Amputate or not?

[KermitWC]

I got Coco off of Craig's list in March. His legs are contracted to his body. Cornell University has said that if it is not the bones and just the tendons then they might be able to cut the tendons. If it is the bone then they can do nothing. It is a 2 day drive and would cost at least 2000.00.

People have also suggested that I have his front legs amputated and get him a wheelchair. I need some advice. I have pictures but can not figure out how to upload them.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Is Coco able to stand or move at all? If Cornell is able to snip the tendons, will he have use of his front legs? If snipping the tendons won't give him mobility, and amputation certainly won't (without a wheelchair), then I honestly think the best thing to do would be to have him put down. Even with some sort of wheelchair, I think it would really limit his ability to lead a normal life. If it was just 1 leg, he'd do fine with amputation. If it's both legs, that's not fair to him, especially if he's in pain.

 

[elevan]

Welcome to BYH. Post a few more times by answering questions or introducing yourself in the New Member area and you'll be able to post pics after that.

How old is Coco? How has he been getting around now?

 

[redtailgal]

You'll need to make so many posts before you can upload pics.........then along the top of this page there is a link that says "uploads". Go there, browse to the pic you want, click upload.

This will take you to a new screen with two sections below, you'll want to copy from the image code as shown in the pic below............

 

[KermitWC]

He is able to crawl around, he jumps from the chair to the couch with no problems. He even attacks the cats <g>. He is in no pain. He can live in the house forever. I bring him his hay and grain. I am willing to get him a wheelchair. He is a very a sweet guy.

 

[KermitWC]

He is 4.5 months old. Coco can scoot around very well. When he has to go outside then I carry him. The biggest problem is that the knees get scraped up. Thanks.

 

[Sunny & the 5 egg layers]

What I have learned (from raising a special needs chick this year) is that you have to think of everything you are doing with the chicken (in your case goat) as a baby and then think how you are going to accomidate the animals needs as an adult.

Ask yourself these questions:
-How will you be able to bring your goat outside when he is an adult and too heavy to carry?
-Where is he going to live as an adult? (Meaning, do you have enough room to accomidate a 100+ pounds goat inside your house)
-What if you go away, who will bring the hay and grain to him?

These are just questions that will help you decide on what is best for him. I'm not saying to put him down, I'm just saying that everything you are doing now, you have to think of doing for him as an adult.
Carrying a 30lbs kid outside is one thing, but lugging a 100+ lbs goat is another.

Raising special needs animals is anything but a walk in the park. As long as he is eating, drinking and not in any pain and will be able to live a healthy, happy lifestyle then don't put him down.

Maybe you can get him some sort of "knee pads" for his knees.

At the end of the day, nobody knows what is best for him more then you do.

I wish you the best of luck with him.

 

[BrownSheep]

Till you do deside what to do knee pads are a great idea. Maybe those like volley ball players use or gardening knee pads would work.

 

[Sunny & the 5 egg layers]

Till you do deside what to do knee pads are a great idea. Maybe those like volley ball players use or gardening knee pads would work.

Even childrens knee pads that would be used for roller bladding, if he is small would work.

 

[redtailgal]

When you say that "people" have suggested that you have both his front legs amputated, what people do you mean?

You may have a hard time finding a vet that would do that sort of surgery for you. Many will just refuse.

My concern with having both the front legs removed is about his digestion. A three legged animal still stands upright enough that its not a problem, but without any front legs, the front end will be considerably lower than the back end, causing digestion to have to work against gravity, where his body is designed for gravity to aid digestion.

I would worry that as this goat gets older and begins eating "grown up" food, he will not be able to digest as well, and would end up with some serious bloat or at best, some serious constipation. Not to mention the constant strain on his lungs from having all that downward pressure on them. I know a two legged cat who lives on antibiotics from the problems that she has..........her legs were torn off my a dog. However, this cat is a happy cat, lol. Her owner did the right thing to let her live, but this is a cat that is VERY pleased to live out it's life indoors and away from other critters. Cats are just not as social as a goat.

I'm not saying that you need to put him down.......thats a choice that you'll have to make on your own.

I agree with all the questions that have been place before you, such as "are you able to lug a 100 pound goat around" etc in Sunny's post, but I'd like to add a few of my own.

What are you going to do to meet his social needs? He is a goat and will want to be with other goats. How will you handle it when he starts crying to be outside in the pasture and in a herd?

Are financially prepared to take care of the higher vet bills that come with having a severely disabled animal? Without the wheelchair, with or without the legs, he will probably have digestion issues, but if he stays in the wheelchair, he will develop some pressure sores from the constant pressure. AND, with him being so young and having to grow with this disability, the constant pressure on the front end (even with his legs still attached) will deform and cause growth issues. Bones are designed to hold pressure at a specific point. Also, the lack of movement from the front end will cause muscle atrophy in his chest wall, leaving him more susceptible to respiratory problems.

It just wont be a get him a wheelchair and live happily ever after type situation. It will be a large financial burden for you, an even bigger physical burden for both you AND him, and, BOTH of you need to be able to handle the mental burden as well. Maybe you are ready for the physical and mental burden.......make sure that he is and that you are sure that he still will be a year from now. Right now, he is a youngster, curious and easily distracted from hardship, but he may very well end up frustrated and miserable a year from now.

There is a lot to think about here, but it is this little goat that will carry the biggest burden. Please be confident that he can handle it. If you are not positive that he can, the kindest thing to do would be to give him lots of loving and then euth him.

But, if he can handle it, then go for it. If he could survive with the legs still attached, I'd leave them. He's got so much to contend with already, I wouldnt want to add a massive surgery to the mix, but, thats just my opinion worth about as much as the paper its written on.

Of course, there is one other burden that would come with this.....we'll need photo updates of his progression! He sounds like a little booger, jumping from chair to couch, lol.