Lolly has been working through some ongoing breathing issues. He’s already been treated for pneumonia and given medication to keep him comfortable. But recently, we noticed a pattern.
Each afternoon, he would start breathing heavily, looking uncomfortable and working harder than he should to catch his breath.
Could It Be Asthma?
Because his symptoms kept returning at the same time each day, we started to suspect something else might be going on—possibly asthma.
Instead of jumping straight to more invasive testing, Dr. Metcalf got creative.
A Custom Goat Inhaler
Yes… you read that right.
Dr. Metcalf engineered a way for Lolly to use an inhaler, similar to what humans use.
The inhaler contains albuterol, a bronchodilator that helps relax the airways and open up the lungs. The goal? If Lolly’s breathing improves, it would strongly suggest that asthma is the cause.
How It Works
Lolly’s breathing tends to worsen around 2:30 PM, so we get ahead of it. About an hour before, we give him three puffs:
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A mask is gently placed over his nose
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One puff is administered
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He takes 4–5 breaths to inhale the medication
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Then we repeat until all three puffs are given
And yes… he’s being a very good patient about it!
Early Signs of Relief
It’s only been a few days, but we’re already seeing encouraging changes. His afternoon breathing has improved, and overall, he seems brighter and more comfortable.
Lolly continues to remind us how resilient and unique these animals are—and how a little creativity (and a lot of care!) can make all the difference.
We’ll keep monitoring him closely and share updates as we learn more. For now, we’re just happy to see our sweet boy breathing a little easier.
