About four weeks ago we noticed that Peewee was lame. She was not bearing any weight on her right front leg. Now I had just had this happen to another of our goats Jack, and the vet had prescribed anti-inflammatory and antibiotic medications for an ankle spring and it resolved. So I tried the same treatment on Peewee, but after 2 weeks it was no better. So the vet came out and looked at her and determined that it was in the shoulder. He did not detected a fracture or dislocation on exam and prescribed anti-inflammatory pills.
After 2 more weeks she was no better so yesterday I hauled her into the vet for X-rays under sedation. These showed a shoulder dislocation. The vet could not reduce it with just the sedative so gave her general anesthesia. He was able to reduce it, but it kept popping back out again. Finally he was able to splint it into position so it would not pop out when he moved it. The jury is still out whether she will be able to dislocate it when she is awake with the splint on. But we thought we would give it a try.
With much difficulty I got her home and in a pen with a goat friend Shorty and elevated water and hay. I am supposed to try to keep her in the brace for 2 weeks and continue the anti-inflammatory twice per day. We shall see.
So Peewee has a special place on our hearts. She was the runt of the litter of 3 and was bottle fed with her goat friend Shorty. They were in the house with us with diapers on for quite a while. So we are willing to do more for Peewee. She is a really nice goat.
Wow. Sure hope the splint holds. Go easy on it Peewee!
Thanks Denise. So far it is staying on and she is not putting weight on it. I am dubious that this is going to work though. She and Shorty do not like being in a pen though and voice this opinion often.
Aww; PeeWee, you are LOVED!
Thanks Michelle- she is!
I was wondering if you know where I may get a splint for my goat’s shoulder? Our vet isn’t too familiar with goats and we had one that was injured by a dog and has a possible fractured scapula. The vet isn’t 100% sure, we have her in a crate now (her name is Mavis, she is 7 months old, mini-nubian) she has several lacerations, but one really deep one on her shoulder. She is trying to stand on it but I don’t let her walk. She is otherwise a tough little gal and is eating and drinking ok. I was just hoping to get a little better support for that shoulder and wondering if you have thoughts on where I could get one? or maybe make one..?? (we live in WI)
That sounds awful. Our vet fabricated ours with a preformed splint that he modified for a goat. I could mail you ours if I can find it and you would pay shipping. But since our vet made this one, seems like your vet could make one too. Let me know if you want me to find ours. I could also take photos of it, if that would help.
I found the splint. It is a medium left front quicksplint if that helps. I will try to email you photos of it.