Mii the Goat

Here’s a story about a Billy goat named Mii. We first came across him last year when he was only about two weeks old. His mom was having problems with a swollen mammary gland and we were called out to help out. Everything went well and now a year later Mii is all grown up.

About two weeks ago now we got a call out to see a goat which had been attacked by a dog. When we got to the house, situated at the foothills of Te Manga (the tallest mountain), we found the big male goat, Mii, sitting down unable to get up. On inspection of Mii we found he had a major wound to his rear right leg which needed to be stitched up as well as other bite wounds to the face and other legs. So we decided that we would need to load Mii into the back of the car and take him back to the clinic for his stitch up.

Before leaving however we examined another goat they had, a female with two kids (the partner and mother of Mii). In the examination we also found that she had a pretty significant wound to one of her mammary glands which needed stitches. Because the goat had two kids we decided that it would be best if the mother goat stay at home and that we would come back and stitch her up. So after taking Mii goat back home we raced back and Sophie performed the stitch up with the goat still standing and the two kids closely watching, amongst other kids and family members.

With Mii bleating away back at home Sophie suggested that we leave the wound open for two days as it would be full of bacteria from the dogs’ mouths. After the two days were up we stitched up the site to see if we could save the leg. Unfortunately Mii was not getting up and the wound was not improving. We told the owner that we might have to put Mii down and sent the goat home with the hopes of improvement or at least spending a few days with his owners.

Two days later on the check-up of both the goats we found Mii standing and “walking”, without using his injured leg. This was great news as we now had the option of amputating the leg before the infection spread. So we spoke to the owner and got the go ahead for the amputation, carting him back to the clinic in the boot of the car, which I’m starting to think he’s rather enjoying.

After a long surgery last Friday, and an even longer period sitting with Mii in the living room making sure it’s temperature was going up and breathing well, we had a healthy three legged goat. He’s now munching away at our bushes and grass and the owners are probably keen on getting him back as all the staff here have fallen in love with his wonderful character. He will probably have one last trip back home tomorrow where his little 5 year old friend, the daughter of the owner, is always asking about him.