Argoo's 'prolapse' and geese

Scary experience! A few days ago, in the evening, I went out to the shed were the goats spend the night. Argoo was lying down in her stall, happily chewing cudd- nothing funny here. I went into her stall to give her the check up that me and mum had been giving her, multiple times a day, for the last week or so, checking her belly, under her tail, and things like that. 

Gooza was making funny little noises, but she didn't sound uncomfortable. She had been making these noises for a few days now. It was like she was muttering to herself, or maybe to her kids. But when I lifted her tail, I found there was something funny here. Her vulva was open about three centimetres, and there was something purpleish pink and round just visible. I quickly got mum and showed her.

We got Gooza to stand up, and immediately she closed up and was back to normal. Well, almost. She seemed to want us there, more than usual. She was pressing firmly up against any one standing near her, not like she was trying to hurt us, but like she just wanted to know we were there. I knew something was different.

Mum called a friend of ours who owns goats, and is studying to be a vet. She described Argoos condition to him, and sent him a photo. She asked him weather he thought she was in labour early (she's 17 days early). He said he didn't thinks so. He thought she was having a prolapse. 

I didn't know this yet. I would have gone with mum and tried to pick up bits of inforfmation by listening to mum's side of the conversation, but I wasn't sure about the goat and wanted to stay with her. When mum told me what it was, I started to freak out a bit. I knew what a prolapsed uterus was, I had read about it. I didn't know heaps, but I knew enough to decide they weren't very nice. 

Mum rang the vet, and we put Argoo in the cage trailer. The poor thing didn't enjoy the trip up the highway very much, I don't blame her! When we got there we crossed the road(mum holding Argoo and me clinging to the trailing end of the lead, terrified that my Gooza would get away!), and walked her up the path of the vets. When we got to the door we weren't quite sure what to do, so mum stuck her head in the door and asked jokingly 'does one bring one's goat inside?' We have only ever  brought domestic pets to the vet  before, what were we supposed to do? The vet told us to bring her in if she would come. Argoo seemed happy enough to come in, and once she had checked her surroundings, she followed where we led her. 

When we got into the room, the vet asked some questions, looked at the photo, and then put on a disposable glove and stuck her finger in-ugh!!!!

She said she was dilated a little way, and it was her vagina, not her uterus. It wasn't a prolapse, and it wasn't unheard of, it was just unusual. There was probably still room for the kids to get around, when they come.

So we thanked the vet, and took Argoo home. I was glad that it wasn't as bad as I'd thought, but I was still worried. What would I do if something happened to one of the goats?! We went home the back way, since we weren't in a rush. The back way was a quiet dirt road, and I think she had a nicer time. When we goat home, Daisy was very happy to see Gooza. She was always the sookiest when left alone! Argoo seemed happy and back to normal.

However, our friend who's studying to be a vet was not so sure, he reckoned it was her uterus. But he said that the vet we saw was the best vet he knew. So we still aren't really sure. We'll just have to wait till the kids come. I can't believe it's only 16 days today! 

Now, off the subject of goats. At about five o'clock this morning ( an awful time to be woken up ), the dogs started barking, and then howling. Unfortunately, our little dogs set of our maremma, Gipsy, who is supposed to be our livestock guardian, and protect our animals. Why didn't she hear the fox who stole the poor goose that was sitting on eggs down the bush?

So the fox took Princess, our lovely goose, and mum collected her eggs put them in a basket beside the fire, padded with blankets and hot water bottles. We are running around this morning, trying to figure out whether to put them under a friends goose or incubate them. Mum wants to put them under our friends goose, but I kinda want to incubate them. Incubating them always makes them a lot tamer.

We had a gosling once. We found him lying flat on the ground on his back in the shed. The parents had kicked him out. Even though geese are probably the dumbest poultry I've ever seen, they do have some sense. They new that 'Gammy', as we called him because of his gamy leg, would not be able to survive. We grew very close to Gammy. He was doing quite well at one point, learning to walk and feet himself. But he went downhill from there. He started falling on his back, and not being able to turn himself over. We couldn't leave him alone. We started taking him every were. I can still remember mum making him a cloth nappy, and taking him to a university in the city for a foot test for Buddy. The doctor loved him!  He took photo after photo to show his daughters!

In the end, we decided it was better to just put him down. It would be nicer for him. We still miss Gammy. This was years ago.

So I hope these eggs hatch. We need more geese now!