Radish:rose:, it's good to know I'm not alone. I get carried away with posting old pictures sometimes.
Never thought retirement would be like this
- Thread starter NancyNGA
- Start date
It is now almost 3 am. Long day today. Lost a goat---the one in my avatar---this time to UC (urinary calculi). Similar to kidney stones in humans. All these years I feared this particular problem the most, because we had so many male goats, and it is so common with them, and there's rarely a good outcome, but it never happened. This goat had been the easy keeper, never sick a day in almost 14 years.
This time I was lucky to figure out what was wrong soon, while he was still in good shape. Guess I had prepared for this. Loaded him on the truck and took him to the vet, emergency after hours, mostly after dark. The young vet was not able to perform the procedure necessary. I watched. Can't help but wonder, if a more experienced vet had been on call, could they have done it, but that is water under the bridge. You are extremely lucky if it works anyway. Didn't get out of there until almost 9 pm.
Feeding too much grain (cheap) is a contributing factor. We never fed them grain. Sometimes it just happens. They said larger breed goats don't have as long a life expectancy as smaller breeds, same as with dogs. If that's true he had a long healthy life.
It seems like events that require a vet often happen on weekends or holidays. I've almost come to dread holidays and weekends for that reason. But that's either just coincidence, or I remembered those times more vividly. Got to get over that.
This time I was lucky to figure out what was wrong soon, while he was still in good shape. Guess I had prepared for this. Loaded him on the truck and took him to the vet, emergency after hours, mostly after dark. The young vet was not able to perform the procedure necessary. I watched. Can't help but wonder, if a more experienced vet had been on call, could they have done it, but that is water under the bridge. You are extremely lucky if it works anyway. Didn't get out of there until almost 9 pm.
Feeding too much grain (cheap) is a contributing factor. We never fed them grain. Sometimes it just happens. They said larger breed goats don't have as long a life expectancy as smaller breeds, same as with dogs. If that's true he had a long healthy life.
It seems like events that require a vet often happen on weekends or holidays. I've almost come to dread holidays and weekends for that reason. But that's either just coincidence, or I remembered those times more vividly. Got to get over that.
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Aunt Bea
SF VIP
- Location
- Near Mount Pilot
Nancy,
So sorry to hear of your loss.
Try to focus on the 14 years of good health and happiness that your goat enjoyed while in your care.
B
Pappy
Living the Dream
Thought of you Nancy when I saw it. Goat caravan and has absolutely nothing to do with this thread. 
Of course it does, Pappy. There is enough in that old picture to think about for hours. :hatlaugh: T/Y... Goat caravan and has absolutely nothing to do with this thread.
I'm a little worried about Rusty. He just stares out into the woods, and looks and listens for his buddies (not)...even in the dark. I knew this would happen. He seems even more wild and erratic now, but hopefully that will change. Always the problem child, I told my best friend years ago, I bet he'll be the last one standing. I think most of the others could have coped more easily with being alone. Certainly better without him around. I'm tempted to feel sorry for him.
Isn't it ironic that the goat that was the meanest to all the other goats, is the one now shedding a tear, and lost, because there is no one left to pick fights with. Poetic justice in a way.
Isn't it ironic that the goat that was the meanest to all the other goats, is the one now shedding a tear, and lost, because there is no one left to pick fights with. Poetic justice in a way.
Awww, Nancy, I hate you lost another one. How many do you have left now? Have you considered adding another one that is not a young one? I bet the vet knows of people that want to have a goat adopted. Yep, any animal emergency comes at the most un-opportune time. That's just life! Rusty is just grieving in his own way. Even though he tended to be the "bully", they were all part of the "pack"!
Meanderer
Supreme Member
Rusty is the last one. I've thought about this day coming, for a long time. I've thought about getting another older one. It would be easy to find one like that, or 10. But then I'd just have the same problem again, eventually. And he'd probably beat up on the new goat and I'd have to separate them.
I sat with him an hour yesterday, and another hour again today. He's eating and drinking fine. He has just never cared much for people, or other goats---can't get along with them, but not happy without them. I'll see how it goes first. Maybe he'll settle down. I think he is a survivor, in the sense that he would not just mope around and not eat.
I've thought about asking the new neighbors with all the goats, donkeys, alpacas, etc, if they would take him. I'd be willing to pay for his keep. They don't have enough pasture. Maybe I could trade pasture time in the summer if they would take him. Or maybe I could just toss him over their fence and leave town. (Our properties adjoin on the back side). HA!
"Plot Twist!"
Meanderer, it looks like the Navy is having similar problems with goats---it takes two.
November 16, 2016
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The U.S. Naval Academy has welcomed a new goat to the mascot herd, Bill XXXVII.
Media outlets report that after the death of Bill XXXV due to illness, the Naval Academy decided Bill XXXVI should have a shipmate next to him on the sidelines to keep morale high.
Introducing Bill XXXVII (supposed to have made his debut this season, 2017)
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LOL, I can picture you tossing him over the fence and then him beating you back home! That was nice that you sat with him....animals understand much more than we give them credit for! When ever we have had to take a dog to the vet because it was time to let them go, the others would want to go outside and watch us leave in the car and they would be very sedate. I think they just knew what was going on. Very emotional!
Pappy
Living the Dream
How about this Army goat mascot of the Royal Regiment of Wales?
maggiemae, I was so caught up in the goat stuff, I forgot to ask how your holiday went? Guess we creamed Ga Tech. Does this mean we have to play Auburn again? :eewwk:
Rusty wants nothing to do with me. Grudgingly ate 3 gingersnaps, then walked away to stare into the woods. Saw 4 deer below the barn outside the fence. Wonder if he would try to follow them. He didn't seem too interested.
Just came up with a better idea---ask the neighbors if I could *rent* one of their goats. That might be doable. I'm going to call them after tomorrow. I wish this weekend would be over. In fact I want this whole year to be over. Except for January, I think it was worse than any year when I was still working. Constantly little bad things happening, not just one or two events.
Just logged on to my old fitness forum and found out the administator has a steady girlfriend. This is big news. I am so happy for him. He is a good guy. He was just in a rut. Been there.
Closet is on hold. Maybe I'll get back to it later tonight. Finished mowing the back lawn. Just set the cutting height higher and it was fine. The rear wheels on the mower won't turn backwards. Studying YouTube videos. Common problem---many "solutions."
Does this mean we have to play Auburn again? :eewwk: Rusty wants nothing to do with me. Grudgingly ate 3 gingersnaps, then walked away to stare into the woods. Saw 4 deer below the barn outside the fence. Wonder if he would try to follow them.
He didn't seem too interested. Just came up with a better idea---ask the neighbors if I could *rent* one of their goats. That might be doable. I'm going to call them after tomorrow. I wish this weekend would be over. In fact I want this whole year to be over. Except for January, I think it was worse than any year when I was still working. Constantly little bad things happening, not just one or two events.
Just logged on to my old fitness forum and found out the administator has a steady girlfriend. This is big news. I am so happy for him. He is a good guy. He was just in a rut. Been there.
Closet is on hold. Maybe I'll get back to it later tonight. Finished mowing the back lawn. Just set the cutting height higher and it was fine. The rear wheels on the mower won't turn backwards. Studying YouTube videos. Common problem---many "solutions."
Aunt Bea
SF VIP
- Location
- Near Mount Pilot
How about a rescue goat, I have seen various groups that rehome full size and pygmy goats.
Even Rusty would get a kick out of a couple cute little pygmy goats.
But Bea...
First of all, Rusty would beat the cr@p out of a pigmy goat. The poor thing would be cowering in a corner or behind a tree all the time.
And don't you see the problem with a permanent goat? Either Rusty or the new goat will eventually die. Then I have another lonely goat who needs a companion. I can't keep that property out there forever, can't keep getting more goats. It has to come to an end...sometime...before I do. LOL!
First of all, Rusty would beat the cr@p out of a pigmy goat. The poor thing would be cowering in a corner or behind a tree all the time.
And don't you see the problem with a permanent goat? Either Rusty or the new goat will eventually die. Then I have another lonely goat who needs a companion. I can't keep that property out there forever, can't keep getting more goats. It has to come to an end...sometime...before I do. LOL!
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Thanks, Nancy, had a good Thanksgiving. We did a turkey in one of those "oil less" fryers (bought it last year) and it was so tender and golden brown. I hate frying a turkey with oil...too much clean up the next day. May sound crazy to most people but not roasting a turkey in the oven saves you a lot of time and cooking space. I guess it's a "Southern Thing"? LOL I blew leaves today while Mike and son were at the GA/GA Tech game. After 2-1/2 hours of using the blower, gotta "ice" my right elbow! UGH And I only got half of the yard done. But I refuse to put up outside Christmas lights until the yard is clear of leaves. I am beginning to think I am border line OCD! Seems like everything must go in an order.
I think Rusty will eventually adjust to being the only one there. I get where your coming from with not adding anymore goats.
I think Rusty will eventually adjust to being the only one there. I get where your coming from with not adding anymore goats.
I had never heard of oil less fryers until now. :shrug: (I barely heard of the deep frying method, LOL) Just pulled up some videos. Looks like a great idea. I never liked oven roasted turkey, or maybe I was just never around any good cooks. I tried it once. Never again. Glad it turned out well for you.
I would like to try a Boston butt pork roast. My favorite cut. Lots of fat. LOL!
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