Iron

[elevan]

Does anyone know if the two links above are pretty much the same product? I really don't care about the fancy glass bottle. I prefer not to pay the high price either or the vets high price.

They really are not the same thing...

Red Cell will get you past most anemia but for the really bad cases I would do an injection of iron.

I dose Red Cell at 6 ml / 20-30# every 6-8 hours for 24 hours (sometimes 48 hrs) and re-evaluate in 5-7 days.

 

[arabianequine]

So are you saying that the red cell is better for the price or just better period for anemic issues?

I am headed to town so I will pick some up.

 

[elevan]

So are you saying that the red cell is better for the price or just better period for anemic issues?

I am headed to town so I will pick some up.

Let's put it this way...I keep Red Cell on hand but don't keep the injectible iron. I won't say one is better than the other cause I'm sure that will cause a debate that's not needed here.

 

[arabianequine]

I mean the red cell better then the lixotinic.

 

[20kidsonhill]

I mean the red cell better then the lixotinic.

I would think it would matter if the kind of iron in the loxotinic is more available/ more easily absorbed than the kind of chelated iron in the red cell? I don't know the answer to that.


Red cell does work very well.

 

[arabianequine]

I got some red cell today in town and sent off my fecal sample to WSU. I should hear something beginning of next week.

Yeah I don't know red cell says Fe and the lixotinic just says iron but the other poster said they are not the same irons in them.

I will try some of this red cell and see if that helps while waiting for fecal results.

 

[20kidsonhill]

http://nationalhogfarmer.com/mag/farming_bioavailability_iron_tested/

This article talks a little bit about testing the two different kinds of iron, the one iron is in the vet Rx you are referring to and the other iron is in red cell. I just found the article interesting, but doesn't really answer the question, which one has better more bioavailable iron in it.

From the article:::

Iron sulfate is the most commonly used source of supplemental iron. The iron is in a form that is readily available to the animal (bioavailable) and it is relatively inexpensive.

However, other sources of iron are also marketed. Many of these sources are referred to as "organic" sources, because the iron is combined with an organic molecule such as an amino acid or protein. Organic sources are usually more expensive per unit of total iron than inorganic sources and therefore must offer some advantage if they are to be justified for inclusion in swine diets. If the iron in organic sources is more bioavailable than the iron in inorganic forms, this may justify their purchase and inclusion in swine diets.

 

[Our7Wonders]

Something that may be worth considering if you're dealing with an anemic animal - then again maybe not, since goat metabolize differently than people, but food for thought anyway:

Calcium blocks iron absorption, vitamin C helps it to absorb better. I get extremely anemic during pregnancy and I have to be careful to watch the things I'm eating at the time I'm taking my iron. If I were treating anemia I'd give powdered vitamin C along with it. When I used red cell I added it to their feed, so I'd add the vitamin C along with it. I would also try to get them to take it along with a feed that was lower in calcium. Again, this is based on how people uptake iron.

Also, my midwives had me drinking a daily glass of warm water with black strap molasses in it for iron as well. Also nettle tea - my goats like nettle. Perhaps adding some of these things may be beneficial.

Another thing to possibly consider: Pat Coleby's book "Natural Goat Care" claims that getting copper levels corrected will often help turn anemia around. If you're goat may be low on copper it might be worth considering a copper bolus. I didn't re-read through all the posts so forgive me if it's already been mentioned, do you allow them free choice loose mineral?

 

[arabianequine]

Yes they have free choice minerals out there for about a month and a half now. I had mentioned the brand but no one said anything it might have been in a different thread somewhere. It is what the feed store workers recommended and what they use for their goats. I will try and get the name again. I got them May 1st in pretty bad shape. They are doing very well now and look alot better. I just happened to think the 2 boer does gums/eyelids looked pale the other day. I believer that they are all pregnant but new to goats so hopefully they are not just fat....since I am feeding them better.

They have had two treatments of iron last night and the night before. When I did it last night, I looked at the older boers eyelids and they looked really red.....but not so much her gums....seemed kinda of pale to me. Well compared to my light chocolate colored togg. See I was thinking the boers are mostly white so their skin pigment might be whiter in general and maybe I should not compare the toggs gums and eyelids to the boers.

The toggs both looked great so she is not getting the iron.

I sent off a fecal sample to WSU yesterday they should get it today and have results for me the beginning of next week. I have to wait longer cause of the weekend. I did just reworm the this last weekend with safeguard horse paste at 3x their weight even the togg. I had done Ivermectin horse paste on May 4th and 21st but only did a dose of x2 their weight but I choose to go with the safeguard cause I used the ivermectin already in case they had other worms.

I have some ivermax pour on coming.

My vet is checking on the two different products (Red Cell vs. Lixotinic) and should call me today.

 

[arabianequine]

Red cell: I have read any where from 6cc per 100 lbs to 6cc per 40lbs. I would say if you are going to give it everyday and the goat has not had a lot of other mineral supplements, like loose minerals, then give the higher dosage. I have given as much as 30cc to a 120lb goat at one time, but more as a one time deal and not every day for a week.

I beleive the recommendation is one time every day for a week then once a week, until the animal is less anemic looking. I have been happy with the product.

ON a severly anemic doe, we used red cell and iron injections, and she is doing a lot better. The injectable iron 100 is fairly inexpensive and it is given at the rate of 4cc per 100lbs, but you can't give to animal meant for slaughter, since it leaves staining int he meat. IT doesn't give an exact withdrawal, but I was going by atleast 6 months.


don't forgot good protein in the diet is the key to making red blood cells.


Anemia and worm loads is a nasty circle. Anemia weakening the animals system, allowing the worms to flurish and the worms causing more anemia.

I was gonna start another thread on this also because I also wanted to know what you all feed pregnant goats? What should they be getting for good protein? I give them nothing but grass hay and alfalfa. They were getting a lot of alfalfa and I cut way back over the last week. They were each getting 2 good size flakes a day am/pm.

They are not wanting to eat the grass they just want the alfalfa. I have separate bales of each. They have tons of grassy type hay out there to eat in a big feeder but what I been putting out there they will just leave and hold out for the alfalfa or eat the old stuff in the feeder. If I put grass hay out there I try and make them eat it first before giving the alfalfa but I have been giving the alfalfa once a day now. I just put 2 flakes of grass out last night and it still looks like it has not been touched.

Of course water and loose minerals.