Thursday, February 10, 2011

Are Goats Really Drama Queens?

YES, YES, and most emphatically YES! A little history here. I was working Sunday afternoon and I get a call from Ted. "Corina is limping on her right front hoof and won't put any weight on it." Now, going through my head is. "oh crap, has she broken her leg, gone lame, or developed some horrible foot disease?" What was going through Corina's head was "Watch this girls and learn. Oh, Ted, I can't stand. It hurts so badly. I think I'm going to die. Go call Goatmama and tell her I need to be taken care of immediately." When I got home from work, around 8:30pm, we checked on Corina and she was laying down with the other goats. No distress. She just looked up, chewing her cud blinking her eyes to the sudden light. Monday morning we went out and she still wasn't putting weight on her leg and limping around like it would fall off any minute. I felt up and down her leg and shoulder. No swelling, no blood or open wound. She just wouldn't put any weight on it. I did the next logical thing. I called Janice from Stony Knolls Farm. Remember Goat School? Well, she is a wealth of information. Good information that every goat owner needs to know. She verified that goats were definitely drama queens. She then went on to educate me on goats and hoof trauma. Evidently, they can get anything poked up in the soft tissue between their hooves and this will initiate the drama queen mode. I was to look for any signs of infection, foreign objects, swelling or small specks of hay. Anything that may cause pain or even the thought of pain.
I felt between her toes and found nothing but a little bit of stink. I cleaned the area and applied Dr. Naylor's Hoof 'n Heel liberally as instructed. Corina thought this was a hoot.
Then I let a baby aspirin, 81mg, dissolve in a small amount of water and drew it up into a syringe without the needle and gave it to her. She knew we were serious with this. She gaged, shook her head and gave an Oscar winning performance.
After her treatment she was given a bit of grain. After all, sweet feed makes the medicine go down, the medicine go down............
Happily, Corina is back to her pushy self. We treated her foot for a couple of days and all is well. She is keeping up with the other goats in the mad rush for hay. Don't you just love her beard and wattles?
Yep, that is my Diva. What a girl!
Learning is an every day process here on the farm. We have gone back to square bales. There was just so much waste with the round bales. We will look into a better feeder system in the spring. The goats didn't like going out into the weather to eat and drink. Now we have the water in the barn along with the hay. Everyone seems happier. In their defence the snow is up to my hip and difficult to walk in. We have been having at least one snow storm every three to four days. It is really building up. Then again, we may have spoiled them a bit. Still working out the kinks.
Much Love and Prayers from Mainely Ewes Farm.

9 comments:

Michaele said...

Goat's are all just big babies. That's why we love 'em. Your goats are lucky to have someone that cares for them so well.

From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...

And the Oscar goes to....This was such a good post. I really enjoy hearing about the goings on at your farm.

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Yep, goats are definitely Drama Queens!
Kelly, check more on feeding and watering inside the barn. When animals stay in close, it makes for a ripe breeding ground for hoof problems, breathing problems, etc. Getting out into the fresh air will help alleviate a world of ill health. I have run-in shelter for all horses and sheep and did have for my goats and it was their choice. They only choose shelter in the worst of weather.

Rain said...

just love this story!! Miss my little nigerian dwarfs and miss my Maine!! even though the weather is a bit much up there right now! enjoy a few days storm free-at least that's what my husband says the weather guys say!!

NancyDe said...

Horses are dramatic, as well. I once had a horse who would limp going away from the barn and trot back. One direction of the arena was away - the other was toward. It was amusing.

Marigold said...

Oh, my. You have waaaaay too much snow. Oy.

Peggy said...

Oh boy can goats ever be drama queens!! But I am a pushover and mine all know it. LOL Send some of that snow this way before spring pops in.

Danni said...

Haaaa...what's the male version of a drama queen? 'Cuz that's what I've got with my Pete and Reggie.
Baby aspirin, huh? I didn't know about this.
Oh my..you DO have a lot of snow. I'm sending you all warming, spring thoughts and wishes!

Paula said...

Cute post, Kelly... and I have a few of those drama queen divas in my sheep barn, too... Lordy you would think I was killing them by checking their hooves! JEEZ!