[moonspinner]

Got some sad news last night. A goat customer and friend who had purchased one of my first kids several years ago contacted me to announce she'd lost this guy. She came into the barn a few nights back to hear her buck howling and writhing in pain. She felt him all over and in horror discovered he was terribly thin. (this buck always had proper worming, proper feed/management/vet care and had never gone off feed). She tried to nurse him back but after a few days he faded fast and she had him put down.
The point here is with goats in heavy winter coats now, all the more important to feel them over periodically. My friend had no clue her buck lost this weight under his coat.

 

[StaceyRosado]

sad reminder - thanks

 

[kelebek]

I am so sorry. I check every one of mine everynight. Some of them love it, some of them it is a fight, but I worry about just that.

That is how I found the vaccine abcess a few months ago on my buck. I would have had no clue otherwise under all his hair~

 

[getchagoat (Julie)]

We have to schedule a time to corral everyone to feel every single one. With almost 50, I couldn't possibly do it daily. We look them over daily, but not feeling them. Sorry you lost your fella.

 

[goathappy]

So sorry you lost him :hug:

I always be sure to feel my girls everyday(and boys)

 

[alyssa_romine]

I feel mine too! That is so sad, sorry about your loss.

 

[PACE]

That's so sad With three it's easy for me to pet them all over each day- feel ribs, backbone, look for any lumps or anything, etc. I do this every evening when I feed them, which gives them at least some special time with me. I lift up their feet, partly to check them and partly to get them used to me handling them so they won't fight me when I trim (no milkstand) It is certainly good to get into the habit of feeling them over, especially in winter time. Again, sorry about what happened

 

[kelebek]

Pace - for the longest time I did not have a milk stand either - so it was a pain to do 11 goats hooves (most have never had it done before). Literally in pain - for days afterwards.

Now I have a milk stand - but it is to tall for the minis! Hubby didn't bother to measure them before he built it~ LOL!

I know it is hard when you have alot of goats to check them everyday, but if you can - it is really worth it!!