We had our first known injury today. Neighbors rang my doorbell when they stopped to visit the goats. Apparently 6-month-old Ginger was running along the fence (chain link) and stopped in front of them. Barbara noticed her foot was bleeding. They saw no sign of injury before the blood. Of course I checked but I can find no injury though there was quite a little pool of blood on the concrete rail where her foot was but none anywhere else before or since. As far as I can tell, that is the only flow of blood though her hair was, of course, bloody there. I am wondering if her foot might have slipped under the fence and was cut by the bottom edge of one of the strands as they are open both top and bottom. I cannot image her hitting one of the stumps hard enough to puncture the skin though there are also concrete blocks around the comfrey where she was running. They run along there all the time.
I brought her in, checked her as well as I could but could find no source of bleeding. Washed her foot and ankle thoroughly in warm water which she, of course, did not like a lot. Fortunately, she does like sticking her head in mom's milking stanchion so having her there was not a problem. After cleaning off her little foot, I soaked it good with Betadine. Before turning her back out, I closed off the new section of the pen because they have quite a little dust area at the far end and I didn't think that would be good for a wound.
She is favoring that leg and seems to be laying down much more than usual though I might be noticing more her laying down now. Today was the day I had cleaned her crate out thoroughly so she has very nice fresh bedding for the night. Because she is my first, I have a strong tendency to take her to the vet tomorrow. What do you think? And does she need a tetanus booster (she got her "baby" shots)? I am trying very hard not to be an over-protective goat momma here but she is my baby.
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Thank you, ladies. To know I am over-reacting is one thing but to have it reinforced is much, much better.
A friend is coming over tomorrow to sew but we may do the hoof trimming first. Perhaps I'll be able to tell better then or not. Either way, I will sleep better tonight with the positive reinforcement.
I don't know what to tell you about the tetanus Glenna, but I seriously doubt she needs a vet. I understand the temptation to go very well. But, I really think that with everything that you have done and not even finding a source for the blood that it would just be a waste of your money.
Think about it this way. Look how bad Anchovy was hurt and how well she has done. I would just keep an eye on it for right now. You are a great momma and I am sure you can handle it just fine.
In case you need a chuckle --
http://antiquityoaks.blogspot.com/2009/12/pigs-vs-goat.html
I had a little fun with this blog post when Pearl had her tail nipped off by a pig.
Sounds like you've done everything you can do. Some people give a tetanus booster any time there is an injury; some don't; so it's totally your call. Through ten years of every type of livestock imaginable getting all sorts of injuries -- ram ripping off a horn; another ram having a 4-inch by 6-inch piece of skin ripped off his leg by a coyote; a pig slicing his leg open after getting it under the metal wall of a shelter; doeling's tail nipped by a pig -- not a single one had any problems with recovery. Just do NOT cover the wound. Vets will say that over and over again, but we humans have a hard time with it. I learned that one the hard way. Wrapped up the pig's leg, and it got really infected, swollen, oozing, and yucky. But after I took off the bandage, even he recovered from my ignorance. You did good!