Ivermectin Abscess

[Pearce Pastures]

Well this is a new one and is all my fault. We are still in the midst of moving and my milk stand is outside somewhere. Rather than getting in inside to do goat chores, I just decided to pin goats with my legs and do hooves and shots.

So Nova (very pregnant right now) clearly has some external parasite issue and is it far too cold to give her a shave down or wash her with anything so I opted for injectable ivermectin. I doused the area with 90% alcohol and went to give her a shot--she wiggled badly and my giant LGD was pawing at me because he wanted to make sure she was okay. I am sure I did something wrong.

DH just called me and said she has an open wound there now.

It is dry looking, not bloody or pussy, as if it ruptured and is now dried. She is behaving normally enough and has no temperature (I am having DH recheck though to be sure---I am usually the one doing this stuff but he is at the barn now so just to be sure, I asked him to do it again).

I am just wondering for anyone who has dealt with abscesses before if you would do anything for it at this point? I have on hand triple antibiotic cream, chlorhexidine spray, blu kote, hot soapy water, two kind of injectable antibiotics (probably not needed) and probably a few other things.

 

[goatboy1973]

If she is walking or waddling normally for a pregnant goat I would just try to clip the hair in a 2'' diameter around the wound and clean it really good with an antibacterial soap, dry it real good, and if it is not actively oozing or draining, apply a thin layer of triple antibiotic ointment (like Neosporin) twice daily for a week or so. I would say to bandage it but it probably will just get eaten or rubbed off. If it were my doe, I would probably not do any injectable antibiotics or oral antibiotics just because she is pregnant but only as a last option and then I would be calling my vet to see what he/she thinks. Topical antibiotics like Neosporin should be perfectly safe. Good luck!

 

[Pearce Pastures]

The recheck confirms no temp so I am not going to do any antibiotics unless something changes. I was thinking that shaving around it might be a good idea. Or maybe not since the hair may actually keep it cleaner.

 

[goatboy1973]

Also I would see if she is current on her tetanus vaccination or CD&T and if not, check the packaging insert to make sure it is alright to give her a booster.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Good call. She is current but almost at the one year mark AND she is to kid in 30 days so perfect timing for it. I just picked up fresh CDT so first thing in the morning, she is getting that. And this time, I will bring her out of the pen and secure her.