At Last a Post

Friends, 

I was not going to post today.  I laid down at 9:30 this morning for a minute, and the next thing I knew, it was 12:44! 

I am not recovered yet, and it has been two weeks of fighting this infection. 

But, there is light at the end of the tunnel, and I'm looking forward to it. 

On Wednesday afternoon, while Keith was napping - he had taken vacation days for Tuesday and Wednesday, thank heavens, before I became so ill... I snuck outside to see how things were going. 

Two little goats came running to me... Kody and Kelly.  I called Kaycee, but did not see or hear him.  

After tidying up the goatyard, I began to be alarmed.  I went into the big henhouse, no Kaycee.  

Finally, I found him behind the little red henhouse... wobbling and straining.  I became alarmed and went in to awaken Keith. 

Keith watched him and believed at first he was straining to defecate.... but no, we realized he could not urinate. 

Urinary crystals are a real problem with wethers and bucks, but more so, with wethers. 

I immediately called a vet in Tongie who treats goats.... but we do not have a relationship with him.  At 5:12, I was informed he was gone for the day, but I could have an appointment for 8:30 in the morning.  I told the girl I did not think the goat would make it that long, but made the appointment anyway. 

Then I called our vet who lives ten miles away, and prayed she would be in the office. This was the vet who wethered them, and who sees mainly equines, but also camelids and goats.  

She was there, doing some spays on some rescue kittens.  Her office staff was also there, to assist her. 

I managed to drive over there at a decent rate of speed with the sick little boy in a crate.  He had screamed in pain when Keith lifted him up... and for those of you who have never heard a goat scream.. it's awful. 

I have no pictures of all this. 

We arrived there and waited for the spays to be finished, then had blood drawn, xrays taken, and down came the goat textbooks and assessing. 

The operation to resect all of the interior male organs is only 50% successful. 

Finally, a decision was made to attempt to open him up on the end, and try to express the urine.  There was a mucous cap that had formed.  

He was sedated, and they were able to empty five vials of urine, plus he promptly wet their mats immediately upon standing.  

I can't tell you how relieved I was. 

And exhausted! 

Donna at Our Forest Haven was kind enough to suggest to me to use Jump Start... a vitamin/mineral paste to help get him back to normal, and I have started it's seven day course. 

We are adding ammonium chloride to their diet, to prevent crystals, as they are all wethers and prone to them. 

And most importanly, we are changing the way we feed and stopping all access to the chicken yards.  

They will not be able to play on their beloved chicken house and hutch... and lay in the sun high up.  

But they will be more healthy, and that's what matters. 

This is a short video I took last night while the boys helped do chores.... 

Thank heavens our little boy Kaycee could come to me when I called him! 

I will get around to everyone's blogs this weekend, I hope... and be back to normal soon. 

Right now, I think I'm going to have to lay down again for a bit. 

My primary care PA is on furlough today, so I am hoping to make it through the weekend without having to bother a doctor at the ER, but the fatigue IS worrying me.  

Thank you all for your kind comments and wishes, and your prayers, most importantly, your prayers.  

I appreciate each and every one!