The day I met him he was literally going to be put down because of his injury. He had broken leg just an hour or so before I arrived.
Although he had severed it completely through he was still eating and had such a kind look on his face and in his eyes, I could see he wasn't ready to give up yet.
I wanted to give him a chance. We wrapped his leg best we could and I took him home. I kept him in a small stall so he couldn't get excited and gave him antibiotics to stop infection from starting.
Everyday he grew stronger, Infact he never did lie down. He never put pressure on his leg and foot for about 3 weeks. I kept checking his toes to make sure he had warmth to indicate circulation but not too hot or I knew it would mean infection.
There was no infection and he seemed to be doing just fine. Several times a day I would check him to make sure he was eating and that his leg or foot was not hot. I would even check his horns to make sure he was not overly hot, as that would also indicate infection.
After about 6 weeks the State Vet came to do his Scrapie inspection and he looked at Lazarus and was so surprised to see what had happened and how it had healed.
He told me that in the first 2 weeks would be when you would have to worry about infection and that he was over the hump now.
He asked me if I was going to use him this season for a breeding ram. I told him I had no intensions of that until next year.
The Vet checked him over and said He would not be afraid to use him. I waited 12 weeks to make sure. That is why my breeding groups are late this for 2005 season.
The only thing he has seems to have suffered is some matted wool from being cooped up so long. He has gotten along fine with his girls and does not have a rammy personality.
I have had other people look at him and I had to actually stop and think, "Now, what leg is it?"
He has healed so well that you can not see any difference in his back legs. (It was his back right leg.)
His name is "Lazarus" becasue
he really did come back from the brink of death.
