Good Evening, All Scout, here, with the poorly looking goat. Thought I owed a few people an update. Been out until late the past several nights and then in the barn with my son and the goats until the wee hours, watching, observing, worrying, talking to the goat, feeling guilty, freezing, praying, racking my brain about how to best care for this creature, consoling my son. Long couple of nights there. Well, I got a lot of advice about my caring or lack of caring about this animal. Enough said about that.THE UPDATE: Sebastian (the patient) is gaining in strength daily after Joshua provided warm water several times per day, took him on walks, and talked to him while Sebastian laid his head in my son's lap at midnight. Joshua immediately removed the rich feed (pellets and alfalfa) from Sebastian's diet, and we gave him access to all the good, dry brome(sp) hay he could stand. After lots of care, Sebastian is now back trying to climb out of his pen. Oh, Joshua had also administered some Milk of Magnesia, which worked its magic. Guess Sebastian got cleaned out and is on the mend.The advice to seek out competent goat mentors (vets among them) was right. I don't make light of that. The animals deserve our best care Not to take away from any caring respondent, BUT, I owe a debt of gratitude from the heart to four special women who saw through the details of what looked like a tragedy to us and saw what a boy and his dad (greenhorns) were going through for the sake of doing what was right. The advice to seek out competent goat mentors (vets among them) was right. I don't make light of that. The animals deserve our best care. Our deepest thanks go out now to: Rebekah--Vicki--Julie--and--Lesley C.--You're the greatest-Thanks*

-- Scout (Scout@kanokla.net), February 03, 2000

Answers

Response to Debt of Gratitude

I'm so glad you had a happy ending .

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), February 04, 2000.

Response to Debt of Gratitude

Scout and Joshua, I have been wondering how sebastian was doing. It did not look too good there for awhile. It looks like I left out TLC, and that is the most important medicine you can give human or goat. keep up the good work. And Joshua, you did a good job of observing your goats, and getting help right away. karen

-- KAREN MAUK (DAIRYGOATMAMA@AOL.COM), February 04, 2000.

Response to Debt of Gratitude

Scout, you are very welcome. It is really nice to hear of a happy ending. Most honest livestock keepers will tell you that they have had some terrible situations and pulled through with the help of other goat or sheep keepers or whatever. I for one have made a lot of very stupid mistakes with my poor animals when I was still learning about them, usually because I really didn't know what the problem was and what to do. I think we have a debt and an obligation to help others out and share whatever knowledge we may have, so I'm glad I could help a little. If he is still cold, you might consider getting an old sweater and puttting it on him.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@transport.com), February 04, 2000.

Response to Debt of Gratitude

Scout, Joshua and Sebastian, Thank you and you do realize that you are going to have the most spoiled rotten buck on your hands! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), February 04, 2000.

Response to Debt of Gratitude

Hi,

Just saw you updart. glad to hear he is OK. Good Luck and if you ever need anything just yell.

Bernice

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), February 04, 2000.