[laurelrus]

I'm a bit concerned about one of my pygmy goats. He wasn't interested in his food yesterday afternoon which was unusual but otherwise seemed ok. I checked on him again mid-evening and he was fine, a bit quiet though, not trying to leap all over the place.
This morning when I went out with breakfast he had a bit of straw sticking out of the corner of his eye and his eye is very sore. I've bathed it and he enjoyed some biscuit as a treat afterwards.
The thing is, his eye looked fine yesterday, he was just off his food so I'm not sure if it's a coincidence, or if his eye was starting to bother him and the straw stuck to it because it had become sticky overnight.
I'm a worrier, and tend to get the vet out for things that don't really need it, leading to unnecessary, expensive vet bills.  They have a £50 call out charge so before I do call I'd really appreciate some advice.
Thanks very much.

[harmony]

It doesn't sound like the eye and being off his food are related as you say the straw wasn't there yesterday.


If he still isn't eating today and not his usual self I would get the vet. Could you take him to the vet instead of paying for a call out?

[Marches Farmer]

I always err on the side of caution.  If I'm not sure whether or not I need the vet I do, in fact, need the vet.

[Backinwellies]

Take to the vets ...  don't call vet out .... we take sheep to the vets for examination and once for stitches ... much less expensive

[Lesley Silvester]

Agree with above. Unless one of my goats is too ill to travel, or in labour, I take to the vets.

[laurelrus]

I discussed it with the vet yesterday and she gave me some antibiotic cream for Jasper's eye and she felt that a painful eye would be enough to put him off his food. We agreed to give that 48 hours to see how he does and obviously if I'm worried in the meantime I'll have her come straight out to look at him.
Unfortunately we don't (yet) have a vehicle suitable for taking them which means a costly call out but I wouldn't hesitate if any of my animals needed the vet.
We bathed his eye again first thing and put the cream in again. He ate some breakfast this morning and I'm going to keep a close watch and call her out if he's not improving.
Thanks for the advice, always much appreciated.

[Dogwalker]

As he's a pygmy couldn't you take hin in the boot of the car or in a big dog crate.
I took three golden guernseys over to the vets in an estate car with the seats folded down., just at school coming out time, caused some good entertainment for the kids big and small.

[Beeducked]

I've taken a full grown anglo nubian to the vet in the back of a honda civic! Great car, the seats fold up so you can just walk a goat into the back! The vet seemed a bit surprised when I declined help to get her back in and she just sauntered in.

[little blue]

Sometimes, just phoning and asking for a "farm vet" to call you back is enough - they can't charge call out and ours will prescribe for collection e.g full syringes, ointments etc if its obvious enough what the problem is.

(She says, with a £100 bill awaiting payment! Including call out. But we needed it this time!)

[Beeducked]

Have to say our farm vet has always been very generous with their time on the phone and is always fab for advice too.

[Lesley Silvester]

Ours is to. Last time he asked me if I wanted him to come out rather than assuming I did.