So I have 4 new moms ( goats) locked up with their kids that they had in the last week. I always lock them up for 1 week after they deliver so that they bond to their new babies.
So I had all 4 stalls filled with one mom and 2 kids each. Sunday I was going to start letting some out, but Sunday was nasty and yesterday someone turned up late to pick up chicks.
I always spend the first hour outside with the goats when they first go back out to the other goats as it is sure a stress full time of lots of fighting and kids running around.
So I went in to water, feed and do milking. I open the door to find Mocca has her 2 front legs stuck in the door of the stall. They were wedged down where the hinge was. I look over the door and her head is hung back and she looks dead. I tried to pull her legs up but she is a 150 lb goat. I opened the door knowing it would not be nice ,but at that point I thought she was dead. I kicked the top of the door off and got her out.
She then dropped to the floor and still looked dead. I lift her head and call her name she was still alive. Her belly was hard as a rock and so she had bloat. Bloat can kill a goat it crushes the organs inside the body.
I run back to the house. Call my 2 youngest kids that are home to help and grab my bloat medication. We get back give her the meds and they work.. We drag her out of the pen trying to stand her , no luck . We ended up using her horns to pull her out.
Her head was still floppy and I so thought she was not going to make it.
I phoned the vets to see if there was anything else I could do. Selenium injection for her mussles ,, pain meds and rubbing her legs to help with the circulation.
The vet said she may not stand for 2-3 days and not to make her stand. Trying to milk her was an interesting thing today , not easy and not much milk .
She has perked up alot today and her kids are in with her. They made her come around a lot faster hearing them it so helped. Now I was happy the kids tock a bottle and now mocca cleans there bottoms when I am feeding them.
The vet said she had to drink lots as the stress can cause kidney damage and so lots of water. She is eatting and drinking and I am hoping for her to stand. Vet said it was like a horse getting tied up with their mussles. I have my fingers crossed.
I know life is full of learning lessons and have been thankful she is still with us. I have gone over every thing a few times trying to work out how it could have been prevented. The doors were made out of ply board sheets. What I think happened was she always jumped up to see when some one came in and then I think her legs slipped towards the hunged part of the door and the ply board gave way. New doors will be put up before the next set of kids in August.
Of course I paniced last night and kicked out all the other 3 moms with their kids so to make sure it would not happen to them as well.
Of course it then started a big fight outside and 6 new babys running around.
But Mocca look well today apart from her legs. Outside all the new moms have settled in with their kids and I now have 3 times a day feedings to do with Mocca's kids.
Fingers crossed everyone for Mocca to stand.
So I had all 4 stalls filled with one mom and 2 kids each. Sunday I was going to start letting some out, but Sunday was nasty and yesterday someone turned up late to pick up chicks.
I always spend the first hour outside with the goats when they first go back out to the other goats as it is sure a stress full time of lots of fighting and kids running around.
So I went in to water, feed and do milking. I open the door to find Mocca has her 2 front legs stuck in the door of the stall. They were wedged down where the hinge was. I look over the door and her head is hung back and she looks dead. I tried to pull her legs up but she is a 150 lb goat. I opened the door knowing it would not be nice ,but at that point I thought she was dead. I kicked the top of the door off and got her out.
She then dropped to the floor and still looked dead. I lift her head and call her name she was still alive. Her belly was hard as a rock and so she had bloat. Bloat can kill a goat it crushes the organs inside the body.
I run back to the house. Call my 2 youngest kids that are home to help and grab my bloat medication. We get back give her the meds and they work.. We drag her out of the pen trying to stand her , no luck . We ended up using her horns to pull her out.
Her head was still floppy and I so thought she was not going to make it.
I phoned the vets to see if there was anything else I could do. Selenium injection for her mussles ,, pain meds and rubbing her legs to help with the circulation.
The vet said she may not stand for 2-3 days and not to make her stand. Trying to milk her was an interesting thing today , not easy and not much milk .
She has perked up alot today and her kids are in with her. They made her come around a lot faster hearing them it so helped. Now I was happy the kids tock a bottle and now mocca cleans there bottoms when I am feeding them.
The vet said she had to drink lots as the stress can cause kidney damage and so lots of water. She is eatting and drinking and I am hoping for her to stand. Vet said it was like a horse getting tied up with their mussles. I have my fingers crossed.
I know life is full of learning lessons and have been thankful she is still with us. I have gone over every thing a few times trying to work out how it could have been prevented. The doors were made out of ply board sheets. What I think happened was she always jumped up to see when some one came in and then I think her legs slipped towards the hunged part of the door and the ply board gave way. New doors will be put up before the next set of kids in August.
Of course I paniced last night and kicked out all the other 3 moms with their kids so to make sure it would not happen to them as well.
Of course it then started a big fight outside and 6 new babys running around.
But Mocca look well today apart from her legs. Outside all the new moms have settled in with their kids and I now have 3 times a day feedings to do with Mocca's kids.
Fingers crossed everyone for Mocca to stand.
OMG how scary! I am glad this story has a happy ending. 