Merlin is scheduled to go to AVC next week, but he’s started showing some concerning symptoms, including head-pressing.

Head pressing is a serious neurological symptom that can be caused by a variety of scary situations, including bacterial meningitis, PEM ("goat polio"), listeriosis, parasites, trauma, and toxins.

Poor Merlin is now on a serious regimen for the foreseeable future that includes a lot of needles! While many of the animals take injectable medications in stride, Merlin often cries into the arms of whoever is holding him.

Yesterday, he got a handful of injections, all at once, and was being held by several people, including Jess, who was supporting his head. Merlin made sure Jess knew just how upset he was! Merlin really knows how to pull our heartstrings!

Last night, Tim and I were out at the barn after 10 pm to give Merlin more needles. We made sure to give him treats before and after, which definitely helps keep the trust we’ve built with him.

Today, Merlin is in good spirits, hanging around his favourite people and keeping to his usual routine. All good things! He’s got a little less than a week left of this multi-medication regimen.

If you’re new to our page and don’t know Merlin’s story yet, Merlin was starved by his previous “caretaker” and removed by the NB SPCA in March 2024, as a result of animal cruelty, along with Mel, Beatrice, Kate (his goat friends), a donkey, three ponies, and two pigs.

We’ve been bringing him back to good health ever since, including several times when we thought we’d lose him due to fevers that wouldn’t break, parasites ravaging his body, and pain levels spiralling.

Thankfully, he’s pulled through each episode on the road to recovery despite the damage neglect has caused. Please keep him in your thoughts for another epic recovery like only Merlin can pull off!

Learn more about Merlin’s story here: https://lilysplace.ca/rescue-story-merlin