Fail!

[Genipher]

For the first time ever I tried to copper bolus a goat. Daughter and I went out and grabbed Lily and Poppy, our, er, HER Nigerian Dwarfs. I think it was their first time, too (they're 14 months old) and...totally botched it.

Push the plunger and then, "Crunch, CRUNCH, crunch!"

Both girls ended up chewing the pills instead of swallowing them whole.

Blah.

Then I jump on backyardherds to read up more about this fun little activity and discovered we're supposed to give copper bolus based on weight and did I weigh our new girls first? NoooOOOooo. Of course I forgot that step.

Hopefully I didn't overdose them because I bought the "adult size" "4g" pills.

Tomorrow I teach Daughter how to trim her goats' hooves but at least that's something I've done before and won't mess up!

 

[Baymule]

We all make our boo-boos. Fortunately our animals are tougher than we think and survive despite our best efforts otherwise. LOL

 

[Alaskan]

Just FYI... the crunched up copper might result in copper colored pee.

Maybe just a day or 2....

But... don't panic. I don't think one overdose will hurt them.

 

[misfitmorgan]

You are probly actually fine. Goats can take pretty high copper levels. We stick our bolus in marshmellows and they crunch away on them. Never had a problem from it. Tried all different balling guns without getting thru more then 2 goats ever before they crunched the gun. Even with the gun they still spit them back up and chewed them. We used copper bolus because we only fed sheep minerals and sheep grain because the herd was mixed. Now that they are separate the goats get goat minerals and grain so we can skip the bolus.

 

[Alaskan]

Tried all different balling guns without getting thru more then 2 goats ever before they crunched the gun. Even with the gun they still spit them back up and chewed them.

I never tried a gun...

 

[Deecarter]

They are adorable!

 

[Genipher]

They are adorable!

Thanks!

 

[Genipher]

You are probly actually fine. Goats can take pretty high copper levels. We stick our bolus in marshmellows and they crunch away on them. Never had a problem from it. Tried all different balling guns without getting thru more then 2 goats ever before they crunched the gun. Even with the gun they still spit them back up and chewed them. We used copper bolus because we only fed sheep minerals and sheep grain because the herd was mixed. Now that they are separate the goats get goat minerals and grain so we can skip the bolus.

I thought about using marshmallows but everywhere I read said it's better for not to be crunched. If it works, though...I'll take the easier route!

 

[misfitmorgan]

I thought about using marshmallows but everywhere I read said it's better for not to be crunched. If it works, though...I'll take the easier route!

Of course they are not SUPPOSED to chew on them...but ya know is it better to skip the bolus completely or let them chew on it a bit?? I've never had a problem from it.