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Kid unable to use back legs, help!

1291 Views 22 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  toth boer goats
Hi, I’m new here and have been reading through previous posts on this topic but mines a little different than ones I’ve read.
I am a large animal Vet Tech and acquired a Boer Doeling from a client, to give her a chance at a normal life.
She is unable to move her back legs and has been like that since birth. She was a Triplett, all 3 very small. She came out at 1.5lbs. Other siblings are normal just small & she is different. I’m thinking she was squished in the womb & wasn’t able to fully extend and kick her legs?
The tendons are very constricted giving her a “splay leg” or “swimmers leg” posture. She has received BO-SE, Thiamine & Nutridrench. Radiographs showed skeletally she is normal. She has no muscle mass in the back legs. So daily I have been massaging them, she’s had a few water therapies (not sure if those work in goats like it does dogs but can’t hurt/might help right? 🤷🏻‍♀️) & I work on those tendons and try to help them loosen up. I try to create normal leg movements for her to help build up that muscle mass & memory. We built her a little stand so she can lay “normally” for a few hours throughout the day. After 4 days I have been able to get them less constricted than they were, but still no movement. She can feel them when pinched. But still hasn’t moved them at all. Curious if anyone else has had a similar situation and was able to turn one around? I’m willing to put in the time & work that she needs if she has a chance.
She’s the sweetest baby & otherwise normal, small, but normal. Eats well, has normal bowel movements & urinates normally.
Her front legs are normal, a little “lax” but she can stand on them with help.
Any advice is appreciated, support is also appreciated, im trying to stay realistic with the situation but it’s hard not to get attached when you are literally tending to them like an infant.
First 2 photos are from the day I got her last photo in the diaper are from today 💜
She’s a fighter, which makes this situation hard.
Brown Purple Textile Creative arts Violet

Vertebrate Sleeve Tree Mammal Fawn
Eye Plant Dog breed Sky Carnivore
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You are doing all the right things. Something I would add is an extra vit e gel cap, just poke a hole and squeeze the vit E in her mouth, and cod liver oil. Give cod liver at the rate of 0.1cc pee 2.2 pounds twice a day for 3 days, then twice a week for 2 weeks. The A and D will support the tendons. Keep working the legs with gentle stretches and natural movement. Stand her alot with support. Some may need braced to help if she can't get up on her own soon.
Quality lemon grass essential oil can be diluted in carrier oil and applied to leg tendon areas. Frankincense is great along the spine to help heal any damage there may be.

Best wishes and welcome to the goat spot family!
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What an amazing thing you've decided to do. (y) I don't know if you are willing to go this far, but I know wheelchairs have been used successfully with goats. Handicappedpets.com
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Try contacting Goats of Anarchy for advice, they are a sanctuary that has a ton of experience with paralyzed goats/goats in wheelchairs, etc: Contact — Goats of Anarchy
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You are doing a wonderful thing. You can support her with a sling. A towel works. Helps gets the memory in both pairs of legs with barely her own weight. Water therapy is an amazing tool even in goats. It is a great stimulus.
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🤗
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You are doing all the right things. Something I would add is an extra vit e gel cap, just poke a hole and squeeze the vit E in her mouth, and cod liver oil. Give cod liver at the rate of 0.1cc pee 2.2 pounds twice a day for 3 days, then twice a week for 2 weeks. The A and D will support the tendons. Keep working the legs with gentle stretches and natural movement. Stand her alot with support. Some may need braced to help if she can't get up on her own soon.
Quality lemon grass essential oil can be diluted in carrier oil and applied to leg tendon areas. Frankincense is great along the spine to help heal any damage there may be.

Best wishes and welcome to the goat spot family!
Thank you so much! I added in COD liver oil we are on day 3. She actually has had some unconscious leg movements (in her sleep) still no movement while awake :( we are still working though. I have access to a wheelchair just waiting on it. I’m hopeful because she CAN move them a little now while she’s asleep
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That is amazing news. Keep at it.
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YAY 😃
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Scooter got some wheels last week! Still not much movement in the back legs but i have recently started seeing some tail flicks! Which I hadn't seen before. She is very strong on her front legs & can walk around just on those 2 legs dragging the back. Somedays I'm hopeful and others I'm not so hopeful. She does great in the chair and loves exploring. Muscle mass in her back thighs is building, I can feel muscle there now when before it was nothing. Working on building muscle around her pelvis area & lower legs. Her back legs can be manipulated to extend all the way down to an almost normal position. But then when released they got back to the splay leg appearance. We have been splinting the back legs 10 hours on then she gets a break. She goes in her chair like to get the muscle built up the correct way while walking in her chair. This has helped with the tightness in the legs.
She's a fighter!
2 weeks old today. about 5lbs
Plant Working animal Wood Tree Fawn
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Aww thanks for the update! She looks like she's doing awesome! You are doing such an incredible job with her! I hope she continues to improve!
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How precious.
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Alot of physio. Alot of love. And no matter how small they are they steal your heart. You rock. Its difficult and you will have good days and bad days but the reward outweighs it all. Keep us posted.
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Aw, she’s a cutie! You’re doing amazing with her. Thank you for the update. 🥰
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Amazing story. The water therapy is really good for all creatures. Maybe put her chest on a float to see if she will.move her hind legs while floating. It sounds like a spinal injury. I do hope the nerves improve and connect for her. You are an amazing person. Please keep that spirit, so many Vets lose it. Thankyou.
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wanted to update
With a broken heart I write to say that we helped our sweet angel pass yesterday💔 my son is heartbroken & so am I.
one of her front legs went out from under her. She was no longer able to pull it up and under her. She would scream because she was unable to follow us anymore. Not even in her chair. Her signs of pain increased, even on pain medication. She was telling us it was time. That was so hard to watch and such a hard decision to make.
I am broken. But I will be okay. She was so loved & I hope she felt that love in her short life♥
thank you all for the suggestions, kind words and support. A part of me feels like I failed her. But the other part of me knows I tried literally all I could do for her. She is missed. The house feels empty. But she is no longer in pain. Rest easy my sweet angel 💔
I will miss your sweet kisses ♥

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You did above and beyond everything you could do for her. You did an amazing thing and I'm sure she cherished every moment she had with you on this earth just as much as you did. Hugs for you and your family! Rest in Peace little one. ✝💐
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Awe..im sorry. Never easy even if it was right. ((Hugs))
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I am so sorry! I completely missed your thread. It’s sounds like you did everything you could for her and I know she knew she was very much loved. She looks like she really was a little Angel. Her story is very inspiring.
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