[GoatMumma]

Hi All,  I've got a 2 yr old Saanen Dairy Goat. She has been limping for last couple of weeks. Vet has diagnosed her with Arthritis in her 'knee' joint. She has always had problems on and off since we got her when she was 8 weeks old. Vet thinks she probably always had joint problems since birth.  She is 3 months pregnant and will be milked. Because of this vet suggested herbal treatments/supplements. Have started her on turmeric  just recently but wondered if anyone had any thoughts or ideas on anything to try to ease her pain and hopefully give her back some normal movement. Thanks 

[Anke]

I personally would question why you are breeding from a goat with a known problem in a weight bearing joint that is most likely to get worse with the additional weight and possibly also due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, but....


After you have ruled out CAE (blood test asap) - she may well have had joint ill as a kid (the breeder would have known!) She will need ongoing pain management, and as such NSAID's (like Flunixin or Metacam) are probably your best choice. They are safe during pregnancy, and probably safer than some of the herbal treatments, which have never been tested on pregnant animals.


If she turns out to be heavy milker you will have further ongoing problems, as all these painkillers have significant milk withdrawal periods, and I would be reluctant to feed milk contaminated with pain killers from her to the kids.

[GoatMumma]

Anke,  If we had know the problems she would be having we would never have bred her. 
She is 3 months pregnant and only began limping in last couple of weeks, which was when vet diagnosed arthritis. We do not have CAE in Ireland. We have been declared a CAE free zone.  When i said she has had problems from birth on and off ,i really did mean on and off! She would appear to be lame for day or two and then be fine for weeks/months. We assumed she had just twisted her ankle etc as she was an extremely lively kid. She was checked by the vet a number of times as she was growing and they could find nothing wrong with her and they too believed she was just too jumpy for her own good . We are in the situation now of trying to decide what to do for the best. She is definitely pregnant and limping badly and generally appears 'sad' . Eating and drinking fine and good colour. .

[GoatMumma]

Scarlet Dragon, I have spoken to the vet again today and she has explained that the arthritis she believes is the result of an earlier injury when she was young. We started hearing a clicking in her knee and took her back to the vet. It seems that somehow she had injured her knee joint when very young, and now she has a small bone spur and arthritis in the knee. She said other than pain relief their is not much that can be done. 
She has no problems with her hooves at all. Her feet are lovely and healthy and the problem is just in the knee area.

[pharnorth]

Fabulous comprehensive response from [member=132794]Scarlet.Dragon[/member]   I would just add willow, or willow bark as it is high in salicylic acid. This is the active ingredient for aspirin and is an anti inflammatory. Aspirin is actually a pro drug (it becomes salicylic acid in the body). Don't take my word for it but talk to your Vet but I imagine fed as willow the fibre and weak dose will give some benefit but will offset the downside of the NSAID

[GoatMumma]

Thank you for such a detailed reply Scarlet Dragon. 
I started Molly on Golden Paste about 4 day's ago, which is a mix of Tumeric, Coconut Oil and Black Pepper. Will give her a while to see if that's going to help. If not I will work my way through your suggestions.
She will not be bred again...not fair on her. She will get to relax and be the pamperd pet she is Lol.

[GoatMumma]

Scarlet Dragon, thanks for the info 
I am a member of a Turmeric group on Facebook already. I have read a few articles that pointed out the benefits of freshly ground pepper being added. I use organic Turmeric, Organic coconut oil and freshly ground pepper and cook it up fresh and store in fridge.  My main problem is getting her to take it. Little madam!  Lol.