The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: plumseverywhere on February 15, 2013, 10:04:33 am
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Reggie the heavy wether is holding one foot up now and not looking too good. We've struggled with this constant mud and although the other 3 are fine, his hooves have broken down (shelly) and have needed trimming back to stop debris breaking in. However, yesterday he's taken to the 3-legged walk. Have washed his foot, checked it for foreign bodies, there's not obvious smell or redness, no oozing. nothing apart from where he had shelly hoof last year, the white sole has spread somewhat and he has no shell to his hoof on one side still. I've sprayed it and he continues on minerals and seaweed. He has some horse cream on his fox mange on his ankles but is ther eanything else i can do or is it time to call the vet? (I won't be getting a 3 legged, hopping, 14 stone goat in the back of the van so will be a call out...)
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With Enid, when she was lame, there was no smell for a bit, however..... When having a bit of a poke with the hoof pick (VERY gently) the whole of what I had thought was her sole came away in a big chalky lump. The foot rot was underneath that 'false' sole and boy did it hum then!
Some alamycin and the foot gel stuff and she is sound as a pound again :thumbsup:
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Alamycin? is that powder from the vet CW? thanks for reply btw. I've had a good look today (again, poor thing!!) and can't find anything else to remove, will keep checking as hes now staying in his shed even though its sunny, maybe resting it is a good thing and he's following his instincts?
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tis an antibiotic hun, Enid was injected with it just before she came home from the billy. It was a few days after that I had a poke around and found the chalky stuff.
Maybe ring the vets and ask advice?
Is it possible he has sprained it or bruised it somehow?
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Keeping dodgy feet dry always seems to help - the remaining horn gets hard enough to bear weight.
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If I can't move him to dry land, can I put something on his foot to keep it dry?
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We used a dog boot on a tup once.........
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If there is no sign of scald (damp wet and red/pinkish IN-BETWEEN his toes) or foot rot (smells), nothing trapped between hoof wall and soft tissue then he is probably just fed up and wants you to now about it. Does his foot feel hot/warm?
What do you man by fox mange? If this is heel (chorioptic) mange it is easily treated with Eprinex (cattle pour-on), two applications a few weeks apart. But it is really quite pricey, and only comes in cow-sized bottles... Have you got any neighbours with cattle? Cooopers Spot-on (as far as I know) does not treat chorioptic mange, it's really just for lice.
If he is still eating well, getting around in a fashion and you cannot find anything wrong with his foot, I would wait for a few days to get him to the vets..
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;D Thanks for the replies.
Anke, I think you could have a point about him being fed up and wanting me to know about it! soon as there is feed coming he manages to do a speedy 3 legged trot. He's had this mange 3 years running and I'm blaming the foxes but really might not be, guess it could be off the straw. We used ivermectin and sudocrem with good effect so maybe its not off the fox. Theres some dexters that sometimes try to break into our field but not sure who owns them, not anyone I know well enough to obtain any meds really.
Have had a good look in between his toes and all there is to see is purple spray which has now turned pink, the skin is still white. Nothing feels warm at all and nothing trapped. will watch and see
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There's a great product for feet that I have used on my horses that apparently lots of people use for goats and sheep. It's from here http://www.pioneerpersonalcare.com/ (http://www.pioneerpersonalcare.com/) they have a lovely soap that you wash the foot with and then use one of the balms to treat. It got rid of persistent thrush in my Clydie when nothing else worked. The chap who runs it is really helpful and if you phone him he will often suggest things for a specific case. It might be worth a try.
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Milton the stuff used for cleaning baby bottles. I used this when one of the ponies had an infection in his foot. Used diluted it works wonders.
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I think we know what it is now....he's chewed that leg until its bled in 3 small areas, The mange is really playing him up. Will slather some sudocrem on for now and then check out the Eprinex option. Last year Ivermectin/sudocrem duo worked for him within a few days. Funny how its always every spring and only one goat out of 4? We've emptied the shed out totally, burnt the bedding, and he's been out in the sunshine. Putting a tiny bit of weight on it but I do't think its the foot now!
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Do you have a farm vet by you,mine will do just a syringe of wormers etc, might be worth a phone call.
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Have tried that with ours but alas no - have to buy the whole bottle of everything ::)
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Eprinex usually has quite a long shelf live if you store it correctly, and no withdrawal time for milk in females (for cattle). Does lice too...
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A very friendly farmer has offered to help with some eprinex for him :thumbsup: Until then I am taking feed and water to him and he's hobbling small distances on 3 legs but really not keen to move. There are open sore bits on his front legs and the hair has come away. No heat, swelling or bad smell - no sign of infection in the open bits that bleed when he chews them.
I have some H`10 horse stuff for muddy leg problems (sorry I'm really not technical with proper names) would that be better then or same as sudocrem for now?
Keeping very close eye and delivering him fruit branches to chew on, minerals in feed etc.
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Spoke to a goat freind yesterday and she was told to put the eprinex directly onto the leg, I have always put it on the back in a stripe. Persistent mite infestation may also need weekly treatments for up to four weeks.
From my experience it seems to be certain animals that are prone to it, and others are absolutely fine...
The Camrosa stuff seems to be advertised for mange on feet, I have just started to use it on one of mine who has dry skin on her face and scratches it (and she was also badly affected by heel mange in late summer). Sudocream should help dry it off though.
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Thanks Anke - was talking to a lady from buttercups who also said direct onto infestation.
Its dried out nicely but he's still quite sorry for himself. THis horse stuff i found when I put Camrosa into google, so hope it contains it? He is definitely prone to it! of all 4, he is the healthiest in that he never scours, gets worm burden etc just this once a year!