[Violetsprite]

Hello goat people - I haven't been on the forum for a long time... No particular reason... But as a goat owner of 20 years plus I'm reaching out about a recent experience in the hope that someone will be able to offer an explanation, if not any comfort. Last Friday I called the vet out knowing that one of my goats had to be PTS due to unknown mobility/poss brain or spinal problem. I have seen several goats (as well as dogs) PTS over the years so was not concerned about being present. Despite being manouvered to the ground and being gently restricted BonBon did not seem uncomfortable. Nor when the syringe went in however when the vet started to administer the fluid she started to cry out. You'll know goat cries are distressing enough but this was so loud and heart-rending and went on for so long that my husband who was working in a closed barn some 30yards away came out having heard her. Each time more fluid was administered she cried out but stopped when the vet stopped administering. At one point the vet said that BonBons blood pressure was low and afterwards said that this meant that the fluid took longer to move around her system and so BonBons awareness that something was going on caused her to be distressed. In all it seemed to take about 5 minutes. Even though I know nothing can be done and that I did my best for her I have been really distressed by the experience and keep seeing and hearing it again. I can't bear to think of her suffering so much at the end and just can't understand why she was only crying out when the fluid was administered. If it was a sense of something happening to her as the drugs kicked in wouldn't she have been crying out continuously? I need to understand whether there was something else going on here so that none of my other goats ever experience what she did at the end of their lives. If anyone can offer any advice or explanation I'd be really grateful. Thank you Angela

[Fleecewife]

What an horrendous experience for you and I understand why you want to understand what happened. 
I have never seen this and hope I never do.  You mention that BonBon may have had brain involvement in whatever was her cause of illness and I wonder if that meant that her response was from a more primal part of the brain?  Were that the case then she would not really have been aware of it.  Humans can react what appears to be badly when they are moments from death and this is I think caused by only the brain stem still functioning and being the last bit to go.  The reaction is totally automatic and only distresses the watchers 
Or it could have been that because of the slower spread of the fluid, she felt it as it went into her vein - I think what they use is pretty powerful and unpleasant stuff but usually as you know it's all so quick that there is no reaction.  You could ask to speak to your vet to discuss what he thinks caused the crying out.   Explain how distressed you are and that you want to be able to face future similar occasions confident that there will be no repeat. Vets are no more fond of euthenasing animals than we are at having to have it done, so he was probably also upset, and should have revued for himself what went wrong, if anything was wrong.


Hopefully some of the Vets on TAS will express an opinion too.

[Violetsprite]

Thanks for your comments Fleecewife... Yes vet and her nurse assistant were both empathic and upset to see her react that way. I thought about phoning her but wouldn't expect her to say anything other than the reason she already gave. I had wondered about the possible brain issue too x

[Backinwellies]

My vet (goat specialist) told me my goat might shout out and to be prepared .... some goats do this ... it is a auto brain response .  Fortunately mine didnt.

[landroverroy]

I had something similar when I took some billy kids to be put down. It was horrendous and the crying out seemed to go on for ever. After that I have always had stock shot in the head - it's over before they know it.