Jen has read all the books and is quite knowledgeable but hasn't had the experience as some of her "Goat Friends" have had. She called on a couple of them and together they put a plan together. First they needed to give Destiny electrolytes using an IV bag which they were able to purchase from the vet.
At first Destiny's babies were removed from the stall but Destiny had nothing to do with that. She cried out until they brought back "LuLu" who snuggled right up next to her mama and they both settled down. Jen's friend, Cheryl, showed KL how to insert the IV and hang the bag. Then it was KL's job to stay in the barn with Destiny as the electrolytes dripped into her body, and remove the IV when the procedure was finished. 
Before all the kidding started a week ago, Jen stocked up her "Just in Case Emergency Box" for goats. She was ready should anything come up. Cheryl was there to teach KL how to load the syringe with the appropriate amount of three different medicines/vitamins/supplements. KL listened intently and carried on as if she'd done it a million times before.
Cheryl, Jen, and KL went up to the barn to give Destiny the two injections and one oral medicine, and bed her down for the night.
The best news is that this afternoon Destiny was standing on her own, and KL was able to milk her.
In the meantime, in the stall next to Destiny, is Cover Girl. She's not been able to make enough milk so her babies are in the house being bottle fed. At first Cover Girl cried and cried for her babies, but now has settled in to the routine.
Today KL was able to milk Cover Girl and she got enough to fill the bottles for her babies. After trying in vain to get the babies to nurse from their mama, it was decided to continue to just keep milking her and use her milk to bottle feed the babies . . . "Gunner" and "April."
"April" and "Gunner" who are so fun to watch. They hop around the yard as if there were springs on the bottom of their hooves.
There is a total of three babies being bottle fed. Here is Jen and April.
PD favors "Skylar Boots" . . . Destiny's little boy.
The babies get lots of attention from friends and neighbors who stop by.
Jen and April
KL and Gunner . . . after he was fed she rocked him to sleep . . . too darn cute!Life is Good!
5 comments:
Wow - emergencies...boy, do I understand what this is like! How scary. Wonderful to read, though, that everyone was stocked up and prepared to do the best they could to handle the situation.
Will Destiny be able to continue to nurse her babies or do the meds she received now prevent that? I'd hate to think of your sweet family having to bottle feed THREE (four?) babies every couple hours day and night!!
Please tell everyone I think they're doing an amazing job! Clearly, Destiny does, too, as is evident by her rally back to health. :-)
Wow.. mom what a great post. I was really feeling like giving up this morning (anyone interested in goats? :) But after reading everything and seeing where we are now, it is beginning to be worth it.
Farmgirl_dk.. I know you can relate to the medical emergencies. Our vet kit looks similar to your meds on your recent post. We have been able to use both Destiny's and Covergirl's milk for the babies. Raw goats milk is so much better than the "kid replacement milk" I have just in case. The IV for Destiny was electrolytes and saline. She also has been boosted up with minerals and vitamins (BO-SE, B complex, Multi-Min, etc.) If we had to treat her for Mastitis, which we really thought she had, the meds wouldn't be able to transfer to the babies. But thankfully it looks like she doesn't have mastitis or Ketosis like we initially thought. Whew.. Still not sure what she had but so thankful she seems better now.
This has definitely been a learning experience for all of us and my daughter amazes me with her confidence in applying the vet techniques she is learning. I'm not sure I could have done it at her age given that I used to "pass out" anytime I saw needles!
Wow!! What an experience for everyone. The goats are getting such special care and KL is amazingly competent at such a young age..as is her present, her future seems destined to working with animals somehow. Way to go jen, you guys were all at the ready and networked to get help when needed. I hear it snowed up there this morning too, mighty chilly.
Geeze! These pictures make a person want a baby goat to feed! Way to go K.L. and Jen- Great job, keep up the good work!
Oh, I'm so impressed with KL....There's a lot of adults who couldn't do what she's doing-you must be so proud of her! And, of course, the goat family looks terrific....
Post a Comment