Unfortunately, Cain died this evening. He was not looking any worse on my hourly checks. I checked before I left to do the ponies, and offered him more water. I had decided if he was not better by morning ,I would call the slaughterman. Havng had goats in this state before, and had them on antibiotics, quite often they still died, and I had a hefty bill!! Its not long since I had a bill for all the jabs he had, and his liver problems.
When I got back, I could see Cain had definitely deteriorated, and within a few minutes he was gone. I took Abel down the field to see his brother. They have been together all these years, and were always together in the field. It was rather sad, as Abel stood there for a couple of minutes, and sniffed Cain. If any of my goats, or indeed my horses die, I always let the other see the body. Otherwise, I feel they will be waiting for their friend to return. I do think they know, and in the past they have coped better having seen the body.
I then had a problem .....it was starting to rain hard, Cain was lying sideways across the field shelter entrance, preventing Abel getting in. I struggled to move a dead pygmy on my own, so knew a large Anglo Nubian male would be a lot heavier. My hubby, who is not interested in my goats, or indeed my other animals, was not best pleased when I rang to ask if he could come and help, especially as it was going dark, and raining!! He did come up the track, and then we had to pull Cain out of the shelter and part way up the field. Even with two of us, and pulling him on a builders sack it was not easy. At least it was dark and the neighbours could not see.
I hope Abel will settle on his own. The llama was in the field, but while we were occupied pulling Cain, he got through into the other field, and stayed there.