[FarmMom]

Hi,
New goat mom this year, have 10 in my herd since April of this year. 9 are healthy and happy and 1 is my special rehab boy who has my heart. Skin issues....broke his horn off....hoof rot from him last home.....He's come a long way but we have a way to go.

In just the 20 min I've spent on this site, I've learned a lot and starting tomorrow, garlic is going to be a part of the food offerings to the herd.

The other item I'm interested in is mite treatment. He has it bad...his ears look like they have dried oatmeal on them, his skin is noticably awful, his poor nose, which was doing better is red and raw and the hair that had grown in has come out again.

I'm currently administering 1cc of ivermection injection - he got one tonight - and will get another in 7 days and 1 more 7 days later.

In conjunction with this, can I use an ivermectin pour on or an oral ivermectin paste? Can I use all of the above? If I use the paste, how much? I saw some other posts that since the paste is marketed for horses, it's hard to determine the goat dose. He's easily 75+ pounds.

Thoughts/advice?
Thanks in advance!

 

[MellonFriend]

First of all, welcome to the forum! You've come to the right place.

I can't answer your ivermectin questions, but Nustock is terrific at dealing with mites. If you are unaware of it, it's like an all around ointment for various skin issues. You can gat it at any livestock supply place. Jeffers, Tractor Supply, a local feed store would probably carry it. YOu can gently peel of the scabs and put it all over the affected area.

Secondly, how much do you know about goats' mineral needs? Broken horn, hoof problems and skin issues sound like there could be underlying mineral problems. Are they getting loose minerals? Has he ever been copper bolused?

 

[Blessed Boer's]

Last year I used ivermectin pour on and put it down their top line for lice. This year I have dealt with mites and the vet recommended ultaboss. I put it down their top line 3 times, 2 weeks apart and it had worked so far.

 

[MadHouse]

I was told by my vet to choose either injectable or pour on ivermectin for mites, but not both together.
I have had success with Nustock in combination with ivermectin pour on. Before the first Nustock treatment I washed and dried the areas, trying to remove the scabs.
For the ears I used VetRx (a few drops right into the ears and massage).
Is your boy a buck who pees on himself?

 

[MadHouse]

And :groupwelcome:!!
Glad you are here!

 

[happybleats]

Madhouse is correct. Dont use both injectable and pour on. For mites i get best results from injectable. And nustock is excellent for topical coverage and safe to use along side Ivomec.

Welcome to the forum

 

[NigerianDwarfOwner707]

The injectable is the only treatment you need. NuStock on affected areas.

Mites and zinc deficiency can look similar. Adress mineral issues - post photos of the situation and the full body of the goat.

 

[toth boer goats]

Welcome.

I too agree.

 

[goatblessings]

Also - if you only gave 1cc ivermectin, you are underdosing. Dose is 1 cc per 33# by weight.

 

[NigerianDwarfOwner707]

Also - if you only gave 1cc ivermectin, you are underdosing. Dose is 1 cc per 33# by weight.

Injectable 1cc per 40lbs is okay too but yes you are correct.

 

[FarmMom]

First of all, welcome to the forum! You've come to the right place.

I can't answer your ivermectin questions, but Nustock is terrific at dealing with mites. If you are unaware of it, it's like an all around ointment for various skin issues. You can gat it at any livestock supply place. Jeffers, Tractor Supply, a local feed store would probably carry it. YOu can gently peel of the scabs and put it all over the affected area.

Secondly, how much do you know about goats' mineral needs? Broken horn, hoof problems and skin issues sound like there could be underlying mineral problems. Are they getting loose minerals? Has he ever been copper bolused?

Thank you, I do have Nustock. Does it actually deal with or help deter mites or is it just an overall skin helper? I'm going to use it, just curious on if it really impacts the mites.
I don't know if he's ever been copper bolused but please tell me about that and I'm willing to do it. They aren't getting loose minerals, should they?
The whole heard grazes, gets hay and now that the weather is turning, they are getting grain as well and I've always given them fruits and vegetables that are deemed safe....like I know they CAN have cabbage but I don't want any issue of bloat so I don't give cabbage but today I started on the garlic cloves and they always get carrots, celery, lettuce, banana, banana peels, oranges, apples, zuccini.

 

[FarmMom]

Injectable 1cc per 40lbs is okay too but yes you are correct.

Thank you, I will give another 1 cc tonight and next week he'll get 2 ccs. I appreciate the correction.

 

[FarmMom]

Last year I used ivermectin pour on and put it down their top line for lice. This year I have dealt with mites and the vet recommended ultaboss. I put it down their top line 3 times, 2 weeks apart and it had worked so far.

Thank you, I will look into that. I had also gotten some python dust, some folks swore by it but then a vet told me it doesn't make a difference. Any experience with that or with diatomaceous earth?

 

[FarmMom]

I was told by my vet to choose either injectable or pour on ivermectin for mites, but not both together.
I have had success with Nustock in combination with ivermectin pour on. Before the first Nustock treatment I washed and dried the areas, trying to remove the scabs.
For the ears I used VetRx (a few drops right into the ears and massage).
Is your boy a buck who pees on himself?

Yes, he pees and poops where he lays when he's laying and of course his skin suffers from it. A vet told me I could do a diluted iodine bath but I wasn't ready on the 1 recently warm day (55) that we had here in western pa.

 

[FarmMom]

The injectable is the only treatment you need. NuStock on affected areas.

Mites and zinc deficiency can look similar. Adress mineral issues - post photos of the situation and the full body of the goat.

Thank you, I will take some photos of him this weekend and post. At the suggestion of a vet I ordered zinpro as well and he will start on that next week. I hear about 'loose minerals' but then see conflicting common practice. Tell me more about addressing the mineral issues.

 

[MadHouse]

Yes, he pees and poops where he lays when he's laying and of course his skin suffers from it. A vet told me I could do a diluted iodine bath but I wasn't ready on the 1 recently warm day (55) that we had here in western pa.

My buck does that, and I try to wash his front legs off when it's mild enough. Then dry it and put vaseline on.
I think last year he got mites where the urine scald was. So I am trying to prevent that this winter.

 

[MadHouse]

They aren't getting loose minerals, should they?

Yes, they definitely should!
I made the same mistake, because I didn't know that until I came here. My goats have shown great improvement since they are getting loose minerals.

 

[FarmMom]

Yes, they definitely should!
I made the same mistake, because I didn't know that until I came here. My goats have shown great improvement since they are getting loose minerals.

Thank you, I do have salt blocks in their stalls and have a loose mineral mix on my list for tractor supply tonight. .....its funny but likely seems natural to everyone here, I will do anything to make sure they are healthy and happy and especially for my special guy, I want so much for him to be well, have good skin and enjoy his life here.

 

[Blessed Boer's]

Thank you, I will look into that. I had also gotten some python dust, some folks swore by it but then a vet told me it doesn't make a difference. Any experience with that or with diatomaceous earth?

I used the python dust when I cleaned the barn out. I sprinkled it on the ground before I put bedding down. I'm not sure yet if it's going to work. I have heard it's good stuff too.

 

[MellonFriend]

Yes, goats really need loose minerals. Sweetlix Meat Maker is a really good choice, there are a few others if you can't get that. Purina Wind and Rain Cattle mineral, and Cargil Onyx would be other options. Goats can benefit from other loose supplements too like kelp meal and other salts, but just worry about getting a good all around mineral for the moment and depending on what other deficiencies you have, you may want to add other things later.

Copper bolusing is really easy and your goats probably need it if they aren't getting loose minerals, but let us see some photos before you act on that. Copper boluses are capsules filled with little copper rods that when consumed get stuck in their rumen and get slowly absorbed over time. What you would be looking for for copper deficiency is a general reddish tinge and roughness to their coats and what's called a fish tail- tail. Their tails will get a fork or a split in the tip where the hair is going bald from copper deficiency. It's one of the most obvious signs. Make sure when you get pictures that we can see the tail from the side.

Nustock actually kills mites and lice. I'm not sure of the science behind it, but it does kill them.