Not the Saturday I had planned.

Don't know if you can see the bandage on the goat's foot.  Sharp rock fragment removed from soft foot pad, treated and bandaged.  The goat was not happy with the vet digging around and once during the ordeal, I went on a short goat ride.  He's a strong 100+lb. goat and I haven't been lifting my weights since I got Ellie (but that's another story regarding intestinal problems - Ellie's - up every night 2 and 3 times to take her outside, lots of accidents in her crate and exhausting for me).

Not sure Captain will make it.  Last week I treated him for parasites and thought all was going well.  Then, the fourth day of treatment (squirting paste down his throat) was a total fiasco.  He literally threw up.  (I knew he was feeling bad because I was able to get a rope around his neck and put the halter on him.)  I called the vet who said he might have a twisted gut and, if so, he would be dead in 24 hours and there was nothing anyone could to do about it.  Well, he was still alive after 24 hours, but drooling, not eating and major diarrhea (what's with this intestinal issue epidemic?).  Called the vet to see if he needed to come out late yesterday, but he said he wouldn't know what to do for him at this point.

This morning on my way to work (and then go by to visit Cara, Michael and the boys) I thought Captain's actions could possibly indicate an esophageal obstruction, so called the vet again.  After three hours and the cost of another llama ($150 just to get here, plus Saturday charge, time, etc.) you can see in the photo Captain trying to recover from our medical intervention.  We had to cross-tie him between the tree and fence and force a tube that I swear was about 10-feet long down his throat and way into his rumen.  My job, after failing at "hold him still while I cram this 10-foot long tube down his throat," was to fill this huge syringe with -- well backing up, we decided to take advantage of the tube being there (hopefully clearing an obstruction if there actually was one) to get some nutrients into him and the brilliant way of doing that trick was to mix up some alfalfa pellets and goat chow, grind it up in my coffee grinder a tiny bit at a time to pulverize it, mix it with water to make a slurry and then force it through the tube, along with other medications to help the flora and fauna in Captain's rumen.

Dr. Lunsford, a real sweetheart of a guy, also gave him shots of B-complex, A&D vitamins and Dectomax that I had on hand in my "pharmacy" and an anti-biotic that he had in his.  He gave the shots before we tubed him because Dr. L thought if Captain was going to spit on us, it would be better (for the spitees) if he had an empty stomach.  My nice llama doesn't spit though and, even though it's a defense mechanism llamas use, he never tried it once through this whole ordeal.

While he was down, I trimmed off some more fiber from his neck area to cool him.  (Now, the poor thing might die just from sheer embarrassment at the bad hair job.)  Right how he is sitting in front of the fan and every time I come in for a while and then go back out, I wonder if I will find him dead.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but the vet said he was not optimistic.

Sunday 6:30 a.m. - He  made it through the night but when he stands, he is very unsteady on his feet and doesn't try to stand up long.  I can tell he is not going to make it and the thought of losing him is tough.  He's not showing any indication that he is in pain so that is good.

Spoke with the vet and a llama/alpaca person I knew in N.M.  Suggestions included Kaopectate for the diarrhea, GasX for his colic symptoms, calf manna mixed with goat's milk for nutrition and Karo syrup to boost his blood sugar level.  Stopped by the grocery store on my way home after visiting a while with Cara, Michael and the boys over pizza.  The strange look on the young cashier's face read, " is that what I have to look forward to."

Sunday afternoon -- Have been trying everything I can think of to get some nutrients into him.  He simply won't swallow anything.  Dr. L thinks his liver is consuming the fats in his body and is now consuming muscle and that's why he is standing and walking like he's drunk.  Am thinking I will have to put him down if I can't get any food down him.

Monday - Captain had a fever this morning so I went by the vet's to get more meds in case his fever rises and I have to give him a shot.  Decided to work from home today so I can force-feed him a little every hour.  Guess time will tell.

ADDENDUM - Tuesday:  Captain died during the night.  I'm waiting for a neighbor to come over with his backhoe to bury him.  I don't like this part.