AboutGoatlady Expertise Specializing in New Goat Owner understanding of goat physiology, goat anatomy, goat care and herd management. *I am not a veterinarian, any advice and information should be verified by your veterinarian before administering to your goats.
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Note: Keep in mind, the goat expert is volunteering her time to help other goat owners, she also runs her farm with her own herd of 100 goats and may not be at her computer at all hours. Questions are answered as soon as she can possibly read and answer them, usually within 24 hours.
Experience 18 years experience of raising goats and herd management. Active hands on experience with goat herd and research with various Caprine University Research and Extension Centers nationwide. 15 years dedicated to helping other goat breeders/owners with goat anatomy, goat disease and goat health care issues via phone, published goat care articles and internet interaction. The information I have to offer is not only from personal experience and years of research updated often as new information is made available to me, but supported by many Veterinary Research colleges and all medications and information I have to offer on how the medications work and what dosages "I" use, is information I have acquired by discussing directly with the company's veterinarians and staff research experts.
Organizations 5 year active member of International Veterinary Information Service
Publications United Caprine News, Homesteaders Magazine, Columnist for Goat Magazine, Owner and Author of GoatPedia™
Education/Credentials Graduate Programs in Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University
Question I have a 1.5 yr old doe that was tangled with her tether about a month and a half ago. It was wound tight around her hind leg for about an hour or so b4 I rechecked her. I thought she wasn't walking on that foot because of a strain to get the tangle off . I put her on antibiotics after two weeks of it being swollen and the swelling went down completely. Now I see a deep groove around the inside half of her hoof and inside the spit of her hoof. I think she will lose that half of her hoof now due to lack of circulation. I am going to put her on another two weeks of antibiotics to insure no infection now that the deep groove is apparent. I suspect it will fall off eventually on its own sad to say. I can't afford a large vet bill to amputate this section of her foot but want to do the best thing I can for her. She is able to put weight on the foot while standing but mostly holds it up when getting around. Should I give her anything else in the meantime? She is eating well and keeping weight on. She still loves to snuggle and is excited to see me. I imagine depending on the looks of it in the coming weeks, it will need topical attention as well. I currently cut my own prairie grass by hand and put it in their large fenced area until winter hay and alfalfa purchase so it won't happen to her again or her buck. Feeling terrible for her. Juli
Answer HI Juli,
Good call on immediate care on your part!
Is the foot necrotic? (black and smelly)?
Have you taken her rectal temperature? is it high? (normal is 101.5 to 103.5) Can you take and send a photo?
If the hoof gets necrotic (gangrene-black and smelly or pussy and smelly) it will probably have to be amputated as it could spread through the body via the blood and possibly be a fatal situation. A goat who has lost a toe is still fine. They adjust so no need to have her put down over this. (Just in case someone suggests it)
I would have her on penicillin procaine G 1cc/25lbs twice a day for this - make sure you draw back on the plunger of the syringe before injecting as gotten into the blood stream can be fatal- but pennG is the best choice for this type of infection. I Would also give a tetanus anti toxin injection only because if there is the slightest opening tetanus lives in all soil and can and will get into small openings such as this - tetanus anti toxin is not the same as CDT - I use the equine origin tetanus anti toxin which comes in a 1500 unit vial of about 4ccs- a full grown dairy goat will use the entire 4ccs injected SUbQ and this can be repeated in 7-10 days .
Not to be judgmental or in any way perverse- but goats should not be tethered (if there is any way possible) because of this case and other potential injury and being a target for predators. Better to dry lot feed (bring food to them twice a day) or have them in a goat proof fenced area.. I know people do tether, especially in summer to rid areas of grass and weeds - but there are more problems than not that can happen as you have seen yourself - this also goes for no collars on goats because they can and will find something and a way to hang themselves on them- the only collars that should ever be used are the plastic break away link type collar dairy goat owners use for leading to the stanchions. Please do not take this as an attack but I say all of this because other readers do look through the archives and I wanted to make the statement on tethering for anyone else who may read this. Goats will always find a way to get themselves into a predicament if they can.
Let me know how things go with her- hopefully this is temporary and the foot will not get necrotic. I'm so sorry. I know you are probably beating yourself up over this.. don't- things happen with goats..to all of us at some point or another.
