Limping goat

[Cottage Cheese]

Hey all,

I have a 6 month old pygmy girl who sometimes limps on her front left hoof. I have NO idea whatsoever about what it is. I used to hose down the run that they are in a few times a week to cool off the chooks, but I stopped since the limping began. It is an on and off thing, some days she really limps bad, and others no.


Any Ideas???

 

[RedStickLA]

Are you trimming her hooves?

Mitzi

 

[Roll farms]

It could be something simple like a thorn in the hoof, or a little less simple, like hoof rot.
More info please...If you have no idea, we have no idea how to help.
Have you checked the hoof itself? Does it need trimmed? Are any of the joints in that leg hot or swollen?

 

[Cottage Cheese]

Her legs aren't swollen, and hot. I checked her hooves, and they seem to be medium length, we have a huge rock wall that they climb on. Her hoof isnt showing any signs of gunk stuck in between, or hoof rot. We have not even got a trimmer, or trimmed her hooves. I will go out and buy one, though. How do you trim her hooves, because she is horned, and doesn't like me touching her around her feet that much.

 

[fadetopurple]

I use a halter to trim, since I don't have a stanchion. You could always buy one, but I didn't have any luck finding one that my goat couldn't slip out of in 45 seconds, so I made a rope halter. You can find free instructions all over the internet, some clearer than others. The instructions I used were for a horse, so I just substituted my goat's measurements. Took me a couple hours to figure out, though, and I cheated by attaching a snap (they're supposed to be knotted - who wants to wrestle a goat for that long?) It might be easier to jury-rig one of another style, but this one will definitely hold up long term.

Once you have a halter, find somewhere that is NOT a corner to tie the goat, such as a post. If you tie her in a corner, in the process of fighting you, she will swing around and end up kicking your hand into the wall. (Ask me how I know.) I tie at head level or above, tight enough that she can't lower her head much past its normal resting point. This way she won't be able to get away from you, or get after you with her horns.

After you're done with each hoof, give her a treat so she doesn't learn to dread the experience.

 

[Cottage Cheese]

thanks!!!

 

[trestlecreek]

Can you post a picture of the bottom of the hoof?
Also, Check between the toes and at the coronary band for any redness, swelling or "crusties".....

 

[cmjust0]

Check for whiteness, redness, and/or inflammation of the skin between the claws on that foot, too. If you're just looking for injuries and abcesses of the sole and hoof wall, it's easy to miss a little mild hoof scald.

If in doubt, buy either some 'Hoof N' Heel' (zinc sulfate) or 'Kopertox' (copper sulfate) to squirt on the hoof after trimming. Hoof N' Heel works OK and is cleaner to use, but I personally think Kopertox works better...messier by a damn far sight, but I do think it's better.