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Post by mzgarden on May 4, 2016 3:39:42 GMT
I'm in a last ditch effort to avoid putting one of our does down and my heart is breaking.
Once she got pregnant, her feet began to grow wildly. We were trimming every other week. She would start to limp and we'd trim and she'd be better. Vet's seen her many times - no foot rot, swelling, etc. She's tested negative multiple times for CL/CAE/Johnes. No other health issues. Delivered two boys who have been wethered.
Vet says she has poor conformation which was made worse when she got pregnant. Outside toes (not hoof wall, the actual toes) on her front feet are bigger than the inside toes, which is causing her feet to deform.
She's gone to her knees in the last week and limping the rest of the time. 3 days of Banamine is not helping.
The logical side of me says she needs to go but I'd be willing to keep her - not breed her - and let her live her life out if I could make her pain free.
Anybody got any crazy ideas? I'm feeling a little desperate.
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Post by shellymay on May 4, 2016 11:03:36 GMT
Wendy, tagging her and maybe she can jump in with info...........
mzgarden , What is her age? are you feeding her grains? can you post pictures?
I almost wished you had hoof rot as I have a cure for that, not sure of an answer if its not hoof rot other then sometimes if we are feeding grains or high proteins it effects their hoof growth, I would take her off grains and all high proteins for a month and keep up the trimming and see if that helps....I would love to see pictures though as some people are just scared to trim to much off and she may need a more aggressive trimming?
Maybe others will chime in with some help.....
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Post by mzgarden on May 4, 2016 12:07:56 GMT
shellymay , thanks. We're pretty aggressive trimmers - we use both a scissor type hoof trimmer and an electric hoof knife. We have several others that do not have any issue. I even asked our vet to trim her a couple times himself so I could see if his trimming resulted in anything different. As to diet, she gets 1 pound Purina Dairy Parlor 16 in the am on the milk stand and then again in the evening because she's still nursing and we're milking OAD. Beyond that, she has grass hay, Black Onyx minerals and baking soda free choice. There were no changes to her diet when this started - she's never 'gotten into' the grain,e tc. Vet will probably come out one more time today -- his perspective is/has been that this is a bone structure problem, not a hoof problem. His multiple exams over the last 10 months have resulted in his belief this is a congenital skeletal deformity in her feet that has accelerated as she grows and the pressure of pregnancy exacerbated the issue. We may pay for x-rays to get final confirmation.
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Post by shellymay on May 4, 2016 14:24:34 GMT
mzgarden , I still believe this would be a good read for you, www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles2/founderingoats.html going back to your first statement, "The logical side of me says she needs to go but I'd be willing to keep her - not breed her - and let her live her life out if I could make her pain free"
Her boys should be old enough that she doesn't need grain for milk production, you will have to stop milking her and stop all the grain input, this might be her only chance and it just might work....not sure if this is all worth it or not, but she needs ALL the meds out of her system and then there is the option of taking her to a sale for human consumption, 30 days usually on med withdrawal...
mzgarden, its your goat and your decision and I respect you for any that you make, and it is a very hard decision (hugs)
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Post by mzgarden on May 4, 2016 14:36:20 GMT
shellymay , thanks for the link. I've actually read it and several others several times and shared it with our vet as an option. To be fair to her, I feel like I have to consider the amount of time she would remain or increase her pain and suffering while I tried alternate options that may or may not work, just to end up sending her to a sale barn. (Please understand, I'm more arguing with myself in my head than with any of you responding). DH is home with the animals all day and called me at work to say she is increasingly showing the classic signs of suffering - separation from the rest of the herd, lack of movement, and new today, she is doing some soft crying. Based on this, I'm afraid, for her sake, we need to end her pain. Above all else, I truly appreciate the non-judging inputs and the hugs. Looks like it's going to be a rough couple of days around here. Why can't it all be rainbows and lollipops?
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Post by Use Less on May 4, 2016 16:26:24 GMT
I gave an older goat aspirin at the vet's recommendation for some months. She acted better, so I thought she felt better. She was very affectionate. Eventually old age took her.
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Post by Wendy on May 4, 2016 16:55:42 GMT
Well, since I was tagged I thought I would chime in. If it were me, & this is entirely just my opinion, she would go, either to slaughter or just euthanize her. I love, love, love my goats, but I tend to look at them a lot differently than most. Mine are here for a purpose. If they can no longer serve that purpose, they go. If they have any problems that will cause suffering, they go. If she were mine, she would go. I have had some with chronic hoof problems & when they go down on their knees, it's hard to get them back. I would send her to slaughter just because the practical side of me says to at least get something out of them. I love the goats, but they are livestock & livestock are here to give us meat, milk, eggs, etc. When they can no longer do that, I do not keep them as I can't afford to feed them & get nothing in return. If you can find a way to keep her comfortable, then by all means, do what you can. This is entirely your decision & do what you feel is best for you.
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Post by mzgarden on May 4, 2016 17:29:36 GMT
Wendy, Truly, thanks for adding to the conversation. I think there's a place for all points of view. My heart is still tender as these are our first livestock not grown specifically for meat so I admit to struggling. For now, we will say our good byes and let her go to be at peace and we will learn as much as possible so the experience is not wasted. You guys are the best. I keep telling my husband -- tomato plants are so much easier on the heart than these goofy, lovable goaties.
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Post by mzgarden on May 4, 2016 19:40:43 GMT
Tomato ice cream but the laugh was appreciated!
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Post by motdaugrnds on May 4, 2016 20:45:04 GMT
Just saw this thread and am feeling so sad your doe is in the situation she is in. From the way you're talking it sounds like you are more inclined to put her down humanely so she will not be suffering anymore. I do so agree. I had to do that with my herd buck Roman a few years back and it broke my heart; so I know a bit about what you are going thru. Were she mine, that is what I'ld do.
((hugs))
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2016 1:16:39 GMT
I'm sure you will do what is best for your doe, which may be hard on your heart. I'm sorry you're having to go through this. These darned animals just worm their way into your heart.
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