Belle's hair is patchy

[SkyWarrior]

For the past several months I've been trying to fix this but to no avail. Belle has patchy bald spots across her flank and back. I've used insecticide dust but that isn't what is causing it. It's spotty and not getting worse but not getting better either. None of the other goats have it. What do you think it might be? Here's a bad picture of her with her kid. BTW, she's still a bad mom. Won't let him nurse but will let me milk. She's my best milker, though.

 

[taylorm17]

I'm not sure, but if its not getting worse, for now she should be fine until you get some better answers and it seems like you have some time to fix it since she has a had it for a while. Her and her kid are so cute BTY!

 

[elevan]

You've ruled out lice / mites? Or already treated for them and eliminated them?

Copper toxicity can cause hair loss. Zinc deficiency can cause hair loss. Can you have your vet do a blood mineral analysis on these two for you?

 

[SkyWarrior]

You've ruled out lice / mites? Or already treated for them and eliminated them?

Copper toxicity can cause hair loss. Zinc deficiency can cause hair loss. Can you have your vet do a blood mineral analysis on these two for you?

I thought perhaps lice/mites, but the stuff I dusted her with should be good for them. I haven't seen lice on her. And as I said, no one else has them, not even her kid. I don't feed an extraordinary amount of strange minerals. I give them salt with trace minerals including selenium.

I may have to bring her to the goat vet I discovered here.

 

[elevan]

When it comes to minerals all sources must be considered...loose minerals, hay, browse. Certain plants at certain stages give off higher concentrations of certain minerals in certain areas of the country. Certain areas of the country are higher in copper than others, where other areas are deficient. It could just as easily be a zinc deficiency. The only way to know which is to do a blood test.

Please keep us posted on what you discover.

 

[SkyWarrior]

When it comes to minerals all sources must be considered...loose minerals, hay, browse. Certain plants at certain stages give off higher concentrations of certain minerals in certain areas of the country. Certain areas of the country are higher in copper than others, where other areas are deficient. It could just as easily be a zinc deficiency. The only way to know which is to do a blood test.

Please keep us posted on what you discover.

Okay, I will. I was wondering if goats got ringworm. It has been wet around here.

 

[ragdollcatlady]

I was just going to suggest ringworm.....

Not sure about treatment, but I imagine an antifungal cream would work if it was....

 

[elevan]

Yes, they can get ringworm. If you want to rule that out, I would suggest a medicated bath followed by anti-fungal cream. You'd want to repeat the cream daily until 10 days past any scabbing / rash / redness.

I'd definitely get the mineral analysis blood work done though. It's inexpensive and will either confirm or rule out those two issues.

 

[SkyWarrior]

When it comes to minerals all sources must be considered...loose minerals, hay, browse. Certain plants at certain stages give off higher concentrations of certain minerals in certain areas of the country. Certain areas of the country are higher in copper than others, where other areas are deficient. It could just as easily be a zinc deficiency. The only way to know which is to do a blood test.

Please keep us posted on what you discover.

Belle update:

I don't know what is going on. Her hair is growing back! You might be right about the mineral deficiency, Elevan. I noticed that this improvement started with the grain and making sure that the mineral/salt was there. Hmmm. If that's it, I've been a bad goat mommy.

 

[elevan]

Glad to hear it's growing back!