet, and she stood shakily in a crouch, then she shook (imagine how I smell right now....) but mostly just her head and ears, poor little thing.
I put my hand under her chest to steady her, and half guided and half carried her to her stall so she could be safe while I called the vet. It took me some time to actually speak to a vet, and was told that she was probably just disoriented and to wait an hour and call back! Sheesh! This is why I left that practice years ago. Usually it was the desk help who would tell me such things. I returned to this practice after my horse was put down by my wonderful horse vet, who was useless (and outrageously expensive) in my last goat emergency. This practice is no better, but at least is about 1/4 the cost. And one of the many vets just got four baby goats, so there is hope. Of course, she was not in today.
Now the baby is mouthing some hay, she had a couple of pees and a poop, and the pee did not look bloody. I didn't think to catch some of the urine until she was done, but I got a good look at the stream, and to the eye, it was clear yellow and normal looking.
She is standing and moving about a tiny bit, not so shakey. I gently palpated her, she tolerated it well, seems to have a sore spot around her lumbar spine and iliac crest (not sure what it is called on a goat) but does not appear to be a bad break, if it is fractured at all.
She is not shaking. I am.
What do you experts think? Username? Helmstead? Rolling? Anyone I've forgotten (my brain is addled right now.)