2/17/23 - Goat Trouble

If you follow this blog, you may have noticed, we have three goats. Their names are Pan, Puck and Mr. Tumnus, named after famous fauns. (Although, day in and day out, I have other names I use for them) One morning I notice Puck limping. Upon inspection I found a big cut on his lower hind leg. I drive to the feed store to get advice and come home with triple antibiotic ointment and a wrap. I wash the cut with warm water, use hydrogen peroxide to clean it out, then add the ointment and a wrap that is not tight, but will stay on to protect the cut. He is obviously favoring the leg, but he still gets up on the hill to eat his fill.

The next day I pull Puck aside, change his wrap and redress his wound. While I am working on Puck, I see that Tumnus is limping too, favoring one of his hind legs. Upon inspection, I can find nothing wrong. No cut, no swelling and the joints seem okay. Yet he continues to limp. Concerned, I call the feed store.

Now, I have to take just a moment to talk of the man at the feed store. In our time here, and especially our time with the goats, he has offered advice, encouragement, sage wisdom, genuine welcome and care for us and our goats. The man at the feed store has been the greatest, and most unexpected blessing we have received while living here. I am not using his name because he would not want me to, but his kindness has meant more to us that he can ever know.

Back to my story. When I call the feed store I get connected with another neighbor who lives across the valley, has had sheep and goats for a long time, and is also very kind and generous with his time. He comes right over to have a look. He tells me I have treated the cut well, and probably don’t need to wrap it. He inspects Tumnus and also can’t find anything wrong. His assessment is that sometimes goats play rough and get knocked around. Keep an eye on him, but he should be fine.

Final summary, and I am not making this up, “sometimes goats get hurt when they are horsing around.” Who knew?