Bathing/Cleaning?

Anianna

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We recently purchased our mom and her twins and have had something akin to poison ivy spreading through the family. We have washed ourselves, our clothes, and our bedding, but it is still going around (and I am so extremely sensitive it isn't even funny - I am starting a second week of Prednisone and really need to get this solved). I believe that the source is our new goats and we bring it back into the house every time we play with and handle them. I have been told that goats should not be bathed in water because they are susceptible to pneumonia, but I can't really say that is from a reliable source. The babies were born 06/20. Can I give the whole lot of them a bath or is there some better way to eradicate an undesired plant oil from them?
 

Straw Hat Kikos

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I agree with your source. I would never give a goat a bath, but I do know some that do. If you do make sure it is warm and COMPLETELY dry them off because they will get pneumonia. Goats are very sensitive to pneumonia

btw I have gotten poison ivy from my goats too. I must get a shot if I get poison ivy because I am so highly allergic.
 

HankTheTank

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I would use warm water and dog shampoo or Dawn dishsoap (the kind they use to get oil off animals who were caught in spills) and dry them off really well. Doing it on a warm day would help too, and I wouldn't recommend it if the kids are really young. You could also try wiping them off with a damp rag, and brushing them very well. That might get it off :idunno
 

Pearce Pastures

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Our cat Oscar brought us all some lovely rashes a few weeks ago and the poor guy was clawing at his own eyes and ears as well. In order to get rid of the oil that spreads the rash, we did wash him thoroughly with dish soap. "The amount of Urushiol Oil you could fit on the head of a pin could make 500 people very miserable". In addition, if I remember correctly from what I read for taking care of the cat, cold water is best because it doesn't open the skin pores to draw in the oil further.

I bathe my goats pretty regularly during warm months with a mild dog soap and cold water and they do just fine. We towel them off, sometimes blow them dry (usually just the little ones but my older doe actually loves the blow dryer too).

Edited to add that I meant the cold water over warm for your sake, not the goats who don't react to the oil it seems (lucky them!) :)
 

redtailgal

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In the past I've put powder on the livestock and rubbed it in, then brushed it back out. It helps with the oil without getting them wet. (I use DE since its non toxic)
 

20kidsonhill

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We bath our show goats all the time, As long as it is a warm enough day, they should be fine, OUrs are short hair, perhaps it would changed things if they were longer haired. We hook up our shop vac, and use it as a big blow dryer since it has a reverse setting, but just towel drying them would go a long way. We use a soap for livestock, but Dawn will also work.
 

snapnzap

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Bathing them might only fix the problem for a day. Goats love to eat poison ivy so if they found a patch on your property they may just recontaminate themselves. I was getting covered in the rash myself and found some things that help me keep itch free :D I keep a long sleeve shirt I can slip on if I am going to do a lot of handling. Wear pants and be sure to keep off the furniture with "goat cloths" I also wash up to my elbows with cold water and dish soap every time after I have been in with them.
 

Anianna

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Thanks all.

snapnzap said:
Bathing them might only fix the problem for a day. Goats love to eat poison ivy so if they found a patch on your property they may just recontaminate themselves. I was getting covered in the rash myself and found some things that help me keep itch free :D I keep a long sleeve shirt I can slip on if I am going to do a lot of handling. Wear pants and be sure to keep off the furniture with "goat cloths" I also wash up to my elbows with cold water and dish soap every time after I have been in with them.
I'm pretty sure they brought it with them from their previous home, but she's pretty well cleared the vines in her current enclosure, so I hope it won't continue to be an issue. We do wash everything. I have had two Prednisone shots and am on a second round of oral Prednisone and it is not pretty. I am still so icky and itchy!!
 
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