Mites/Lice...Need reassurance!

[chubbydog811]

My goats started looking really "rough" about a month ago...I thought they were just shedding! Turns out they have bugs (yuk)...
I started milking my girl about 2 weeks ago, and started finding a bunch of tiny black bugs in the strainer.

I tried dusting them with a product from Hi-Yield. I was finding a lot of dead bugs in the milk after that, but then 2 days later, I had lots of bugs in the milk again...
I tried DE, with no luck.
I dusted all of the goats, the yard, even the fencing, and they still have them!!

I bought some Quest (equine gel) today- I got the idea from Fiasco...It was the only one for mites/lice that didn't have a milk withholding time.

But is it really OK to be giving this? I was going to go with the Ivomec, but can't find any...
Does anyone have experience giving this - dosage, how often, if it even worked, ect?

I'm almost debating shaving all of their stomachs, and retreating with the powder - I think the goat's hair is too thick, and the dust isnt going all the way to the skin???

Any advice???

 

[dkluzier]

Not sure but if you see black bugs in the milk, I am not sure that it is mites or lice since they are very small and not black. Could it be fleas or ticks?

All I have ever used is the Python livestock/poultry dust on my goats and continued using the milk. I used Ivermectin 1.87 paste on my horse and it worked well for the lice.

Anyone else????

 

[RockyToggRanch]

Black flies? It's that time of year. There was one in my strainer yesterday even though I didn't notice any buzzing me.

Do you see them on the goat?

I have no experience with lice or mites (yet) but I think I would make sure they are coming from the goat, then I might give her a summer buzz cut and dust her again.

Sorry I don't know for sure....

 

[chubbydog811]

Thanks guys - if you dont think it's mites or lice, then I'm stumped

I know they are coming off of her - my pail gets brought up to the house after every milking, scrubed, then I put a cover on it until right before I milk her. I dont think they are fleas, not the right shape...They look like funny looking/tiny ants? I guess is a good was to describe them, and they are all black.

I haven't seen any in the past 2 milkings...so I dunno!!!

I wish I knew what they were! They aren't affecting the goats at all besides that they are losing clumps of fur like they are shedding...

I dont know how they would have gotten bugs anyway! Their pen is in full sun, and the house gets cleaned at least once a week

Goats make me crazy sometimes!!!
I'm going to say I'll just clip their bellies and re-treat with powder?