At Jeff and April Rixmann’s dairy goat farm in Hammond, Wis., you’ll find a playground out back that Jeff built specially for his two dozen pygmy goats to have fun.

Unfortunately, one young goat, Sonny, sustained a fracture in the tibia of his left hind leg while playing with his herd mates on the playground in June. A local veterinarian recommended euthanasia due to the complexity of the injury. 

“They all recommended putting them down,” says Jeff Rixmann, a retired paramedic. “But the EMS in me thought, ‘Geez, we don’t put humans down because they break a leg.” 

The Rixmanns, who take their goats to nursing homes, kids' events, and weddings, found help at the University of Minnesota (UMN) Large Animal Hospital, where Sonny underwent two surgeries to repair his fractured leg. Sonny’s care was led by former surgery resident Maria Granello and Elizabeth Coppelman, an assistant professor in large animal surgery at the College of Veterinary Medicine.  

“The Rixmanns really wanted to save Sonny and his leg if possible, but were having a hard time finding veterinary care,” Coppelman says, adding that fixing complex fractures is not a common procedure in goats, which are typically production animals. "However, there is an increase in demand for advancements in veterinary procedures as more people have farm animals as companions—I find goat personalities to be similar to dogs.”

Used to working with 1,200-pound animals, Coppelman leaned on her Lewis Small Animal Hospital colleagues for advice on how to proceed with Sonny, who weighed just 21 pounds and was three months old at the time. 

Coppelman said it was a lesson she tries to impart to her residents. 

“Be comfortable being uncomfortable, because it allows room for creativity for patients,” she says. “One of the best ways to be a good veterinarian is to open your mind, be flexible. Surgery is surgery, and surgical principles apply across all species.”

Sonny charmed the staff on his visits to the VMC—there were lots of snuggles—so much so that they threw a going-away party for Granello out at the Rixmann farm, where Sonny was the guest of honor. 

Rixmann wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the vets and the VMC Companion Animal Fund, which provides financial assistance to clients who cannot afford necessary veterinary care for their companion animals.  

“I’d like to be able to thank the people who donated to the fund,” Rixmann says. “Sonny is still alive today because of it.”

Coppelman notes the Companion Animal Fund not only helps fund costly procedures like Sonny’s but also has an impact on veterinary education.  

“It’s also helping us become better veterinarians," she says. "We can teach our students and house officers more procedures.” 

Back at the farm, Sonny, known as a social, joyful part of the family, is being slowly reintegrated into the herd. Soon, he’ll be back out in public, bringing smiles to faces from young to old.  

“He’s got a nursing home visit in about a month,” says Rixmann. “And then we are doing some community events at some churches. We’ll be doing some Halloween activities.”

Sonny and his sister, Cher, along with another baby goat, will be dressed as the Three Billy Goats Gruff at local trunk-or-treat festivals.