I sliced open her hock!!

[kayla_sayswa]

I bought a pair of pygmy does that were in need of some TLC and even though I'm very new to goats, I felt I could give these gals a good home with my two fainting goats.

The fella hadn't trimmed their hooves in a very...very...long time adn they were in bad shape. I've never trimed goat hooves before, but have trimmed horses' hooves before. I attended a clinic where the woman used a rose bush shearers for her trimmers so that's what I bought.

I trimmed some last week and tonight I wanted to trim a bit more. Because these girls are bit wild, I laid her down on her side to get her hind legs. During the process, she caught me with her horns and kicked out pretty hard.

I noticed she was bleeding and realized I must've sliced open the tendon on her upper hock.

I got a maxipad and wrapped her leg with that and some medical tape (my vetrap was used up a few days prior).

She seemed to put weight on it but was limping badly afterwards.

I just want to cry..I think I may be in over my head with these two little wild girls.

Are the blades on an actual "goat hoof nippers" as sharp as knives? These rose timmers sure are - and frankly I think too sharp - too dangerous - and not a good recommendation for a goat trimmers. Am I wrong? I could've sliced off MY finger!!

 

[elevan]

Take a breath...ok...

The shears you bought will work fine...you just need a better method of securing the goat.

If you don't have a milking stand then put a screw eye into a wall at goat neck height. When you need to do something to the goat put a collar on it and clip it to the eye with a double ended clip. That'll keep the goat from ramming you or horning you. Use your body to press the goat to the wall...now you've got a secure goat to work with. Some people like to wear gloves when trimming to protect fingers...I don't but that's just me.


The maxi-pad / medical tape was a good idea to stop the bleeding. Keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't get infected. You can call a vet and ask for some banamine in a syringe if you feel the goat is in pain. Just tell them the goat's weight and they can give you a pre-filled syringe (very inexpensive).

eta: A full grown pygmy doe weighs about 70#

 

[kayla_sayswa]

I'm okay..I just feel pretty crummy about causing her more discomfort over my lack of experience.

I initially did try to trim her back feet while letting her stand tied close to a wall, pressing myself against her, but I couldn't quite get a good hold while also trimming. I'm used 1500lb horses, not 70lb goats. I'll get myself a platform built asap because part of the trouble is getting down so low w/o throwing the back out.

I will cold hose her in the morning, spray an ointment, and wrap it in gamgee and vetrap. I have some banamine so I will give her a dose of that as well. If things don't look better by tomorrow afternoon, I'll take her in. I know there's nothing more I can do...it just has to stay clean and heal.

This is bad experience #2 for me...what's next?

 

[elevan]

There's a huge learning curve with goats and there seems to be always something with them

It sounds like you're level headed and doing well so far despite the minor difficulties

 

[carolinagirl]

I know most people secure goats in milking stands to trim hooves but I always had better luck sitting them on their butts in the same position as you'd shear a sheep. I was able to trim hooves on a 250 boer goat buck by myself by sitting him in this position. and for some reason, when they are sitting this way, they don't even fight. It might be harder to hold a little goat like this but it sure works breat for the big ones. And no one gets hurt....me or them!

Here's a link to a video showing you how to get them into that position alone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcbSIuZHjFo&feature=related