Doeling With Crooked Leg

2158 Views 35 Replies 12 Participants Last post by goatblessings, Feb 25, 2022

MellonFriend

Discussion Starter · Jan 19, 2022

My doeling, Swan who was born on Monday evening has developed a crooked front leg. Right after she was born she was knuckling over on her back feet, so I gave her a dab of selenium gel and a vitamin e capsule. Her back legs since straightened out, but now it seems that her front leg is a little crooked. It's like she's only walking on one side of her hoof. When I pick her up, it straightens out, but it's like she can't put weight on one toe. She doesn't seem in pain and she doesn't act like it hurts when I touch it. Her hoof doesn't seem hot, and she is nursing well and acting normal. I think she seems a little less adventurous than her brothers, but maybe that's just her personality. Also I don't know if this is an element, but she is wanting to eat dirt. That isn't abnormal for babies since they are trying to add flora to their developing rumen, right? Could it have something to do with this? I figured I'd give her another vitamin e capsule. Is there anything else I should do? Should I give her another dab of selenium, or even replamin? I wouldn't want to over-due it.

Dog Dog breed Grass Fawn Carnivore

Fawn Terrestrial animal Snout Dog breed Livestock

Working animal Goat Mammal Dog breed Fawn

Hand Finger Thumb Tree Plant

Now looking at these pictures I think she might be slightly doing it with the other leg too. They've got to give me something to worry about.🙄

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Cedarwinds Farm

· #2 · Jan 19, 2022

It looks like she might have overextended that leg. Did you have to pull her? Wonder if the muscles/ligaments got stretched. I don't have much experience with this in newborns, so I'm not sure what the best course of action would be for her. I'm sure others will chime in. You might need to splint or wrap it to get it into the correct position.

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goatblessings

· #3 · Jan 19, 2022

I would give her another dab of sel/ e and also vitamin ADE. I would also lightly splint for a few days to strengthen her tendons.

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GoofyGoat

· #4 · Jan 19, 2022

I’d give her cod liver oil and watch for a couple days.

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MellonFriend

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 19, 2022

goatblessings said:
I would also lightly splint for a few days to strengthen her tendons.

So when you say that how exactly would you do it? I tried a popsicle stick, vetwrap thing, but it didn't seem to work and I was afraid I was doing it wrong.

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MellonFriend

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 19, 2022

Cedarwinds Farm said:
Did you have to pull her?

Yes, but it was not a difficult pull. her front hooves were already out and I don't think I held on to her that close to her hoof.

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MellonFriend

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 19, 2022

I'm sort of puzzled as to why this is happening, since I did supplement selenium during the pregnancy. Would supplementing Bella (the dam) with selenium and vitamins AD&E be prudent too? Maybe her milk is not rich enough in these vitamins.

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goatblessings

· #8 · Jan 19, 2022

I use cardboard from a toilet paper roll, and vet wrap from the bottom and up past the knee. Having a helper is SO great to put it on right. Make sure it’s not too tight - as in cutting off the circulation. I would do the vitamin ADE or cod liver oil for 3 days.

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alwaystj9

· #9 · Jan 19, 2022

After you wrap, wait a few minutes, then test the foot temperature. If her foot feels cool/cold, rewrap a tiny bit looser. If you have a white foot, sometimes you can check capillary refill at the hairline. Press down and hold for 5 seconds then release. It should be white when you release then pink up fast as the blood returns. Do this on another goat to see what it looks like, then compare how long it takes. Either a cold foot or slow/no capillary refill indicates too tight/ too much compression. Vetwrap does not loosen over time, it needs to be rewrapped
I don't know if you are trying to just give extra support and or to immobolize. A short splint incorporating a lengthwise-cut piece of pvc/plumbing tubing may work.
Goatblessings' toilet paper roll may be perfect, also.
With a break or sprain, you have to immobilize the joints above and below the injury.
Also watch for swelling above your wrap, that indicates a need for a reassessment of what's really wrong (infection)or a reassessment of your wrap job for tightness.

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toth boer goats

· #10 · Jan 20, 2022

All great advice, hope the cute baby will correct soon.

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Cedarwinds Farm

· #11 · Jan 20, 2022

MellonFriend said:
Yes, but it was not a difficult pull. her front hooves were already out and I don't think I held on to her that close to her hoof.

I have noticed similar issues in one or two kids I've pulled, but nothing as severe as what you're seeing here. Mine all straightened out just fine on their own.

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Jubillee

· #12 · Jan 20, 2022 (Edited)

I had a doeling last year and her feet were just like that. I assumed contracted tendons and splinted for awhile but then took them off and let the weight of her body straighten them. I did do little strethching exercises with her feet. It corrected within 2 weeks I think. Tiny bit by tiny bit each day.

That was one of Bug's triplets. This year her little girl (trips again) has slight knuckling on all four feet (other girl was only front feet. My guess is that they get crammed inside mom. So their feet get contracted.

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Jubillee

· #13 · Jan 20, 2022

Here are a few pics of hers. In the last pic she is on the left.

Eye Plant Dog breed Goat Sheep

Dog Plant Carnivore Terrestrial animal Tree

Vertebrate Mammal Dog breed Grass Snout

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MellonFriend

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jan 20, 2022

Jubillee said:
I had a doeling last year and her feet were just like that. I assumed contracted tendons and splinted for awhile but then took them off and let the weight of her body straighten them. I did do little strethching exercises with her feet. It corrected within 2 weeks I think. Tiny bit by tiny bit each day.

That was one of Bug's triplets. This year her little girl (trips again) has slight knuckling on all four feet (other girl was only front feet. My guess is that they get crammed inside mom. So their feet get contracted.

Oh that's great to know! That looks exactly like it. My kids certainly must have been crammed in there. By "stretching exercises" what do you mean?

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happybleats

· #15 · Jan 20, 2022 (Edited)

Oh my goodness @MellonFriend ..that baby is adorable! Love her look. I agree with cod liver oil and wait. If you do wrap it. The to roll and vet wrap works great and won't offer a pressure point like a stick would.

Best wishes

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Jubillee

· #16 · Jan 20, 2022

MellonFriend said:
Oh that's great to know! That looks exactly like it. My kids certainly must have been crammed in there. By "stretching exercises" what do you mean?

I would sit her in my lap and take her foot and gently stretch it straight. Basically, as much as I could until I felt the slightest resistance and hold it a few seconds then rest. I did that a few times on each foot a few times a day. I did have them splinted but then took it off and let her growing weight help. That doeling layed down a lot though as she was fully on her knuckles in the front. So I also made her stand up a bit.

The current doeling has a leg just like yours now. Her back feet are now fine but the front are to the side a little like your girl. So I just do the exercises with her and let time heal it. I didn't have my phone with me this morning to get a pic.

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MellonFriend

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jan 20, 2022 (Edited)

Jubillee said:
I would sit her in my lap and take her foot and gently stretch it straight. Basically, as much as I could until I felt the slightest resistance and hold it a few seconds then rest. I did that a few times on each foot a few times a day. I did have them splinted but then took it off and let her growing weight help. That doeling layed down a lot though as she was fully on her knuckles in the front. So I also made her stand up a bit.

The current doeling has a leg just like yours now. Her back feet are now fine but the front are to the side a little like your girl. So I just do the exercises with her and let time heal it. I didn't have my phone with me this morning to get a pic.

That sounds good. Swan (the doeling's name) is doing really well today. She's jumping around with her brothers and acting 100%. I think it was worse yesterday when we got her out of the kidding pen and she was walking on hard ground. My plan is to splint it when she's out and take it off when she's locked in the stall on the cushy bedding.

happybleats said:
I agree with cod liver oil

On the front of Cod liver oil, I have little gel caps of it that are 415mg each. Is one gel cap squirted in her mouth daily the right amount?

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happybleats

· #18 · Jan 20, 2022

For mild cases I squeeze one gel cap once a day for a few days. If its severe or treating rickets then dosing should be 0.1 cc pee 2.2 pounds 2x daily for 3 dYs...then 2 x a week for 2 more weeks.

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toth boer goats

· #19 · Jan 20, 2022

Work the foot gently.
She is adorable.

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MellonFriend

Discussion Starter · #20 · Jan 20, 2022

happybleats said:
For mild cases I squeeze one gel cap once a day for a few days. If its severe or treating rickets then dosing should be 0.1 cc pee 2.2 pounds 2x daily for 3 dYs...then 2 x a week for 2 more weeks.

Thanks, Cathy. We'll go with the mild treatment for now and see how she does on that.

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