Emergency goat help needed *Update pg. 2*

[Horselessnomore]

Chrystalstar -- thanks for the advice. I did have the brilliant idea to try and wrap the leg tonight, but didn't get it done. Couldn't even get it on the little guy before he was trying to chew it off. His buddy was trying to help chew it off as well . Goofy goat -- didn't he know I was trying to help him.
If I gently massage the leg, he will stand with it down and put his foot on the ground, so I am "thinking" maybe a cut or sprain of some kind. Will definitely try to get a tetanus shot for him tomorrow -- I didin't even think of that, but a very good suggestion.

[crittermom]

I'm leaning towards an abscess. Second guess would be a sprain. Keep us posted.

[Horselessnomore]

Just a quick update -- took the little guy to the vet on Friday. He has a broken leg -- broken just below the knee. Have no idea how he did that . If he could talk, he could tell us, but no luck with that either. He's in a cast for 6 - 8 weeks and then a splint after that. I am suppossed to restrict his movement for this time . We've cleaned out the shed and he is spending his days there. I am putting the other 2 goats with him to keep him company and warm at nights. He's lonely during the day -- we put a ball in with him to play with but does anyone have any other suggestions on toys we could put in with him to keep him amused yet quiet??? Will try to post pictures later today. He's got a cute little blue cast on from hoof to the top of his leg. The vet put hard stuff on the bottom over his hoof and wrapped above the cast with elastoplast to help keep the dirt out. I think he's feeling quite a bit better and aside from having to drag the cast around, he's getting around pretty well. He's even jumping a bit . Must keep him quiet though.

[Amy]

Aww, poor guy! My little goat broke his leg just above the knee- he sheared his growth plate off of his femur! But We know how it happened, he got stepped on...

My little guy, has been getting bottle fed so he was still spending a lot of time in the house (yes I know, he is livestock but I feel the need to spoil him). And he is our only goat, tho we are in the process of looking for a buddy. Anyway, we let him hobble around the house, he likes to just be near us and have stuff to chew on, he likes the bark off our firewood.... do you have a cat or another animal that can hang out with him and keep him company?

[Karen Cole]

WOW, sure didnt' see that comming a break huh. Interesting he would let you handle the leg like you did and not act like it hurt. Tough little booger. I have no tips for keeping him calm sorry. We did have one with a broke leg when we bought her and there was no keeping her down she bounced all over.

Good Luck with him Iam glad you got his problem figured out.

Karen

[Chrystalstar]

When we had a goat with a broken leg, once the cast was dry, I just let them run with the herd. They all healed up just fine. I kind of figured it was broken.

Fran

[Gotta Love Duns]

I just caught this thread, I have no idea how to keep him quite but good luck with him. I know how much your son loves his goats.

[Horselessnomore]

Karen -- didn't see that coming either! He would let me handle the leg and when you rubbed the top part of the leg, he would actually put a bit of weight on his toe. It was a clean break, right across the leg with the bones displaced a bit front to back but not much side to side. It is above the growth plate, so his prognosis is good if we can keep him quiet and relatively confined so he doesn't jump all over the place. He jumped on top of the kennel, has jumped over the boards we put up to make the shed smaller and is generally being a little poop, but obviously feels a whole lot better.
Chrystalstar -- I would let him run with the herd, but the vet said to try and keep the cast dry. Since their pen is full of snow right now, we will keep him inside for a while yet. He is much happier when his friends are inside with him, but it is hard for the other 2 to be inside all day and he does not like being alone. Anyone have another goat??
GLD -- yeah -- not sure how this happened but many, many, many phone calls later we finally found a vet who would work on goats (and I might add that they also work on snakes and other assorted critters!).
I am just glad that we know what it is and can treat him accordingly.

[Horselessnomore]

Here's a few pictures of the poor little goatie in his cast.





He seems to be adapting well. He's jumping around and just generally being a goat. The cast has not really slowed him down much.

Am thinking of buying him a lick-it ball (for horses) so he will have something to play with when his friends are out for the day.

Any other suggestions for toys for him = I have a soccer ball in the stall.

[Gotta Love Duns]

What a little cutie! I can see why your son loves him so much.
What about sticking a large stuffed animal in there? I think the lick-it ball is a great idea!

[Horselessnomore]

GLD - unfortunately most of our stuffed animals are of the smaller variety. We have 1 large teddy bear but I am afraid my daughter wouldn't part with it . I was "thinking" of making him a pillow out of polar fleece and stuffing it with shavings so he has something to cuddle with. Our weather is suppossed to be nice on Thursday - sunny and above zero, so will cover his little cast with a plastic bag and try to let him outside for a bit.

[Gotta Love Duns]

Oh that is too bad, if we had both known what the future would have held I could have brought you up some of my stuffies from Calgary that my parents are storing in there garage for me. I have some of those huge ones that you win at the Stampede, that would have worked really well. Shoot.
But a pillow out of polar fleece may work well too!

[Horse_Orderly]

He's so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope he does well and heals fast!

[Lady_MCSE]

Awe, he's just too adorable!