WildOaksManor
Ridin' The Range
My 1 1/2 year old Nigerian Dwarf, Arrow, is having a rough time. I am hoping someone here has some advice or experience with a similar issue.
Arrow was wormed with Ivermectin pour-on, per vets recommendation at the end of Sept, '16. Shortly after, I noticed flaking, dry skin on a couple does, which may or may not have been related. The dryness cleared up on all but two does, sisters. One of the sisters, Arrow, has a really bad case. The weather has turned unusually nasty here, with temps much lower and drier than is typical, and Arrow has substantial hair loss, cracked, bloody skin, (especially on lower legs) and heavy flaking. She also has very small raised bumps on her ears.
The vet has seen Arrow several times, in the last couple months, including farm visits where feed, supplements, and housing were checked. His most recent visit was less than a week ago, because she has become skinny, and is now being bullied by the herd. At his last visit, he concluded that Arrow has a genetic disorder (possibly fungal) and has suggested I never allow her to be bred, remove her from my herd, and consider euthanizing. He said if she does in fact have a hereditary fungal issue (her sister has the same symptoms, on a much milder scale, all other goats are clear.) that treating her would be a life-long, expensive, and exhausting undertaking. While I agree that she should not be bred, I am not yet willing to have her put down, as I'm still hoping it's not hereditary (I've contacted her breeder, and she reports no known skin conditions with her mother or aunt, but the buck was a short-term ownership thing) and there is something that can be done so that she can go to a pet home. I do not know of anything else I can try to save her, but here is what we have tried so far, along with a little info on my herd:
I have 8 goats. Closed herd for a year. Introduction of 4 Wensleydale sheep in last 5 months, which share pasture, but appear to be healthy. All goats have straw bedding, no mud, stalls cleaned regularly. They are on grass hay (kept full at all times) alfalfa pellets (2xs daily) grain mixed with BOSS, top dressed with Pro-B powder (1x day) and free fed Mana Pro goat minerals and baking soda. Warm water in tubs once a day, kept from freezing. All drinking fine.
No temps.
No mites, lice, or bugs.
Fecals repeated last week, all normal.
I have had her soaking in warm water in my bathtub, and rubbed the worst areas down with coconut oil. pending an anti-fungal shampoo from the vet. (He thinks its a little impractical, being that temps are below freezing, and she'd have to be inside the house until completely dry, which takes a few hours.) Frankly, bathing her inside is a HUGE inconvenience, exhausting, and messy.messy.messy., but if it'll help it clear up, I'm willing.
I've posted to other forums, and only gotten advice on trying a copper bolus (which I have yet to do) and using Nu-stock topicals, which would present the same problem as bathing, since she can't be in the barn wet, or with a topical, until dry.
Does anyone have any additional ideas, or know what the problem is? Are you also of the opinion that this is a genetic issue....and is euthanasia to be seriously considered?
Also open to natural treatments!
Thank you for your time!
Here is Arrow in the bathtub, soaking her miserably cracked skin:
And last summer, as a doeling, healing after a neighbor dog attack:
Arrow was wormed with Ivermectin pour-on, per vets recommendation at the end of Sept, '16. Shortly after, I noticed flaking, dry skin on a couple does, which may or may not have been related. The dryness cleared up on all but two does, sisters. One of the sisters, Arrow, has a really bad case. The weather has turned unusually nasty here, with temps much lower and drier than is typical, and Arrow has substantial hair loss, cracked, bloody skin, (especially on lower legs) and heavy flaking. She also has very small raised bumps on her ears.
The vet has seen Arrow several times, in the last couple months, including farm visits where feed, supplements, and housing were checked. His most recent visit was less than a week ago, because she has become skinny, and is now being bullied by the herd. At his last visit, he concluded that Arrow has a genetic disorder (possibly fungal) and has suggested I never allow her to be bred, remove her from my herd, and consider euthanizing. He said if she does in fact have a hereditary fungal issue (her sister has the same symptoms, on a much milder scale, all other goats are clear.) that treating her would be a life-long, expensive, and exhausting undertaking. While I agree that she should not be bred, I am not yet willing to have her put down, as I'm still hoping it's not hereditary (I've contacted her breeder, and she reports no known skin conditions with her mother or aunt, but the buck was a short-term ownership thing) and there is something that can be done so that she can go to a pet home. I do not know of anything else I can try to save her, but here is what we have tried so far, along with a little info on my herd:
I have 8 goats. Closed herd for a year. Introduction of 4 Wensleydale sheep in last 5 months, which share pasture, but appear to be healthy. All goats have straw bedding, no mud, stalls cleaned regularly. They are on grass hay (kept full at all times) alfalfa pellets (2xs daily) grain mixed with BOSS, top dressed with Pro-B powder (1x day) and free fed Mana Pro goat minerals and baking soda. Warm water in tubs once a day, kept from freezing. All drinking fine.
No temps.
No mites, lice, or bugs.
Fecals repeated last week, all normal.
I have had her soaking in warm water in my bathtub, and rubbed the worst areas down with coconut oil. pending an anti-fungal shampoo from the vet. (He thinks its a little impractical, being that temps are below freezing, and she'd have to be inside the house until completely dry, which takes a few hours.) Frankly, bathing her inside is a HUGE inconvenience, exhausting, and messy.messy.messy., but if it'll help it clear up, I'm willing.
I've posted to other forums, and only gotten advice on trying a copper bolus (which I have yet to do) and using Nu-stock topicals, which would present the same problem as bathing, since she can't be in the barn wet, or with a topical, until dry.
Does anyone have any additional ideas, or know what the problem is? Are you also of the opinion that this is a genetic issue....and is euthanasia to be seriously considered?
Also open to natural treatments!
Thank you for your time!
Here is Arrow in the bathtub, soaking her miserably cracked skin:
And last summer, as a doeling, healing after a neighbor dog attack:
