HELP! Pics included..

[Southern by choice]

@fiset94 so sorry you are dealing with this and the poor goat. I know it must be heartbreaking seeing her like this.

More than likely a Staph infection.

A staph infection can look like mites.
You need an Rx for treatment..... I forget what it is off the top of my head....

Just an FYI- working at a vets and with vets for years skin scrapings for mites are very unreliable. You have to scrape in the exact spot where the mite is. Often vets and techs scrape where the evidence "WAS" meaning the mite has moved on.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Good idea too Southern.

Does she/did she have anything like pustules or pimples? Also, using motor oil might smother mites but is not the safest or most effective treatment and I would not recommend it.

 

[fiset94]

I buy the goat minerals from Hoggers.. Golden blend.. free choice - You think that I should bring the preg. goat in and have her tested prior to the ivermec. shots... or just try the shots and see what happens? She did 3 skin scrapping on the black and white doe and said that she found nothing at all.- but could they have mites and just not be seeing them? I was looking at various photos online and it kinda looks like Mange... is that related to mites? They hair is literally falling off in CLUMPS.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Boy I don't know. In clumps...you may have something mineral related going on. With mites, the hair loss I have seen is not like chunks falling out, more like it thins, gets wrinkly, then bald if not caught right away.

You can send if for testing---I think Southern did that before. Copper? Selenium? Zinc?

 

[Southern by choice]

Staph infection I tell ya!
Mange is from mites.
Goats are susceptible to Demodex and Sarcoptes.

At this point you may have killed off whatever was on her but if there is a severe infestation secondary infections are not uncommon.
I do agree that there is probably more than one thing going on here. Clumps are indicative of deficiency.

It would be a good idea to have a mineral analysis done.

Years ago we had a Kiko come in with Psoroptes cuniculi.... and with that a secondary infection. Treated with oxytetracyclene and permethrins for the mites.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

I am going back through old posts/advice/follow ups to see what might have been similar in other BYHer animals and what I see is several that site mineral issues. Not to say it isn't mite or staph, but even with minerals, a lot of the country lacks the levels of things like copper, selenium and zinc that goats need.

In looking at the U.S. maps as a starting point, it seems like Maryland is low in copper and has both areas of high and low selenium so it would depend on where you are---even then, other things impact mineral absorption
http://mrdata.usgs.gov/geochem/doc/averages/se/east-central.html

Do you have access to a copper bolus or maybe could you place an order? You vet might have it too. It might be worth a call to ask about that and BoSe.

Edited because SBC was posting at the same time---she also has a good point. Does Pen treat staph?

 

[Sweetened]

If you were considering the motor oil trick, you can use olive, canola or veggie oil with thebsame effect (its how we kill scaley leg here). Put a small (like 2 drops to 1 litre) bit of peppermint essential oil and the same of oregano essential oil in the veggie based oil, helps for skin infection and cools irritation while stifeling the mites

 

[fiset94]

Where would I go for a Mineral Analysis? My vet?? What is the best bet to do here.... Call vet in the a.m and have them take a look at the pregnant doe..get a mineral analysis done ( assuming blood work) and skin scrapping off of her?.... or go to TS and pick up Ivermectin and start the shots? I just don't want to wait too long... It seemed from the time that I saw the flaky skin to the clumps of hair missing was about 3 days....

Edit to add... I have been dousing coconut oil on the black and white doe ( 3 days in a row) to help with the horrible skin... and it doesn't seem to be doing the trick... I read that coconut conditioner helps with lice so I figured that I would go straight to the good stuff- Organic Oil... but the problem still persists.

 

[fiset94]

Staph infection I tell ya!
Mange is from mites.
Goats are susceptible to Demodex and Sarcoptes.

At this point you may have killed off whatever was on her but if there is a severe infestation secondary infections are not uncommon.
I do agree that there is probably more than one thing going on here. Clumps are indicative of deficiency.

It would be a good idea to have a mineral analysis done.

Years ago we had a Kiko come in with Psoroptes cuniculi.... and with that a secondary infection. Treated with oxytetracyclene and permethrins for the mites.

How would my vet test for Staph infection? Should I call and mention it to them?? They try hard but aren't the best "goat vets"....My goats and one other family bring their goats to them- They deal with a lot of horses-dogs-cats....

 

[Southern by choice]

Most vets can just tell. Every vet is different.
I would propose it as a suggestion....
..."Could it possibly be some type of Staph infection and or maybe also a deficiency of some sort? "
This opens up dialogue without them getting edgy or defensive.