Life on the farm isn't always blissful and euphoric. Sometimes there are problems that rattle you down the very marrow of your bones. Some problems you can fix and some you cant like when an animal fall sick. Most of the time they recover but sometimes they don't and the reality that someone very special might be edging there way out of the herd, out of the family is a heart wrenching reality for me right now.
Racey, one of my milk goats has been very sick with a respiratory disorder, I've treated it with antibiotics, antibacterials, and a host of other things all to no avail. She's getting worse and in obvious distress and dis-ease. After a long talk with my vet we came to determine this had every sign of chronic respiratory disease. She had this before one year ago but was able to recover. This time its a lot worse. As a last ditch effort I've given her one of the strongest antibiotics available hoping something anything can break through. But in the event it doesn't work I'm sure I will loose her.
She is a sweet one and had been one of my best milkers. She is so affectionate and can just sit forever with you and have her cheeks rubbed and her cute little face kissed. I am really crossing my fingers this will work. I have her isolated in the hopes that this doesn't spread and no one is too happy about this at all, but she seems comfortable just very labored breathing and obviously she seems really sick and tired of being sick. I should know fairy quickly if this drug is working, by tomorrow evening she should show some signs of getting better. I'm not getting my hopes up but I'm not giving up either. I've seen a goat recover that I was sure was a goner and now thrives. So today is a day on edge, fingers crossed and breath held.
I have had friends who have lost goats and other farm animals and I know its part of the life, its never easy. If it does come down to that I pray I can handle it with grace as they seem to have done.
6 comments:
Lisa, I'm so sorry to hear about Racey. It's an awful place to be, a limbo of sorts, where you can hope for recovery but know that your responsibility is to make sure your animal doesn't suffer unnecessarily for a prolonged period. Sitting vigil like that isn't easy nor is it for the faint hearted. I'll keep you and little Racey in my thoughts.
Just a thought--have you checked for lungworm? Especially if she's not running a high fever... If it was me, I'd go ahead and hit her with one of the 'white wormers' (but not Valbazen). It won't hurt her, and you should see a response within a few days. If the response is positive, be sure and treat her again in 3 weeks to get any eggs.
Here's more on lungworm from the Merck Manual: http://www.merckveterinarymanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/120700.htm
nanc, that was the first thing i checked for, with no response. she is such a trooper. thanks for the advice.
The vet thinks its like goat polio, and she has hundreds of tumors in her lungs. I hope hes wrong. she really wants to live.
Oh, that's so tough. I hope you have some daughters out of her (just in case). I'll ask Sue to be sure and send her some reiki.
thanks nanc
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