Just got some skinny goats

[babsbag]

Cocci you have two choices really. Corid which isn't preferred but it works and many use it and DiMethox 40% which you can get at many feed stores. But really have her checked for cocci first. If she as young as I suspect she may have been treated already and may not need it. Scours (diarrhea) are typical in kids with cocci but not always, but still, if she isn't scouring I would have her checked first. Any vet can at least do a cocci fecal check.

Unfortunately minerals and goats are a hard one. The best way to find out what they need is a blood draw and then send it out to a lab. That isn't always practical. If you live in a deficient area for Selenium you can bet that you will need to supplement her, especially if you breed her, but you have time for that. Copper is another goat problem. Always feed goat minerals, never sheep. Sheep minerals don't have copper in them. I go a lot by looks. Is their coat nice, is a deep color (low copper makes their coat fade), is their tail bald on the tip, are their hooves good, not cracked, etc. Just the overall health. You will learn what is normal. I know that I have to supplement 2 x a year minimum, but that is my herd. But for now, don't worry about the minerals, just get her healthy.

She is probably mixed with another breed if she has ears that big. But that is ok, mixed breed goats are awesome. If she is super friendly she was probably raised on a bottle. Is she eating ok?

 

[misfitmorgan]

The dosage is completely incorrect and this class of dewormer needs to be given 3-5 days consecutively.



Please be very careful with this. Toxicity mimics deficiency... too many throw stuff at the goat without any data. Just because an area is deficient doesn't mean you will need to give something several times a year. A very skilled herdswoman with many years experience lost 12 of her top does to copper toxicity. Because she was in a very deficient area she gave copper 2x year every year... in the end the necropsy showed HIGH copper. Again, don't just do cuz your neighbor does. We are NOT in a deficient area but I have HIGH iron and it binds the minerals... causing issues with copper.



Great site BUT if I remember it is a standard fecal not McMasters. There is a reason why every university uses this method.
I have several in depth articles on the Fecal method, and understanding the eyelid check (FAMACHA)
http://www.backyardherds.com/resources/understanding-famacha-fecal-analysis.56/

http://www.backyardherds.com/resources/the-mcmasters-method-fecal-analysis.55/

http://www.backyardherds.com/resources/mcmasters-method-fecal-analysis-part2.57/


This is not necessarily true.
I once did a consult the day after the vet was there. Vet said "goats cannot get tapeworm". The goat had severe tape, was pooping them out, slide covered in eggs... I showed the lady my vet book (actual veterinary parasites handbook from MY vet's library) ....

A note about REDCELL!
Be aware that is illegal to feed any ruminate protein back to a ruminate as part of the scrapie/BSE control program.

Blackstrap molasses is good for iron.

The goat is very small. I would suspect coccidiosis. That is why a fecal analysis is important. Dewormers won't work on cocci. I suspect the goats have both.

I am very sorry you lost the other one. Keep in mind even the best farms lose goats to cocci and parasites. Kids are highly susceptible.

@Southern by choice According to red cell itself there is no ruminate protein in red cell...what makes you say there is?

 

[Goat Whisperer]

I understand this can be confusing and overwhelming when you haven't had any experience with livestock/goats.

All the advice given is great

However, the absolute FIRST thing you need to do is get a fecal analysis done.
Coccidia and parasites are your biggest threat.

By having a vet or lab do a fecal analysis you can treat or rule out your biggest potential issues.

You can move on to things like extra copper and selenium later. She has minerals now, she will be okay until you get any other issues taken care of.

 

[JenniferDuBay]

Cocci you have two choices really. Corid which isn't preferred but it works and many use it and DiMethox 40% which you can get at many feed stores. But really have her checked for cocci first. If she as young as I suspect she may have been treated already and may not need it. Scours (diarrhea) are typical in kids with cocci but not always, but still, if she isn't scouring I would have her checked first. Any vet can at least do a cocci fecal check.

Unfortunately minerals and goats are a hard one. The best way to find out what they need is a blood draw and then send it out to a lab. That isn't always practical. If you live in a deficient area for Selenium you can bet that you will need to supplement her, especially if you breed her, but you have time for that. Copper is another goat problem. Always feed goat minerals, never sheep. Sheep minerals don't have copper in them. I go a lot by looks. Is their coat nice, is a deep color (low copper makes their coat fade), is their tail bald on the tip, are their hooves good, not cracked, etc. Just the overall health. You will learn what is normal. I know that I have to supplement 2 x a year minimum, but that is my herd. But for now, don't worry about the minerals, just get her healthy.

She is probably mixed with another breed if she has ears that big. But that is ok, mixed breed goats are awesome. If she is super friendly she was probably raised on a bottle. Is she eating ok?

She's eating great. She ate the pellets I gave her this morning, and I gave her 1/8th cup of sunflower seeds, since I already had that on hand for my other animals. I know y'all said 1/4, but I figure I can give her half that in the morning, to see how she does with it, then the other half at night. She's constantly at the hay bin, and they've cleared the extra space in their pen of anything green yesterday. Her poop is solid, no diarrhea, and she isn't crying except when I leave the pen. I bought her the manna pro goat minerals, she isn't eating them though. I'll leave them in her pen and see what she does over time. Her tail isn't bald, I don't know what her "real" color coat is, so I can't speak for a color. Her hooves are not cracked, though now that you mention it, I wonder if I need to clip them? But she's walking fine, I'm not going to worry about that this week.

 

[Southern by choice]

@Southern by choice According to red cell itself there is no ruminate protein in red cell...what makes you say there is?

Not sure if it still is or if formulation has changed but Red Cell contained Bovine liver products.

 

[babsbag]

Copper and Selenium "usually" isn't a problem with kids IF their dams were in good shape. But right now just get the worm issue under control. I wondered about eating in case she had still been on a bottle; some people will feed them bottles until the are 6 months old. They can be weaned as early as 8 weeks, but if you have dairy goats and extra milk you might as well give it to the kids but if she is eating well then she is most likely not on a bottle.

It is sad that she is all alone now, poor baby. You are her herd now so it is no wonder she cries for you. I would worm her for 5 days in a row with the higher dose and then have a fecal done, hopefully you will find a vet that will do one for you. That will let you know if it worked or not, and then repeat in 10 days and you should be good. Of course the cocci could still be lurking but if she isn't sick I wouldn't be in a panic over it, just do it ASAP.

See if you can find any DiMethox 40% at any of your feed stores so you can treat the cocci if she has it.

 

[JenniferDuBay]

Copper and Selenium "usually" isn't a problem with kids IF their dams were in good shape. But right now just get the worm issue under control. I wondered about eating in case she had still been on a bottle; some people will feed them bottles until the are 6 months old. They can be weaned as early as 8 weeks, but if you have dairy goats and extra milk you might as well give it to the kids but if she is eating well then she is most likely not on a bottle.

It is sad that she is all alone now, poor baby. You are her herd now so it is no wonder she cries for you. I would worm her for 5 days in a row with the higher dose and then have a fecal done, hopefully you will find a vet that will do one for you. That will let you know if it worked or not, and then repeat in 10 days and you should be good. Of course the cocci could still be lurking but if she isn't sick I wouldn't be in a panic over it, just do it ASAP.

See if you can find any DiMethox 40% at any of your feed stores so you can treat the cocci if she has it.

I'll look for it, it would be nice to have all that on hand even if she isn't testing positive.

 

[babsbag]

If you can find it and you have to treat her this is the dose. It is given orally and they HATE it.

1 cc /5 lbs. first day
1 cc /10 lbs. next 5 days

 

[Green Acres Farm]

If you can find it and you have to treat her this is the dose. It is given orally and they HATE it

Mix it with a little sugar and they won't gag as much.

 

[norseofcourse]

Not sure if it still is or if formulation has changed but Red Cell contained Bovine liver products.

I just checked the gallon jug I got for a pony, earlier this year. They must have changed the formulation, I don't see anything of animal origin. It also states 'Contains no beef product ingredients'. It does have a statement warning against feeding any other selenium supplement along with it.

My pony wasn't thrilled with the flavor...

@JenniferDuBay , I'm so sorry you lost one of the goats, but she had major problems before you got her, please don't fault yourself. Good luck with the other goat.