On my way home from the vet's office with my very sick patient, I made a phone call to my husband.  I wanted him to be prepared for what he was going to see when I got my cargo home. I explained to him that Doc looked very much like he did before. I went on to tell him the improvements he made in the two days at the vet's office. We knew that when we got home, we would have to turn our goat barn into a makeshift GICU (Goat Intensive Care Unit).

To get the barn ready for our patient, we made sure there was plenty of hay and shavings. We also set up a corner area with a heat lamp AND heater, so he wouldn't get chilled. The temps here aren't too bad, but it does get down to freezing, and when a goat isn't able to move around, and graze and browse, they can get pretty cold!

Once we got everything ready, we brought him in... It was now our job to support him as he healed, and facilitate that healing in any way we could.

Our instructions for the care and support of our patient were to give 3 ml of Thiamine via injection 3x a day, and a very large dose of penicillin once a day. Food and water were to be given through a tube twice a day…

This week has been a whirlwind of activity, inspiration, hope, fear, anxiety, determination, and amazement. I’m going to try to get Doc’s journal up to date on the progress he’s made.

Wednesday, December 30

Upon arriving home, Doc’s spirits seemed a bit brighter. It was very difficult to keep him from lying continually on his side. At the vet’s office, they would “flip” him from side to side, to avoid sores from forming. They also had a rope which they would loop around him to keep him sternal for short periods of time.

I found that if I could get him sternal, not propped up against anything at all, much easier. And, he stayed that way. Against the wall, he’d push and push. That’s what goats do, after all. When you push a goat, they’ll push back!

I administered his Thiamine, and gave him another big hug around his stinky buck neck. I promised him that I would do everything in my power to help him to get better.

Thursday, December 31

I was apprehensive as I approached the goat barn. I wasn’t sure if my patient would make it through the night. My mind always goes to those scary places, where the unimaginable happens… But, when I peeked in the crack between the doors (I always do this, as if to shield myself from what I don’t want to see; like watching a scary movie through my fingers, Doc had made it through the night! He had tipped over to his side, and was having seizures. Once I propped him back up, the seizures stopped, and he seemed finally able to relax.

I administered his shots, and set to begin our first tube feeding. (I plan on a separate blog post regarding tube feeding.) I got it all ready, and I panicked! Was the tube in correctly? Would I be drowning him rather than feeding him? I called my husband from the barn, and told him that I would need his help.

Instead of helping me, he got the video camera, and filmed. He was there if I needed him, but he had faith in me, that I could do this on my own. He was right. I was relieved to finally have that part of Doc’s treatment under my belt, and I was more comfortable with the prospect of having to do it over and over again…

Tube feeding made Doc depressed, every time we had to do it. I hated seeing him so sad.

I made it a point to visit him in the barn just to rearrange him, prop him up (which was usually necessary), and to just give him some encouragement and support.

It was at this time that I noticed our little barn cat turned house cat was accompanying me on my trips to the barn. I began calling her “Nurse Kitty”. She had little interest in the goat, which was a giant in comparison to her tiny self, but she was there for both us, to offer support. I have to admit that having a tiny assistant was actually somewhat reassuring…

Except after tube feeding, Doc’s spirits remained high. He was interested in the activity in the barn, and when he wasn’t tipped on his side, he was intently listening, and acknowledging all that was going on.

He also began taking in bits of hay I put in his mouth, along with diced apples, celery and carrots. He was taking them in, chewing and swallowing! This was progress!

Friday, January 1

Although the new year had arrived, I again approached the barn with apprehension. That fear was with me. Although he had made progress, again, I was afraid of what was awaiting me in the barn.

Doc was again on his side, having seizures. I propped him up. Each time I propped him up, it was like he was relieved, and he’d turn to me as if to say, “Oh, hi!”

I had a crummy start to the New Year, because it was on this day that I realized that when Doc was on his side, he was almost constantly having seizures. The day was bright and sunny, for the first time, since he was struck down. His pupils constricted with the sunshine, but the minute he tipped, they immediately dilated.

This was very discouraging to me.

It was also on this day that I realized that Doc could not feel his front legs. He had no idea where his feet were. This would explain the constant tipping over. He’d adjust, or try to stand, and without their cooperation, over he’d go; which subsequently brought on the seizures.

But, my big man continued to give me hope. He stayed sterna for longer periods of time. He was staying up, on his own, for 30-45 minutes at a time. Honestly, if he wasn’t in such a hurry to get up, he could have probably stayed that way longer!

That afternoon, I fashioned a sling for Doc, made out of a nylon stall guard. I knew his front legs had no movement, and likely no feeling, but I wanted to give him the opportunity to stand up, since he’d been trying so hard to do so! I attempted this maneuver on my own, but just couldn’t get his front end off the ground. Even with all my weight hanging on the rope, it wouldn’t lift his 200+ lb. frame.

I employed the help of my husband, and we got him into the standing position. He loved it! His front legs did little more than dangle. He tried to move them, but only his shoulders moved, while the leg below remained motionless. I did some range of motion exercises with his legs, and encouraged him to move around a bit by enticing him with apple slices. Boy, did he ever want those slices!

Later in the afternoon, our friend Tae, who had helped load Doc into the truck for what we thought would be his last trip, came to visit. We went out to the barn, and he couldn’t believe what he saw! Doc decided to show off by beginning to browse and eat the hay that I had provided him. He hadn’t shown interest in it before, but now, it was as if he’d been doing it all along!

The very act of my goat casually eating his hay, made the first day of the New Year a truly great day, after all!

Saturday, January 2

This morning I placed a call to the vet. I told her about his progress, and she was excited! She told me to stop the tube feeding, and to continue as we were. She was also optimistic about Doc’s front legs regaining function…

For breakfast, Doc ate up his collard greens and peas, with a little help, and took a few sips of water. He also continued eating his hay.

We stood Doc up again today. I used a bareback pad as a sling, and didn’t like it as well, but it worked this time. Doc showed that he while it was tough, he was able to correct his left front foot when it bent at the ankle. And, he was moving his right leg below the shoulder! It would still get bent under at his ankle, and he was unable to correct it. More treats encouraged more moving around, and supporting weight on those legs.

Today proved to be another great day in Doc’s recovery. He’s fighting for his life, and he knows it…