Saturday, May 24, 2008

Diarrhea, snotty nose, scabby lips...oh my!

We brought the "kids" home two weeks ago yesterday. Yes, I have pictures, just don't have them downloaded yet. They are so sweet! Dubbed Willow and Margarita, the doelings didn't want anything to do with us for the first couple of days. We couldn't touch them and if we moved too fast around them, they'd skitter off like we were goat killers with long, razor-sharp teeth.

Today is a much different story. They follow us around like puppies, start "maaa'ing" like mad as soon as we pull up in the driveway or walk outside. They just like to be with us, so I guess we've become part of their herd.

The babies, however, have not come without some issues. Poor little Willow has had a bad case of diarrhea for about five days. They both developed pink eye, Margarita has an incredibly infectious goat/sheep/human virus called "sore mouth," which is kind of like a giant cold sore on her mouth (and we can get it on our hands) and yesterday morning Margarita had yellow snot. Fun, eh? I was ready to ship them back to their breeder. The snot was the last straw. We loaded those babies up and off to the large animal vet they went. Both got fecal exams, general body exams and diagnoses.

We can't do anything about the sore mouth. It just has to run its course and Willow will most likely get it, too. We have to be absolutely diligent about washing our hands so we don't get it. Willow's case of the runs isn't parasite or disease related, thank goodness. The vet thinks both of their immune systems were a bit compromised because of the stress of being weaned two days before we picked them up, the change in environment and the change in diet all in one fell swoop. So, all these illnesses hit us at once. Yay us! Both girls are now getting penicillin shots and doses of a probiotic to get their little systems back in order. I have discovered goat skin is MUCH tougher than horse skin! And there isn't nearly as much meat/flesh to stick a needle into. The needle slides right into muscle on the horses...the goats, its a bit more like jabbing leather. Poor girls.

It's a good thing I really like them a lot. They are so much smarter than sheep and quite personable. But they still better stay off my truck.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

pictures! we want pictures! (minus the snot, please)

Krista said...

Aw, baby anythings are cute! I hope they feel better soon!
and aren't pretty much any animals smarter than sheep? ;)

Sona said...

Have you forgotten what it's like to have kids?

*pun intended*

Young ones are full of diseases that first year.

Pics! When they are healthy!

yoo hoo said...

Reminds me of the days when we would raise calves....kind of miss those days.

Nancy R said...

Cute! I can't wait to see some pictures!