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| Name: |
Sandy
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Age: |
Nine months old
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| Gender: |
Male
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Kind: |
Nigerian Dwarf Goat
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| Home: |
Tabernacle, New Jersey, USA
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This is our "Sand Man!" Sandy was one of triplets in a long and difficult birth. We took his laboring dam to the vet and she helped bring Sandy and his siblings into the world. When Sandy was first born, we thought he was gone already. He was so limp, barely breathing. The vet gave him two adrenaline shots, cleared his lungs multiple times, and we administered heart massages and vigorous rubbing. His siblings gained strength; Sandy remained weak. However, when he opened his eyes to look at you ... he smiled the sweetest, warmest smile. We gave him kisses and wrapped him up for the car ride home, expecting him to pass away next to his dam in the back seat. Instead, he hung onto life, and our kitchen became an "intensive care unit."
Sandy could not maintain his temperature, so I, my mother, and my sister all took shifts so that he was always being rubbed and curled up on someone's lap, in front of the space heater. He was too weak to poop by himself, so we administered enemas to him, and gave him a BoSe shot when it was apparent selenium deficiency was part of his problem. Since he couldn't get up by himself, or walk, my mom made him a sling out of a tote bag. He loved it! He would point with his head where he wanted to go.
I was so proud that I cried when he stood up for the first time. And he was so excited, he gave a little hop and almost fell over! His first few weeks were a rollercoaster, and we were convinced we'd lose him several times. Each day was a routine of enemas, Milk of Magnesia, milk feedings, and massages. Sometimes when he tried to poop, all that would come out were hard, abnormal pellets (probably caused by the deficiency). It was a serious risk that they would clog him up, and he would go toxic. All we could do was treat him the best we could, and pray.
By the grace of God, we have our little peanut. Our plushy bear is a wether now, and gets to live out his life as a pet, and keep his mother company. After my experience with Sandy, I've decided to give all expecting mothers on the farm a dose of BoSe before they give birth, so that the kids born will not be deficient like he was.
I love his sweet face, and wanted to share it with you. :)
Talk about Sandy in Pet Talk!
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