On May third, Dr. Vigil came twice as we were all perplexed with Esther's deterioration in less than 12 hours. She just had her triplets on Sunday. I called my mentors in Wisconsin several times to obtain perspective and treatment options. Dr. Vigil searched for answers as well with other vets.
At 11 p.m. Tuesday night, this mommy hauled herself to her feet to feed three babies when she was so weak. Esther was so still at 4 a.m. Wednesday morning, I thought she had died. At 6:30 a.m., I was afraid to go to the garage to see her dead body. Miraculously she had moved and then stood. I was very thankful for her survival and began searching for food that she could eat.
It was later this morning when I brought her romaine and grapes. Esther is a voracious eater of greens, but was not able to swallow a lot.
I am calling the condition postpartum choke. She had an obstruction behind her molars and possibly at the base of her throat. For a goat to live it must cough up the cud to chew it. Esther was spewing it and unable to digest, which can be fatal. Her tongue was swollen allowing little to go down.
Dr. Dr. Vigil found a similar case in his research and says we have about 6 more days to watch and provide a variable soft diet to an animal that must have 15 pounds of vegetables a day. He recommends little hay until she stabilizes her throat. Meanwhile, sludge comes out her butt due to the stress. Even with this last complication I am thankful that God is gracious to us.
At 11 p.m. Tuesday night, this mommy hauled herself to her feet to feed three babies when she was so weak. Esther was so still at 4 a.m. Wednesday morning, I thought she had died. At 6:30 a.m., I was afraid to go to the garage to see her dead body. Miraculously she had moved and then stood. I was very thankful for her survival and began searching for food that she could eat.
It was later this morning when I brought her romaine and grapes. Esther is a voracious eater of greens, but was not able to swallow a lot.
I am calling the condition postpartum choke. She had an obstruction behind her molars and possibly at the base of her throat. For a goat to live it must cough up the cud to chew it. Esther was spewing it and unable to digest, which can be fatal. Her tongue was swollen allowing little to go down.
Dr. Dr. Vigil found a similar case in his research and says we have about 6 more days to watch and provide a variable soft diet to an animal that must have 15 pounds of vegetables a day. He recommends little hay until she stabilizes her throat. Meanwhile, sludge comes out her butt due to the stress. Even with this last complication I am thankful that God is gracious to us.
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