Diarrhea again - worms? And possibly pregnant Doe...

[nstone630]

So, as you know I lost one of my boy goats last month. Now his brother is showing same symptoms of severe diarrhea.

This time - I took the fecal sample to the vet. They just called and said it is not so much the coccida but there is a large amount of eggs (from a name of a worm she said too fast on my voicemail I couldn't catch). I'm awaiting a call back from her to pay for the fecal test and also confirm some other information.

They said on the voicemail to de worm him. I just did a week ago. Using safeguard. I'm going to talk to them to see what they recommend. But obviously want to get your opinions as well.

I don't know why he got worms so bad. Their food is up off the ground as is their water. I'm just not sure where the feces to mouth is happening.

Also, my female may be with kid. When we purchased her the man couldn't confirm whether she was or not. I know they are supposed to come in heat about every 21 days (from what I read online), and I know for sure my boy hasn't had a chance with her, and hasn't shown interest either since we got her. Her belly is looking bigger. Can I worm her? She has no signs of diarrhea. We wormed her the day we brought her home last month.

I'm doing all I can to make myself a successful goat farmer, but I'm feeling defeated at the moment.

 

[Southern by choice]

If you are using Safeguard you need to do a 3 day course (minimum) with the dosage adjusted for goats.
The dosage on the bottle labelled for goats is not what most vets would recommend.
The chart attached shows the label (2.3 per 100 lbs) then the dosage next to it (4.6ml per 100 lbs). All my vets double the "dosage" amount( 9-10ml per 100 lbs) . You should do what your vet recommends.

If high load of worms sometimes using Safegaurd first then giving another dewormer following that course ... like Ivermec for example. Repeat in 10-14 days if recommended by your vet.

Don't be discouraged. It is part of owning goats, and you will learn a great deal through experience.
Remember anything changed in dosage is called "off label" and can only be prescribed by your vet. On the PDF if clearly states this.

 

[nstone630]

If you are using Safeguard you need to do a 3 day course (minimum) with the dosage adjusted for goats.
The dosage on the bottle labelled for goats is not what most vets would recommend.
The chart attached shows the label (2.3 per 100 lbs) then the dosage next to it (4.6ml per 100 lbs). All my vets double the "dosage" amount( 9-10ml per 100 lbs) . You should do what your vet recommends.

If high load of worms sometimes using Safegaurd first then giving another dewormer following that course ... like Ivermec for example. Repeat in 10-14 days if recommended by your vet.

Don't be discouraged. It is part of owning goats, and you will learn a great deal through experience.
Remember anything changed in dosage is called "off label" and can only be prescribed by your vet. On the PDF if clearly states this.

THANKS! And I'm buying the wormer from the vet, they do not like using Safeguard. As like you explained, it doesn't work like it should without changing dosage.

I'm picking it up after work today, will give him a dose, and clean his back side up and go from there.

I also got costs of how much it is for the to come to my home or us take my female "Moonpie" to them for a check up. It's not bad. about $130 for the ambulatory visit and about $65 if we bring her to them. I'm just trying to do everything right. And if something goes wrong with her if she is pregnant it will break my heart.

 

[Southern by choice]

All the dewormers, pretty much, are adjusted. Even though the label says approved for goats they don't study anthelmintics in goats so dosages are based off the cattle industry.

Safeguard does work but this class of dewormer is not a "killer" it eliminates by a different process.
Safeguard is given a bad wrap and many say "it doesn't work" yet usually the issue is not dosing correctly, not knowing the animals weight, using it for 1 day (pointless) etc.
It is very effective when used properly.

 

[nstone630]

That's very good to know. Since I have 2 bottles of it now at the house I need a wham bam thank you ma'am type for this. I'll go with what the vet has. Then for future wormings when it's not more or less a life or death situation I can try the Safeguard.

 

[Southern by choice]

Keep in mind extremely high loads need to be treated carefully. Often if the load is very high you will want to use something like safegard because the worms will detach a little slower over the course of several days then follow wit another. Why? Because if the load is high and these are blood suckers they can bleed out internally.
Just hitting them with something hard and fast can kill them.

 

[nstone630]

I'm going to assume here for a moment and hope that what the vet told me to get will not hurt them I'm going to give it a shot and pray for the best!!!!!