Contracted Tendons in Kids

Ever see these?  If you breed enough goats you will!   There is no alarm if the kid is otherwise healthy,  it just means their space was limited and their feet were curled under probably the last few weeks of third trimester in the womb.

Here's how I work with these.   First our subject:  Johanna - moderately contracted...

First I gather the kid, scissors, toilet paper rolls and duct tape.  Please note that if your kids are around other goats (dam, siblings, etc) that other goats may pull off the wraps, chew on them and ingest part of it or injure the kid while chewing on the wraps.  We handraise our kids so we don't have those issues.

Then I cut the tube lengthwise,  measure for height keeping the tube lower than the knee and cut them shorter if needed.

Then I cut about a 1 foot length of tape (less for minis) and firmly but not too tightly wrap the leg with the tube starting at the knee, then slide the splint down toward the bottom of the hoof to be sure the hair is lying in the correct direction, then wrap the tape.    After that I cut about a 6 inch length of tape and starting on the inside fetlock (ankle) wrap around the foot bottom then up the other side.  This sticks the boot in place and keeps it from riding up into the knee.

Then I repeat.    The end result is a happy bouncey baby that will keep her leg straight enough to restretch the tight tendons while she walks.   I recheck the tendons in a day, and then about every twelve hours after that.  Most splits can come off in 1 to three days.    I haven't found it necessary to tape the top of the splint to the leg hair so I don't so that it's easier to remove.