Help Making a Goat Sling

[mydakota]

I would say there is probably a chance he is also selenium and copper deficient which can have a huge impact on their health. Especially muscle tone. In what the vet did was there a blood analysis done to see what his mineral levels were?

Yes, as well as to determine if he was in or near organ failure. All of that was remarkably close to normal. If anything had shown up in the blood work to indicate that he would be unable to recover, we would not have proceeded with the transfusion and instead would have euthed. It all looked much better than either the vet or myself expected it to. I feed a loose, free choice mineral supplement that is made locally and formulated by a local equine veterinary specialist who also happens to be a meat goat producer. It is a very good product. Supposedly, the original owner uses that supplement also, so he had access prior to coming here as well as when he got here.

 

[coliver]

For a sling we took a Cloth firewood lugger (a peace of can-vice that has a leather handle at each end) and use that you just might have to re enforce the handles better.

 

[mydakota]

Okay, I think for now, this is the plan. We are going to hang the bucket of the tractor over the fence near the opening of the calf hutch. We are going to suspend a vehicle tow trap (with a nice strong hook on the end) from the bucket. I am going to fashion a sling from 2 neoprene cinches connected with a cinch hobble. (hope this is still not too big) Then going to unhook the calf hutch from the tethering stakes on the left side and just sort of pop the top on it, get the cinches under Buckwheats girth somehow, and then walk him out and hang him up by the tow strap suspended from the tractor bucket. Sure hope it is not a train wreck. Sure hope it does him some good.

 

[currycomb]

and maybe a cinch or breatcollar around his chest and rear to keep him from falling out of the sling.

 

[KellyHM]

I treated an alpaca with severe anemia due to worms once. She was down for 2 weeks. We filled up a huge feed tub with water twice a day and put her in it, basically hydro therapy. At fist she would barely move her legs, but got stronger and stronger every time we did it. Within a week she was back on her feet and going home.

 

[mydakota]

I am sure that hydrotherapy would help him. I am just not sure how to safely accomplish that given our winter time temps around here. We had several days last week that barely made it to 30, and nights in the single digits. I am afraid I would freeze him to death.

 

[KellyHM]

I am sure that hydrotherapy would help him. I am just not sure how to safely accomplish that given our winter time temps around here. We had several days last week that barely made it to 30, and nights in the single digits. I am afraid I would freeze him to death.

That's true. I'm in FL so I don't have to worry wbout that as much.

 

[Solar7762]

Hi. I'm new to this forum and actually found it doing a google search for a goat sling. I have received a 5 year old Boer doe from neighbors that kidded 5 weeks ago. She was Hypocalcemic and unfortunately never received calcium. Long-story-short she's been down for at least 3 weeks. When I brought her home, she was 99.8 degrees, about half her normal weight and leaving. She's still extremely weak. But, through my efforts and her fortitude I have her now maintaining a normal temp, eating and drinking on her own and her front legs - which were fixed bent - are now almost able to be fully straightened. I've achieved this in part by resting her over a bale 3 - 4 times a day for about 20 minutes a session, stretching and massaging. But, I need to get her suspended or I think we're not going to be able to progress. As she gains weight, I'm not going to be able to continue to lift her onto the bale. I'd sure like to know if your sling worked and how the sweet Mister is doing.

Thanks very much. :/

 

[Solar7762]

I'll try to post a photo. Haven't done this before, so bear with me. This should be Chai over the bale with a niece for company. I have the bottle babies from the farm she came from.

 

[Solar7762]

Wow. It worked. Here's a different view with her daughter in the background. Unfortunately, a sibling was left inside and died during overnight delivery. This is one lucky, survivor doe. I really want to get her through this. (For a chuckle, "Poly", pronounced "Polly", is short for Polypropylene)