Emergency - Goat Injuried

So Much For A Quite Evening!!!! When I went outside this evening to get everyone inside I was talking away to Chief about what a sweet guy he was with the little one earlier. As the girls where milling around, talking amongst themselves and hoping for another bunch of the hay that had been moved earlier this day - Olivia did something thing incredibly STUPID - she again tried to jump her out of her pen and this time caught her leg in the metal mesh and within a blink she broke her right back leg.... I ran to get her out of the mesh before more damage could happen!!!

I can't believe this goat did this to herself... WHAT WAS SHE THINKING??? The point is she wasn't.......

NOW WHAT?? So I got her back into the pen and ran to the house to get material for a splint. I came back with four paint stir sticks, vet wrap, bandages, and tape. After I got her to calm down for a minute and I caught my breath I went to work. She cut her leg too so I cleaned that up then found where the brake was and gentle pushed it back into place and wrapped with a thin towel. I then placed two sticks on either side and left about an inch past the hoof so she could not step directly onto the foot. After wrapping it with tape to make sure there still was good blood circulation I stepped back and let us all again catch our breath. I quickly went and got grain, water and hay for her. Within that short time (less then a minute or two) she stood herself up and took six steps and then let her little girl Opal nurse... I stood frozen as to not disturb them. Opal nursed for a long while and I listened closely to hear for teeth grinding. That would tell me if Olivia was in extreme pain or not. No teeth grinding but my own..

I slowing got into the pen and placed down the food and water. Olivia started right in on the grain while Opal began nursing again. I kept very still and just watched. After she had about a cup of grain and a long drink she hobbled over to her corner that had her heat lamp and sat down. Opal sniffed at the strange things on Mother leg and then climbed on her back and sat down. I watched closely to make sure Olivia was not getting a glazed look in her eyes (shock) or that she started panting quickly which would have meant much larger issues, as if this was not horrible and life threathing enough.

So back to the house I went, checked my Vet Books to make sure I placed the splint correctly and then called my oldest son to see if I had addressed the splint correctly and inquired if I had missed anything. Now it means up all night to make sure she can get through this - most times the animal is put down but I am hoping that she can pull through. She may lose her use of the leg put I am hoping this will not mean the end of her. I also want to make sure that Opal has as long as she can to nurse with her mother and time with her.

Now comes the hard part - a Vet would do the same but most would not even bother because as one Vet said to me a long time ago - "It's only a goat, there are thousand out there". I wonder how much he thinks his life is worth? In my book not a plug nickle.

I hope you will keep Olivia in your prayers tonight if you can - I will be keeping a watchful eye on her and doing what I can to see her through her trauma. Well better run back out and check on her I will keep you posted...