LEARNING TO ASK 'WHY?' WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER GOAT RAISER

Several times each week, I receive calls from folks asking for help  but unable to provide  the information I needed to assist them. They've taken the goat to a vet who performed various services and gave medications,  then left   without asking   what was done or why.

These are   not stupid people.  They've just let themselves be intimidated by persons   with professional designations behind their names. They've assumed that professional advice is accurate and should always be followed  without inquiry or question. They've taken their valued animals for help, paid their hard-earned money, and left  without  asking questions.   They've not realized that care for the animal is the short-term  reason for the trip  to the vet, but learning what is happening and how to treat or prevent it in the future  is the long-term  goal.

These goat raisers have sometimes paid for unnecessary and expensive services that  cost more than the value of the goat. One example is Urinary Calculi.   This disease, if successfully treated, can be recurring (chronic) throughout the goat's life. Depending upon the location of the blockage and the speed with which treatment is started,  Urinary Calculi may not be fixable. Sometimes it is better to put the animal out of its misery by euthanizing it.    So-called "heroic" action may only be delaying the inevitable, prolonging the animal's pain, and costing lots of money.   But you have to have the information needed to make that decision, which means asking questions that include  why and how.

We Americans have developed too much deference towards  people with education and skill levels in areas other than  our own. This includes people running show-goat programs, extension agents, and ag teachers, in addition to veterinarians.  We've been subtly indoctrinated  into this mindset over the last 40 years  by our public schools, media,  entertainment, and culture.    "Don't  make waves or judgements." "Just try to get along."   This is nonsense.   Use your common sense. If something doesn't sound or look right, question it.  Professionals put on their pants just like you and I do . . . one leg at a time. They aren't better than you, nor should they be unapproachable.  They simply  have skills different from you and me.  Take this opportunity to  expand your knowledge and develop some new skills that will help your goat-raising operation.

ASK questions.     Ask  about the pros and cons of the treatment being recommended.  Ask  the prices before you have  incurred the costs and had the  work done.  Tell the vet every  detail of the problem, beginning with the first time you saw it.  Include information on what you feed, what management or weather changes have occurred,  and every other thing you can think of that might have a bearing on this animal's health.    Since not many  vets know much about goats, you as a goat raiser  may  have information that the vet doesn't have.     You may be able to contribute to the veterinarian's knowledge about goats.  You may  also choose to decline the services.  Because something is a common practice doesn't mean it is correct.   With goats, it is usually the simplest thing, so don't start looking for complexity until you've ruled  out the obvious, like worms, pneumonia, and incorrect feeding.

Goats in particular are largely unknown to most vets.  Most of them are caring people who really want  to help but  don't have the experience or knowledge that they need to treat goats.     And there is more to treating goats than medications.    That they live in herds and are easily stressed when away from their herdmates has a lot to do with how their medical care should be approached.    Lack of knowledge of the  species itself can be limiting to the vet's ability to help your animal.  Being a vet is tough work.  Unlike human doctors, they must have knowledge of multiple species.  Goats are a minor livestock species  which numbers are declining, so there isn't much incentive for vets to learn about them.   It isn't a profit center for most vets.

Learn to say NO.   It is easy to say 'yes.'   'No' is much more difficult but often   so much wiser to say.   There is societal pressure  on all of us to say 'yes'  about many things when we know we should say  'no.'

 I recommend that you apply this policy to your entire life as you shop for products and services on all levels.    Remember when you had two-year old children and every word out of their mouths was WHY or NO?   Irritating, but it was how they learned.    Get your curiosity back.     We must all continue to learn every day of our lives.   You will be a better goat raiser and more successful at every level of your life.

The author, Suzanne Gasparotto, hereby grants to local goat publications and club newsletters, permission to reprint articles published on the Onion Creek Ranch website under these conditions: THE ARTICLE MUST BE REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY AND THE AUTHOR'S NAME, ADDRESS, AND CONTACT INFORMATION MUST BE INCLUDED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE REPRINT. We would appreciate notification from any clubs or publications when the articles are used. (A copy of the newsletter or publication would also be a welcome addition to our growing library of goat related information!)

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