Sunday, August 28, 2016

saturday on sunday

Note: I wrote this post last night, but fell asleep while loading the images. All the visual entertainment in this post is being provided by Betula.


I wanted to do something for #DrawingAugust tonight, but it's been a really long day and I'm resting my back, too tired to move. First thing after chores in the morning, I loaded up for the dump and recycling and made that trip. It always feels good to get that done.


At the dump, I ran into one of the people I bought the barn fans and other things from last Autumn. He mentioned that he is now the Town Animal Inspector and when would it be convenient to have a look at my gang? I was surprised - this has never happened before, and I said as much. But I immediately added, "It sounds like a good idea to have livestock inspection visits, and you're very welcome to come. But not today - I've got the vet coming."



Yes, if trouble comes in threes, Campion was the first, Tansy was the second, and now Tsuga is the third, with a sudden thick mass and fluid in the udder. I have never seen this kind of condition appear in a dry (= not producing milk at the moment) doe; Tsuga weaned her kids over a year ago, and her udder and teats became nearly invisible soon after she stopped producing milk. Perfectly normal for a small, cashmere, first-time mamagoat.


So I have to wonder if it is not an oddly-timed infection, but rather a tumor of some kind. And after examining Tsuga today, the vet is not sure either. But we're both hoping that the medication, which is an antibiotic inserted directly into the udder to treat an infection, will show positive results in a few days.


Just so Tsuga's friends don't worry too much: she has shown no signs of pain or even discomfort since I discovered the swelling on Thursday night. She has no fever, her appetite is fine, and her behavior is normal. The only reason I spotted anything is that when you spend time every day with animals, even without consciously observing them, you notice little things. When something looks just a little bit different, you do a double-take and investigate.


As for today, since I was having the vet make a barn call, I also asked her to do the entire herd's booster shots: one for rabies, and one called "CDT" which is a combination vaccine for Clostridium perfringens type C + D, and tetanus. We worked together, and coordinated the injections with the feeding routine, which was very good - though the goats would not agree. Even perfectly-timed peanuts handfed in sync with each shot and followed only seconds later by the daily bucket of Chaffhaye and oats, were not quite enough to make the goats happy with their annual shots. I don't blame them, and I'll be wincing when I see sore muscles tomorrow. But it's a necessity. It really is.

~~~

Sunday morning follow-up:

All the goats, including Ms. Tsuga, were up and about when I brought them hay for breakfast. In fact, the creakiest member of the team appears to be the goatherd.
Have a grand Sunday, everyone!
~~~~~

9 comments:

  1. I hope your goats heal; mysterious illness are sometimes worse than knowing because you don't know what to do.

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    1. Thanks, Carmen. Campion was fine within 24 hrs, and Tansy hasn't had a recurrence of the lameness since we did her series of daily epsom soaks...I'm hoping for a similarly positive outcome for Tsuga. Fingers crossed!

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  2. Great post and pictures.
    I'm glad the goats aren't seriously ill, and as well as they are. What work it must be to inspect their skin for ticks and such. Betula does love a leaf!

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    1. And he knows how to get them! I was amazed that he could raise himself straight up and then hold that position while reaching for the leaves. Olympic-level browsing!

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  3. That is a tall goat!

    Certainly sounds like a busy day. I hope Tsuga heals up and your inspection goes smoothly.

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    1. Thanks, Sally! I'm not worried about a livestock inspection - my arrangements are not fancy, but I think I take pretty good care of my goats. Now if it was my house being inspected, I'd have a migraine already!

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  4. I sure hope that Tsuga heals up easily and with no drama. I know what you mean about noticing small stuff in animals who you spend time with every single day. We just found a 1 cm lump on one of R's forelimbs so we'll be at the vet tomorrow.

    I love the photos, and I sure hope that you are feeling okay. My body is hurting a lot too, and it's no fun at all.

    You'll pass any inspection with flying colors! I have NO doubt :)

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    1. Oh those darned lumps that appear out of nowhere! I hope it's nothing, KB.

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  5. I'm so sorry that Tsuga is now ailing - sincerely hope it's nothing serious and that the treatment has worked and that the herd (and their intrepid leader!) have recovered from the trauma of shots.

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