dogs attacking goats Archives - GoatKeepers Press

So many people moving to the country think this is an excuse to get at least one big dog and let it run loose. This is a possible homesteading tragedy.

I grew up with dogs and like dogs. Now my favorite dogs belong to someone else, not me.

I was talking with a man about living in the Ozarks. He mentioned his dogs killing some of his neighbor’s chickens. I snapped back that, at my house, it was a dead dog. Chickens lay eggs, provide meat on a homestead. A chicken killer is worth nothing. He barely said good-bye before vanishing.

I have been very lucky. The homestead tragedy of dog attacks has been only a few over the years. My High Reaches Isabelle was the first victim. This was an old Nubian doe at the time so I was concerned when she didn’t come in with the herd. As I entered the north pasture, two dogs ran off. She was lying on the edge of the creek bed with her throat torn out. Those dogs came back, they usually do, a month later to kill again, an Alpine doe named Chuba. By that time I had found their home. They didn’t come back again.

Possible Homesteading Tragedy

The phone rang. A friend was frantic. Dogs had attacked one of her young goats. What should she do?

I grabbed supplies and drove over to check out the injured goat. One puncture wound went into her nose so blood dripped out her nose. Her side behind her front leg was swollen, possibly going to abcess. Her rump was scraped and bloody. She was unresponsive.

This goat had two big enemies now. One was infection. Topical antiseptic went on the wounds. A penicillin shot, first of a series for a week or so, hopefully dealt with it.

The second is much more insidious, but deadly. Shock. This young doe was in shock. Left that way, she would die.

My first remedy for shock is molasses. It doesn’t take much, only a tablespoon or two. It is easily absorbed and gives a boost.

As I shoved molasses covered fingers in this goat’s mouth, she protested and struggled to her feet. A couple more fingerfuls and she started blinking and looking around.

When the other goats came over, this goat talked to them. She wasn’t ready to join them as they rambled around the yard. She was ready to watch them. She was out of shock.

Country Dogs

At one time people lived far apart around here. My nearest neighbors are almost a half mile away. I still hear their dogs barking.

Dogs have come nearly two miles to roam up and down this valley on their own. Their owners had no clue to where they were.

Two or three dogs become a pack. They chase and pull down anything that runs. This is natural to them.

It is a recipe for homesteading tragedy.