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Post by mzgarden on May 24, 2017 10:58:02 GMT
So about 5 days ago I was watching the girls in the pasture and my oldest doe suddenly hollers out, rears back and shakes her head. I went out and got her calmed down and she had a swelling on the right side of her mouth about half way between front and jaw but no stinger visible. I assumed bee sting and treated it and gave her benadryl.
5 days later, the swelling never went down. I started washing it with antimicrobial soap and then applying Vetericyn mixed with Tea Tree Oil (V+TTO). Today, it was oozing a tiny bit of blood - no pus, just blood. It's not hot and the swelling has not got any bigger. I put my gloves on and washed it and a big flat scab came off. I cleaned it up with the antimocrobial soap and applied the V+TTO.
She has tested negative annually for CL/CAE, with her last test in October. Her temp is normal as are her poos. Her behavior is normal, no issue with eating grain, hay, pasture. She's social, alert and active. FAMACHA is normal. It doesn't seem to bother her until I mess with it.
I'm wondering if it was a puncture would that encapsulated the infection. Now that it's open to the air again, maybe it will heal? Trying to figure out if it's time to call out the vet or give her another day or two?
What do you think?
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Post by motdaugrnds on May 24, 2017 12:50:33 GMT
Poor girl! Whatever stung/bit her must have been painful. AND it might not have been a "bite/sting" at all. Not knowing what is in your pastures, it could well have been some type of plant that poked her good. Were you able to actually look INSIDE her mouth to see if there is a cut in there?
Since she is not actually showing distress, I wouldn't worry too much about it. And since the scab came off and you could get the medication farther inside the area, I suspect you will see a diminishing in swelling soon. I really don't think a vet's attendance would be better for your doe than what you've already done. If, however, the swelling does not disappear significantly, you might want to consider a vet visit.
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Post by mzgarden on May 24, 2017 13:48:45 GMT
motdaugrnds, thanks. I did look inside her mouth and did not see evidence of a cut or any particulate (stinger, sticker, etc) still there and I did not see anything that looked like a snake bite. I checked again and still no pus or anything other than a bit of blood - like I'd expect to see when a scab gets knocked off a wound. I'll keep an eye on her. Thanks again!
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Post by Use Less on May 24, 2017 14:36:37 GMT
Will she let you apply warm compresses?
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Post by here to stay on May 24, 2017 15:52:30 GMT
I admit that it would bother me that the swelling has not gone down. I suspect that something more than a bee got her. If it was an allergic reaction or infection, it seems it would be either getting worse or getting better by now.
But I can't think of anything to do about it other than watch it. Can you feel anything if you touch the spot?
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Post by shellymay on May 24, 2017 16:40:09 GMT
Being her normal self is a great sign..........you did everything I would of could of done EXCEPT a LA shot, maybe you have milk reasons for not giving to her?? But after a few days with the swelling I would of given the LA and tossed the milk??? No I don't feel like a vet visit will benefit her at this point as she is normal all the way around as far as everything else the best part was getting it opened up and draining it (even if just some blood came out)
Copied this for you off internet, hornets and wasp stings can last a week or so...Keep us posted on her recovery!
Large local reactions to wasp stings include extreme redness and swelling that increase for two or three days after the sting. Most of the time, large local reactions subside on their own over the course of a week or so.
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Post by mzgarden on May 24, 2017 18:15:57 GMT
Thanks all. No warm compresses - I have to get her in the milk stand and then hold her head just to wash it. She's not willing to let me fool with it for very long.
re: LA - She is in milk, but I've not given her any antibiotics because there's been no abnormal temp or other symptoms. I may rethink it if this doesn't start to heal visibly in the next couple days.
I have made a vet appt for next Tuesday - earliest I could get a non-emergency appt with the vet that is goat-smart. I could get an emergency visit quicker and told them I'm reserving that option if I see a change for the worse. By Tuesday, either she really really needs a vet or she'll have recovered well enough I can cancel.
Goats! You can't live with them and who wants to live without 'em, lol.
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Post by motdaugrnds on May 26, 2017 0:07:00 GMT
Keeping good thoughts flowing your way for that doe....Please keep us informed.
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Post by mzgarden on May 26, 2017 1:16:27 GMT
Thanks for asking. I'm washing her mouth sore twice a day with Hibiclens, rinse and pat it dry. I then rub in the Vetericyn mixed with Tea Tree Oil. I'm rubbing pretty firmly to make sure I can feel if it's hot (it's not) and see if rubbing releases any pus (none). The swelling went down by half so far. I've still got the vet appointment because I don't want to cancel too early, but I'm hopeful that through the weekend, she'll continue to improve.
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Post by Use Less on May 26, 2017 11:30:52 GMT
Thanks for asking. I'm washing her mouth sore twice a day with Hibiclens, rinse and pat it dry. I then rub in the Vetericyn mixed with Tea Tree Oil. I'm rubbing pretty firmly to make sure I can feel if it's hot (it's not) and see if rubbing releases any pus (none). The swelling went down by half so far. I've still got the vet appointment because I don't want to cancel too early, but I'm hopeful that through the weekend, she'll continue to improve. It sounds like she is making good progress. I would be a little cautious about rubbing hard, if that might push infected material further in, or into surrounding tissue. Why they say not to squeeze pimples. (Sorry if that is gross, but there it is.)
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Post by shellymay on Jun 7, 2017 17:39:28 GMT
Did she go to vet or cancel??? hope all is healed and well
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Post by mzgarden on Jun 7, 2017 23:08:04 GMT
shellymay , she healed up very well. I continued to treat by washing with hibiclens and mixing antibiotic ointment and tea tree oil and applying it. It took about another week, but each day it looked more healed. I treated it like a puncture wound and made sure the top of the wound did not close over, locking in the infection. It looked weird because it looked like a cratered hole for a few days. I avoided a vet visit and there's no sign of the injury. Thanks for asking.
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Post by shellymay on Jun 9, 2017 11:41:11 GMT
That is great news, your a good goat momma These animals just love to scare us to death at times, hope the rest of your summer is uneventful as far as the goats, If not we will be here to learn and go through any and all care together
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2017 15:36:47 GMT
Glad your gal is doing well. Just a note, since you mentioned CL: That's not the usual spot for a CL lesion, and you saw her when she got hurt. Let's face it: goat skin just loves to make abscesses. Makes me paranoid about CL and such, but better safe than sorry.
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Post by paquebot on Jul 12, 2017 4:31:58 GMT
We never did establish what did it? Goat was observed reacting to something that hurt her. In my home part of Wisconsin, we had that now and then with cows. It was from rattlesnake bites. If there are rattlers or copperheads in the area, that's what happened to the goat.
Martin
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