BabyGirl Page 3
January 22, 2000 BabyGirl had her 2nd birthday and was feeling pretty
spiffy, doing almost normal things in the goat yard, still sleeping in the
house as it was so cold at night, but 2 days later she seemed down in the
mouth.. I thought maybe she had got bonked hard by another goat so I kept a
close eye on her..she seemed to bounce back just fine..
Until .. on the 24th when on our way outside like we always do in the
mornings…I walk out with a cookie and she follows.. I shut the door then
we go down the 2 steps.. except this time there was another goat there who
also wanted a cookie.. and accidentally knocked her off the steps.. just as I
was turned to shut the door.. screaming and laying with her head almost bent
in half under her.. I grabbed her and rocked her.. the neck wasn’t broke..
so I stood her up.. she was really wobbly and obviously in pain.. so called
the vet.. and I’m on my way.. she was acting like she was losing it..
I prayed & sobbed the whole way there~ But by the time we got there
she acted fine.. *s*.. he took a look at her and to reduce swelling that
could interfere with her walking.. gave her dexamethasone.. brought her home
and she was great that night.. by the next evening she would act as if she
were in terrible pain in her belly.. and wasn’t eating normally .. she would
also act as if her stability was off again.. falling more now.. this went on
and off for the whole week..
I tried everything I could think of.. more dex.. less dex.. no dex and
back to the prednisone.. baking soda, probios..tummy rubs.. electrolytes..
put her on penicillin.. She does Not tolerate shots at all.. so it was a
real procedure to give them to her and not hurt her.. thought maybe a
urinary infection.. took a sample and had to mail it to the vet.. snowed
in.. wouldn’t ya know..urine is fine.. got the report yesterday.. last
night.., she would Not eat ..tried thiamine.. no luck.. tried more water.,.
goat nutri-drench.. baking soda.. had to force that and she usually likes
it.. tried probios.. she LOVES that and had I to force it..
Ears feet and mouth were cold like ice inside.. by 5:30 that morning and
not much urine or berries.. and lust less eyes.. no movement really- she
could walk but .. wasn’t happy or comfortable..I had already made an
appointment for morning..
She was acting shocky..I was so tired and
upset..gave her some glucose and water.. and got her into bed with me under
the down comforter..
and snuggled up to me “spoon style” so I could keep her warm.. and
prayed.. she lay back and went totally relaxed.. and I could hardly feel her
breathing.. very slow and shallow..hardly and heartbeat.. and she let out a
couple pitiful cries.. soft and low.. I knew she wanted to be outside with
her mom.. but it was 9 degrees..I thought I would be taking her to the vets
for a necropsy for sure.. I tried not to cry.. but … well… after all her
work to finally walk and never giving up.. my BabyGirl had given up..
or
so I thought..
This morning at 7:30 she woke me up.. cudding.. hadn’t cudded all day
yesterday.. her mouth was warm.. ears and feet warm..We kept the
appointment.. he still says she couldn’t have been that far down and bounced
up to walking around his office like she was in that short of time..
well.. I saw it~ she did..
but he had also said any goat with a neck
like that shouldn’t be alive or if so would be paralyzed.. well.. the little
angel acted like nothing was wrong.. He drew blood.. and put her on SMZ an
oral antibiotic.. no more shots..
He feels she may have an ulcer due to
the steroids she has been on for the swelling in her neck.. so we’re
treating her for that..
She hasn’t given up yet.. bless her tiny heart..
I knew prayers
worked from all that BabyGirl has endured and come backs she has made after
looking like there wouldn’t be a chance..
She is acting nearly normal!
today (Feb 7th 2000) eating like a horse and drinking plenty of
water.. her white blood count is way elevated which shows she does have
infection going on somewhere.. but her attitude and eyes look a lot better..
Today..BabyGirl ‘RAN’ out with the other goaties this morning at feeding
time.. good to see her bouncing her cute butt around again..thank you Lord..
for all I have to be happy for..
Feb 22 2000 BabyGirl had been
on SMZ a sulfa drug with antibiotic for her elevated white blood count 2
weeks and was doing really well after that last spell of digestive upset..
she finished her prescription 3 days ago and has steadily gone downhill
almost to the point of not being able to walk.. I got more today to get her
back on it.. we’ll see how it does.. seems when shes off of it she blows up
in the belly area and has a hard time holding her weight up even to tinkle..
she falls.. while on it she was walking steady and tinkling fine.. even
running..sort of ????? weird.. this saga of her illness is such a mystery…
March 3 2000 After yet another trip to the vet…well.. we made it
back around 5pm.. the weather was coming in quick too..
the van’s alternator went out so decided
to run off the battery all the way back.. I was glad to make it home.. and
all the kids here were fine.. man I hate leaving the house with no one here
to watch them.. whew!
Now.. onto BabyGirl..Dr Main cannot find anything wrong with her
specifically.. her temp is normal.. her strength in her legs is good, no
worms, her blood work up didn’t show signs of renal damage or failure.. the
only thing is her white cell count is really elevated still..22,000 instead
of 4,000 which means either infection or inflammation.. he doesn’t know
where.. even though here she cries out before she tinkles or berries.. she
did not there.. *s* just like a kid..acting fine in front of the doctor.
March 5 ~ She’s back down again… her temporary wellness has
reverted back to being down and unable to get up once again but this time it
seems to have taken a toll on her attitude, her eyes are not bright and
willing to try like before. I think the relapse has taken the wind out of
her sails.
She is very scrawny compared to her twin sister.
About half her size.
This photo taken just before she went down once
again. She cannot or will not stand up- he knows her legs are strong enough
and her neck doesn’t seem to be hurting- so she isn’t standing up ….why?
We don’t know.. she crunches down.. leans forward & falls ~just like she
did when she first started all this in late August.. SO…
