Need help keeping injured goat quiet

[LonestarGirl]

My nigerian dwarf got badly hurt last week and the vet said to keep her seperate and in her own stall and dont turn her in the pasture with all the other animals to help keep it clean. She carries on and on and cries her head off if she hears anyone around but cant see them. She has music playing for her. But she is also becoming depressed and losing weight and not eating much at all. Any ideas how to keep her happy, she has to be inside 3 more weeks.

 

[ragdollcatlady]

Do you have a quiet/calm companion you can put in with her? She would be happier with a friend. Or is there a way she can have a fence between her and the other goats, so she can see them?

 

[alsea1]

This goat needs a goat in with her. Otherwise it won't matter much if she continues to fuss.

 

[LonestarGirl]

I only have 1 goat and she is a companion for my horses who she is very bonded with but keeping her with the horses right now is not an option and I cant spend every minute of the day with her

 

[Hardy&Healthy]

The fence divider would probably be my 1st 'go-to'!

If you can not do a safe divider, I would use companion with a lower herd status than her, so she won't even have to do anything other than cock her head to keep them respectful of her personal space. And better if not anyone that would need to be separated from their mom for the 1st time, because then you'll just have a different goat screaming and that may stress her too. On the other hand, a kid would be very safe and she may be fine with a kid screaming. And as long as she is not the one 'all worked up' it might work... A screaming buddy would probably be better than no buddy.

If you can not find a way to put up a divider, and can not find a safe loose companion, do you have a large dog crate? Not for her, but for the unsafe companion! Use it as the safe barrier (I have had to do this). Yes it is a little ruff on the goat in the crate the first hour or two, but they adapt fast. It would be my opinion that applying a little stress to a healthy goat to protect a vulnerable/healing one is worth it!

Best wishes for your girls health and happiness!

 

[Hardy&Healthy]

I started my reply, and before I got done, I see you have added new info.

Poor thing! Do you take your horses camping? My point being, can you trust your horses to stand tied with her for long periods (of course with you home, and her unable to get under them). You could switch who is tied every so often. It probably sounds like an awful idea at first, but my horses and I go to shows and camping... The may stand tied for a week at a time. It just seems 'normal' in those situations. Would that idea be adaptable to your situation?

 

[LonestarGirl]

I dont take them camping but they have been shown out of a trailer numerous times so I will maybe try that or I wa swondering I had heard to use like a stuffed animal for the orphan lonely kids but would that work for her?

 

[Hardy&Healthy]

I have heard of but never tried the stuffed animal method. It would be easy and cheap enough to be worth trying. I have tried using blankets or towels with my or their buddy's scent on them, when re-homing pet pigs/dogs/cats. I don't know if it would help or not, but I don't see any harm in trying it.

 

[bj taylor]

I too had a goat badly hurt. it took a month and half before I was pretty confident she would survive. for her, it was all about the will to live. I am convinced, if she had been isolated, she would have given up. her wounds needed to be kept clean as possible too & it was a real juggling act between allowing her to be with her companions & keeping that wound clean as well. in the past, I had a badly injured hen. instead of isolating her, I let her stay w/her flock. she didn't leave the coop for quite a while, but they would come in to check on her & one would get in the nest with her & just be with her. I think that played a significant role in her survival.

in the case of the goat, and the chicken - the others seem to give them space, not push them around or otherwise harm them.

i'm a big fan of animals being in their most comfortable place whenever possible when they're hurt. if they don't live, at least, they have the comfort. I know that's not always possible.

good luck w/your hurt baby

 

[junkprospector]

Any chance you could buy a cheap wether to accompany her?