Goat udder cut on barbed wire, two day old kids

[Treehuggin Cowgirl]

Hello,

My first goat just had her kids (twin girls!) two days ago. I was hoping to let them milk naturally, but a neighbors dog just spooked her through a fence. She cut the front of her udder about two inches above the left teat. There's no blood, but it started streaming milk. She's still letting the kids nurse on the other side.

I have a vet appointment at the end of the day, but I figured I should clean it up. I'm used to doctoring horses, but I'm not sure what's safe to using with a milking doe.

If I can clean it up, and it stops leaking, do I need to take her to the vet, or can I just administer antibiotics and tetanus toxoid myself? Can she still feed her kids if I give her these?

Erin

 

[SheepGirl]

or can I just administer antibiotics and tetanus toxoid myself?

You want to get her ANTITOXIN. Tetanus toxoid is the vaccine (long-term protection) whereas the antitoxin is for immediate short-term protection.

 

[Treehuggin Cowgirl]

Let's start with this. Is there any reason I shouldn't be cleaning her up with betadine and granulex right now? Can that be dangerous for the kids?

 

[SheepGirl]

I am not a goat person, however here is my advice and thoughts:

If the cut is leaking milk, it is probably deep and will likely need stitches. I would pull at least one kid to bottle feed it and then I would use teat tape on her affected half. I would then wash the area with gentle soap and water, then I would spray her wound with iodine to continue to keep it disinfected. Flies are still a problem, at least where I live, so I would put fly spray on it as well (I used ProZap screwworm spray when my ewe lamb got flystrike). I would give her a shot of tetanus antitoxin after cleaning it up.

I would then pen her up with fresh, clean bedding (and plenty of feed & water) until she can see the vet (I assume this vet appointment is for her?).

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

If you don't have an EXPERIENCED goat mentor in your area then this should warrant a vet visit. The last thing you want is Staph aureus (or any other staph) colonizing the wound. Mastitis is a serious risk and gangrenous mastitis could permanently ruin your doe's udder.

 

[Roll farms]

If you don't have an EXPERIENCED goat mentor in your area then this should warrant a vet visit. The last thing you want is Staph aureus (or any other staph) colonizing the wound. Mastitis is a serious risk and gangrenous mastitis could permanently ruin your doe's udder.

x2. Not to mention kill her.

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

x2. Not to mention kill her.

Yes indeed.

 

[Treehuggin Cowgirl]

Got it. Definitely going to the vet . . . if I can ever catch her again. Any tips on catching a very unwilling to be caught goat who already had her grain ration? Right now I've removed her water bucket, and I'll try to lure her in with in an hour. Luckily the wound isn't looking too bad, so I'm hopeful it'll all be okay.

The babies should be alright at home in an enclosure for a couple of hours, right?

Thanks for all your tips!

 

[20kidsonhill]

yes, babies will be okay by themselves.

to catch a wild goat or lamb, you need to set up a catch pen or a catch corner were you can walk her around into a smaller space and close her in, or swing a gate around to corner her in.

 

[ksalvagno]

Give her some grain. A little extra grain this once to catch her will not hurt anything.