I find it easiest to assess Artemesia's return to health by taking her out and watching her graze. Three days ago, she was so weak that it took a major effort to cut off leaves of wheat, oats, or grass. She ended up gumming most of them instead of eating them and soon gave up.

Now she's able to eat overwintered oats...even though still considerably more slowly than her daughter's gorging approach to grazing. She didn't fall asleep in the middle of dining on gathered honeysuckle either, which is also a good sign.

Two days ago, Artemesia almost couldn't make it back up the small hill to her pasture after grazing in the yard. Only after I let her nap for a couple minutes at the midpoint did she finish the trek. This time, she still got tired near the end but soldiered on through...planning for an afternoon nap in the dry comfort of her barn.

All told, our poor, sick doe is looking considerably better. You can tell from her coat that she finally has enough energy for a little self-grooming. She's able to eat on her own when I gather garlands of honeysuckle for in-barn consumption. And she's even wiggling away from the needle during her daily shots (which the vet has recommended extending for another week to ease her back into full health). I'll continue to temper my optimism with caution until Artemsia is a dancing picture of goat vitality again, but I'm much relieved to see my beloved doe back on her feet and back in her life again.