The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: fifixx on November 10, 2011, 05:56:35 pm
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One of my 3 yr old goats jumped over a 6 foot metal gate today and back again - she is now limping although she is putting some weight on the foot - suggesting not broken.
What should I be looking for? I expect she has strained something, but as she is hopefully in kid, I don't want to upset her too much by poking her around.
She is "The Jumper" of the herd!
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Give her some time - it will probably heal itself.
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Try and keep her in a smaller area than normal, so she doesn't move around too much and therefore use it more. Aim for her resting it- easier said than done I know!
If it was one of mine I would try and have a feel of her leg to see if there was any heat/swelling/ pain etc- but depends on whether or not this will upset her even more than being left quietly!
Beth
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if a break is not out of line.... then they generally walk (limp !) on it. The risk is that continued use may knock the break out of line.
If the leg appears puffy.... it will usually be below the hock/knee.... then suspect a break. It will need support for a few weeks to heal properly & straight.
Otherwise as others have suggested, keep her on limited movement and see if the lameness goes.
Goats are prone to breaking legs unfortunately when jumping.
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The other thing mine do is pull apart the two bit of their feet when jumping about, which obviously hurts and they limp like mad. Hope your silly girl hasn't broken anything and is fine soon :-*
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Called the vet out this morning as she was looking like she was in pain. He thinks she has pulled some ligaments, so I have her in a pen by herself for a day or 2. He gave her an anti-inflammatory which will last 3 days.
My husband said, so she'll at least learn not to jump high gates then - ha ha, as if!
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poor ol' goat
Hope the treatment works ... and no, she'll probably not learn!
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Poor girl. :( Hope she's better soon.