A few days ago we noticed that the ram was limping and in obvious pain. We consulted our "housesitters' guide" and called Dr. B....mobile veterinarian. She came out the next morning.
You can see how big this pasture area is and yet it doesn't do it justice. It's a long narrow space. Then there are two additional grazing areas...one is on the left side right about where you see Jack and my brother-in-law and his grandson. The other is up closer to the house, also to the left. This is a shot from last week...before his injury.
We had to block those two other grazing areas to make it easier to corral him and he still had this huge space to race around. The minute we'd get close, he'd gallop away. How he could run on that poor sore hoof, I do not know.
Well, it took the three of us (Jack, Dr. B and me) about 45 minutes to get him into a smaller area (it's on the right side of the picture behind the buildings...you can't really see it in this photo but it's there. Jack put food and water bins there thinking that we could lure him in to eat.
Finally, he ran into the pen and Dr. B closed the gate!
The good doctor gave him a shot of penicillin and an enormous aspirin...she put it on sort of a long handled tongs of some sort to put it in his mouth. He spit it out twice! She said, "Oh, I know it tastes awful but you have to have it." I laughed at that! Just like trying to give medicine to a child. In the end, he chewed it up with bits of it spraying out of his mouth.
Dr. B. came back the Wednesday and Thursday to check on him and give him more meds. We weren't allowed to let him out until this morning. He was VERY happy to be released!
We haven't had many touristy excursions, this trip. With baby Milagro needing to be fed four times a day we're kind of limited time-wise. If we do venture out to someplace interesting, I'll be posting about it.
We haven't had many touristy excursions, this trip. With baby Milagro needing to be fed four times a day we're kind of limited time-wise. If we do venture out to someplace interesting, I'll be posting about it.
It takes a special person to be a large-animal veterinarian. I used to have horses, and it meant a lot to me to have a vet that I could call that I knew had a love for the animals, too...one who knew the best ways to get the job done with as little stress to the animal as possible. It sounds as if Dr. B is one of those special people.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, Linda. A special person, indeed.
DeleteYou must be having some fun, bottle feeding the lamb.
ReplyDeleteNice to have a vet willing to travel.
He's so darned cute and the minute he hears me take the chain off the gate he barrels up the hill toward me! Dr. B said she started her mobile veterinarian business about a year ago. I think it was a brilliant idea!
DeletePoor ram, but I got a kick out of the story.
ReplyDeleteI know...we were all huffing and puffing when he was finally subdued! It funny now that it's over!
DeleteLoved reading this! There are a couple of things that get said around here in similar situations: "That cow ain't nearly as lame as we thought, if she can run like that!".... "It's a long ways from her heart" (that's the one that is said breathlessly when we can't catch her).... "God bless mobile vets"!! (Those are the printable ones, BTW)
ReplyDeleteHope the ram heals up quickly.
Oh, you are so funny!! We said a few that were unprintable, too...even Dr. B. was frustrated.
DeleteHe's doing great, now, by the way.
How nice to be the nanny to a little lamb, and wrangler to her daddy!
ReplyDeleteHe's just adorable. And now his brother comes right up and watches him drink from the bottle. I think he wishes he could have some, too.
DeleteWhat a great thing to have a Mobile Vet....! Poor dear little, (well not so little) Lamb.....It is so hard when you know something is wrong with an animal but they cannot tell you what it is....! God Bless The Mobile Vet, and you both, too!
ReplyDeleteHi Naomi! Thanks for stopping by. I know what you mean...I was so worried about him. But he's just fine, thank goodness. And the lamb's little tummy is nice and full, now.
DeleteHope he's on the mend.
ReplyDeleteYep, he's on the mend, Ramona!
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