We have a first freshener that leaps a 6' fence to go eat blackberry vines on the neighboring property. I don't know if she hit on the wire or a blackberry thorn, but she had a small puncture wound in the udder, and it is leaking milk (no blood). I milked her, cleaned it all up, and tried everything from band-aids to duct tape to vet wrap. Nothing stayed on. Finally exasperated, we put a spot of Krazy Glue (Super Glue) on the wound. It worked. But will this heal? We went to the store and bought some of the "medical" super glue, called "New Skin". When we got home and compared the ingredients, the only difference in the New Skin has oil of cloves in it. And a HUGE difference in price, of course. I haven't tried the newskin yet, because the original glue is still holding. Should I keep milking her frequently, as I have been, or do you think the pressure of a fuller udder might speed the healing? If any of you have experience with anything like this, I would appreciate any advice you could give, especially how it all turned out in the end. There are no vets in our area that will treat goats. Thanks a lot. Kathie

-- Kathie in Western Washington (twinrosefarm@worldnet.att.net), April 15, 2001

Answers

IMHO, the Krazy glue was a stroke of genius. I also keep NuSkin on hand in case of emergency, and after reading your post went and compared the ingredients with the superglue, and you're right, the only difference is oil of cloves!! But I paid $7.99for the tiny tube of nu-skin, and about 50 cents for twice as much superglue. I won't make that mistake again!! Im sory, but don't know if this will heal in the long run, the only experience I have is that when I was a kid my dad actually called a vet and had him come out (a big deal in those days) when our brown swiss/jersey milk cow cut her udder with her hoof. It was leaking milk and blood. And the vet said that you can't stitch a udder, becuz the skin is softer then the underlying tissue, and stitches will just form more leaks. Of course, this was almost 50 years ago, and the vet told my dad that he wouldn't charg for the visit (8.00) and would buy the cow for 4 cents a pound and pay for the slaughter and cutting and wrapping, as hamburger meat. Of course, my dad leaped at the chance, and us kids bawled for days when they came and got her. So i dont know if the "can't stitch an udder" is true, or the vet got himself some really cheap meat. Hope your problem turns out better, but i have no idea. Buy the way, even though I was just a little kid, the reasen I know the prices is that my mom kept a journal, just a list of facts, things like this one was: "Betty cut her milkbag, had vet out(8.00). Nothing they can do. Vet will pay .04 alb, and forgive bill. Should be about $25. plus saving the vet bill, will pay for Linda and Patty going to the dentist, and a ton of hay. Peanut and Sam (my little brother) very upset, Dad got them each a piece of bubble gum, told them they earned it for taking such good care of Betty and her calf. Olsen came and looked at calf, will give $35. for him for veal. Sam running fever, started harvesting potaoes today, 1st row, 215 lbs katahdins, 2nd row 330 lbs russets. May want to plant more russets next year. Full moon tonight, coyotes howling." I highly suggeat that anyone who reads this keeps a similar diary, i refer back to it alot, because of plantint dates, etc. Ive gotten of the track here, but your poost remineded somuch of things in the past....also, i should say that my mother left her journal to me, specically (i was the only one that didn't turn into a "city slicker" but the first thing I did was carefully un-bind it and make photo copies for all my sisters and brothers. Even if you dont care who calved when or how many bales you got aout of each hayfield, it is kinda nice to know when you got the measles or the mumps, or when your little sisters got the vaccine so they didn't have to go through the same illnesses that you did. Gosh, Ive realy gotten off the subject, I hope everything works out well for your doe, sory i coulnt be of more help, Peanut

-- peanut (peanut@aol.com), April 15, 2001.

From what i understand crazy glue was invented for veitnam to close wounds quickly,should work, keep us posted on results.

-- kathy h (ckhart55@earthlink.net), April 15, 2001.

My sister used to work in a heart surgery & transplant hospital. They used Krazy Glue to do some of the internal suturing instead of sewing since it sealed more completely. I'd think that if it could stand up to that kind of use, it'd do fine on an udder. My horse vet has used it for anchoring horse's intestines in place after entrapment colic.

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), April 15, 2001.