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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Deneb on January 7, 2009, at 20:02:22
I was Googling fainting and came across these peculiar creatures.
Fainting goats.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we9_CdNPuJg
Their muscles stiften up when they are excited or scared and they drop to the ground. It looks funny. LOL They are popular pets.
Posted by Partlycloudy on January 8, 2009, at 8:00:05
In reply to Fainting goats, posted by Deneb on January 7, 2009, at 20:02:22
Aww.... you'd want to cover them in bubble wrap so they wouldn't get hurt! I remember watching this story in the local news last month.
(((((Cute goats)))))Take care, Deneb, I used to have a problem with fainting too when I was a lot younger. I spent a lot of time looking at my knees!
pc
Posted by Dinah on January 8, 2009, at 9:40:35
In reply to Fainting goats, posted by Deneb on January 7, 2009, at 20:02:22
http://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/fainting-goat.htm
I've always felt a bit sorry for them. Apparently it's a condition that occurs in other animals as well, including humans.
The Humane Society apparently hasn't taken a stance against it.
Posted by Sigismund on January 8, 2009, at 14:53:00
In reply to Re: Fainting goats » Deneb, posted by Dinah on January 8, 2009, at 9:40:35
>it's a condition that occurs in other animals as well, including humans.
Being easily startled?
Posted by Dinah on January 8, 2009, at 16:47:27
In reply to Re: Fainting goats, posted by Sigismund on January 8, 2009, at 14:53:00
Myotonia Congenita
http://healthguide.howstuffworks.com/myotonia-congenita-dictionary.htm
Posted by seldomseen on January 9, 2009, at 2:25:56
In reply to Fainting goats, posted by Deneb on January 7, 2009, at 20:02:22
A friend of mine has several fainting goats. They are just precious. Sometimes just walking too quickly toward them causes them to go down.
They pop back up though.
Sheep herders for centuries have incorporated the fainting goats into their herds.
When a predator approaches, the goat faints and the sheep get away.
Just thought I would insert my all together cheery two cents in there.
Seldom
Posted by Gabette on January 9, 2009, at 3:08:55
In reply to Re: Fainting goats » Deneb, posted by Dinah on January 8, 2009, at 9:40:35
I've always felt bad for them too, I think they're bred purposely because they make popular pets.
I can just imagine why."Mom can I bring my friends over to see the goat?"
"Hey..watch.. just watch this.."
"Oh cool let me! let me! ?"Maybe i just have too vivid an imagination..
Posted by Gabette on January 9, 2009, at 3:10:41
In reply to Re: Fainting goats, posted by seldomseen on January 9, 2009, at 2:25:56
I should have read your post first.
It was nice to see a cheery point of view.
> A friend of mine has several fainting goats. They are just precious. Sometimes just walking too quickly toward them causes them to go down.
>
> They pop back up though.
>
> Sheep herders for centuries have incorporated the fainting goats into their herds.
>
> When a predator approaches, the goat faints and the sheep get away.
>
> Just thought I would insert my all together cheery two cents in there.
>
> Seldom
Posted by Dinah on January 9, 2009, at 9:13:05
In reply to Re: Fainting goats, posted by seldomseen on January 9, 2009, at 2:25:56
Perhaps it's my background in dogs. They've got wonderful genetic tests now that help us breed out problems that formerly we had to guess at based on pedigrees.
I've been trained in my bones to avoid breeding health problems. (Although I currently have a bracephalic (sp?) breed of dog, and sometimes have to wonder how wise it is to breed for that. She has an awful time in heat). I know that certainly enough problems exist in dogs anyway, and I've been on the heartbreaking side of that too.
The link I had said this about it:
To accompany herds: Since a fainting goat would fall over or be reduced to a hobble following a fright, many farmers saw them as an excellent form of protection for sheep herds. If a predator such as a wolf or coyote were to attack the herd, the non-myotonic animals could run away, leaving behind any fainting goats either immobilized or hobbled by the fright. The herd would escape and the predators would focus on the easiest kill. But this use has largely fallen out of practice, and the degree to which it was actually used is uncertain.
http://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/fainting-goat2.htm
Wikipedia says they originated in Tennessee in the early 1800's with a farmer who brought down goats with the condition from Nova Scotia.
But I think I'd still feel sorry for goats bred to be goat sacrifices to the wolves because of health problems. :)
PETA and the Humane society don't have a problem with it, so I shouldn't either I suppose. But all my training makes me feel very uneasy about it.
I first heard about them years and years ago from neighbors of a fainting goat breeder who were having kittens. They were horse breeders I think, and were probably trained the same way I was.
Posted by Gabette on January 9, 2009, at 13:08:39
In reply to Re: Fainting goats » seldomseen, posted by Dinah on January 9, 2009, at 9:13:05
PETA Does have a stance against it actually, and
finds the purposeful breeding of animals with
congenital defects "abhorrent"
This was in reference to a specific question about the Goats.
Posted by Gabette on January 9, 2009, at 13:11:35
In reply to Re: Fainting goats » Dinah, posted by Gabette on January 9, 2009, at 13:08:39
I should have known..
It's not of course an "official stance" it's a comment. I should have known you wouldn't miss that. Right underneath it said "currently neither the Humane Society or Peta has an official stance on the issue"
Posted by Phillipa on January 9, 2009, at 13:25:21
In reply to Re: Fainting goats-Dinah, posted by Gabette on January 9, 2009, at 13:11:35
Sounds cruel to me. Phillipa
Posted by Dinah on January 9, 2009, at 20:22:28
In reply to Re: Fainting goats » Dinah, posted by Gabette on January 9, 2009, at 13:08:39
Well, to be fair, I don't agree with PETA all the time. I generally get my dogs from responsible breeders of purebred dogs, who stand behind their dogs and are always willing to take their puppies back. And who are generally involved in breed rescue in one way or another.
But... Well... I seldom find America's Funniest Home Videos particularly funny either...
Posted by Gabette on January 9, 2009, at 21:16:58
In reply to Re: Fainting goats » Gabette, posted by Dinah on January 9, 2009, at 20:22:28
you mean watching people slip and fall isn't hilarious to you? The pants splitting?
It's another universe to me.
Posted by seldomseen on January 10, 2009, at 5:30:51
In reply to Re: Fainting goats » seldomseen, posted by Dinah on January 9, 2009, at 9:13:05
I don't know enough about fainting goats or their husbandry to have an informed opinion.
Also, I don't know if their condition directly results in suffering of the animal or the breed
Hopefully their application as countermeasures against predation has run its course, but I don't know (but will readily admit, if not outright marvel at, the cleverness of the sheep herders).
They are a novelty, that's for sure, which usually leads to trouble, Economic drive for any animal typically results in all sorts of inappropriate behaviour.
Take, for instance the white tiger. In my experience, people LOVE white tigers, but very few are aware of HOW white tigers are actually produced.
Breeders have to inbreed to get white tigers, and even then there is no guarentee that a litter of white tiger cubs will result. I can not tell you how many "almost whites" we've had come through our tiger sanctuary - and they are the lucky ones. As I'm sure you know, inbred animals have all sorts of co-morbid problems.
It is estimated that for every white tiger in a show, zoo or circus, there are 29 that were either too sick, or not white enough to be profitable. What happens to that other 29?
Check out this link for more info to see a more accurate depiction of what white tigers actually look like.
http://www.bigcatrescue.org/cats/wild/white_tigers_fraud.htmOn a side note, although most white tigers look like this, I believe I know the one depicted in the photos. His defect was so severe that he required multiple surgeries just to allow him to eat solid. His name is Kenny.
Seldom.
Posted by Phillipa on January 10, 2009, at 19:28:03
In reply to Re: Fainting goats » Dinah, posted by seldomseen on January 10, 2009, at 5:30:51
Poor babies. Phillipa
Posted by Dinah on January 10, 2009, at 19:56:27
In reply to Re: Fainting goats » Dinah, posted by seldomseen on January 10, 2009, at 5:30:51
I can well believe it. I'm very familiar with the fallout caused by things like 101 Dalmations, where people fall in love with how a breed is portrayed without really understanding the reality of the breed.
Although I admit that even though I don't much like zoos, I did love our beloved Suri.
This is the end of the thread.
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