Goat People...invalid food suggestions

[Suzon]

Sooooooo.....

Scrunchy fell down the stairs and dislocated her shoulder. So all this week I've been running back and forth to the vet and then UCDavis with a broken goat. Thank dog she's only 34 pounds and fits in the back of the MINI. Anyway, the team at Davis was able to reduce the dislocation without surgery (and didn't charge me for the procedure...just x-rays and materials) she's now stuck in a cage in the kitchen for six weeks (two weeks in a cast). They recommended just hay and water, which is her normal diet. I'm concerned about keeping her hydrated as she doesn't seem all that interested in drinking...or hay for that matter. I put in a twig with wet leaves from a plumb tree and that seemed ok, but she didn't finish it. Any suggestions for wet treats that you can think of? I don't want to throw her rumen off because she can't lay down on her own and she's not chewing her cud unless I lay her down and stay with her.

[Racetrackreject]

What about a mash offered along with the regular hay? You could make it with either hay cubes or pellets with warmish water and add applesauce or molasses to entice her to eat it. I do this for Basco every day because I worry about his water consumption. He is especially fond of organic applesauce with cinnamon.

[Canyon]

I read this as ~non-valid food, and thought, "Why would Suzon want to give that to her goat?"

Need more coffee...I do not have suggestions for valid or non-valid food for your invalid, but I am sending

Jingles for poor Scrunchy. And you, so you can keep her amused, well fed and well hydrated.

[Suzon]

Coffee would be a non-valid food for an invalid goat.

[Suzon]

What about a mash offered along with the regular hay? You could make it with either hay cubes or pellets with warmish water and add applesauce or molasses to entice her to eat it. I do this for Basco every day because I worry about his water consumption. He is especially fond of organic applesauce with cinnamon.

We do have some rye hay/rice bran pellets. I'll try a little mash and see if she goes for it.

[Rhianon]

Ah, poor baby! (Not to mention a lot of work for you ...)

What about wetting her hay? One of my girls wouldn't eat wet hay, but the other one loved it.

[mld02004]

My goat liked chopped hay, you could add water to it.

[Hoof'n it]

What about hay soaked in molasses water?
Balage?
Cut grass?
All would get at least a little water in her system.

She's probably still in shock of it all, so it may take a little while to get used to everything and being confined?!?

My goat Robbie, got stood on by a horse, and I felt like an idiot racing into the vet clinic carrying a goat who was bleating/screaming at the top of his lungs. He ended up being fine - he was just being a drama queen - however he took a long time to settle afterwards. Could be the same with yours

[Josette]

I was thinking the same as others already mentioned. Maybe cubed hay or hay stretcher pellets soaked in water.

[Code3]

Cut hay? Hay pellets (timothy or orchard) soaked? Tough one. Jingles Scrunchy and Mom.

[Suzon]

Well, I got her to drink a cereal bowl full of water last night by mixing a little pear jelly in it (we're out of molasses and don't have sugar in the house). I reduced her meds by a third thinking it was causing tummy upset and she has a much greater appetite this morning. As we speak she is crunching down some hay chaff and she had a handful of hay/rice bran pellets before that.

[Rhianon]

I'm so glad she's doing better.

Hoof'in It has a point. When ever anything happened to my Lily or Thea, they would be emotionally upset and partially off feed for a bit. The "trauma" of foot trimming was good for at least a day of the vapours.

[airefjordphil]

So funny to think of a goat w/ vapors -- definitely made my day.
Sending best wishes to Scrunchy. Sounds like her appetite is returning, hope she proves to be a good and compliant rehab patient.

[Chisamba]

Nothing to add to the excellent ideas offered, but I wanted to jingle for good appetite and full recovery.

I also read invalid as not being valid, lol.

[Suzon]

Well, apparently she's over the vapors. Still having a little trouble getting her to drink, so I'm offering 1 bowl of slightly sweetened water a day, which she slurps up. She's eating hay like a mad doe, apparently making up for lost time.

She got a huge 2 hour nap yesterday in my lap, which I think made all the difference. She can't lay down on her own and won't stay down if I lay her down in her cage (even with a very comfy set up). So when I took her to bed to watch TV, she was out like a light. We've been letting her loose in the house for 5-15 minute stretches (dictated by how wild she gets and if she tries to head-butt the cats).

So things are going well. 3 nights down, 11 to go until the cast comes off.

[Rhianon]

Ah, I can imagine the two of you snuggled in watching Animal Planet.

[Suzon]

Ah, I can imagine the two of you snuggled in watching Animal Planet.

We like Mysteries at the Museum and Rehab Addict.

I just spent 2 1/2 hours or more under her and she probably would have stayed all day, but OMG I had to pee!

[airefjordphil]

You are a kind and conscientious goat owner. Would love to see the patient snoozing in your lap. Any chance you could post a picture?

[Suzon]

Here ya go. This is looking down.

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[Hoof'n it]

My goat would be in heaven if he was in that situation and just milking it for all it was worth!
He's not allowed in the house, although will try every method in his book to get in. He gets pissed at my dog who is allowed inside.... He will show his displeasure at being an outside only pet, by trying to ram my door in with his horns... Freaks the bejesus out of me if he does it in the middle of the night.

[Suzon]

Scrunchy learned to lay down on her own a couple days ago. Here she is chillin' in her cage on her fluffy bed. Because all little goats should have a fluffy bed.

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[Sunshine2Me]

You are a great goat mommy!

[Rhianon]

Ah, she is so darling!

[Alex]

Just keep an eye on her so she doesn't get hooked on certain TV programs or hogs the TV remote...

[MissDee]

I love that look she's giving you out of the corner of her eye - "Can you not see I'm trying to relax here on my pillow? I think you may be disturbing me. Why are you disturbing me? I will let you know when I'm ready to get up and watch Rehab Addict, please Tivo it for me."

By the way, when I saw the Amazon commercial with the "pony door," I immediately thought of Scrunchy!

[Suzon]

By the way, when I saw the Amazon commercial with the "pony door," I immediately thought of Scrunchy!