Skin Condition....Any thoughts??

[tiffanyh]

I have two sister goats that are about three that have always had skin issues.

They are regularly wormed with ivomec, I have checked them closely for lice or mites, I feed a goat feed for minerals (as a supplement to hay of course) and they are the only ones out of my small herd that have this. I have also given a selenium paste.

They actually lost all their hair when nursing a few months back and since they stopped, it grew back nicely, except there is a lot of damage and one has some slight loss in a circle around both eyes. The other nursing goat did not lose her hair at all?

Any thoughts or am I really just dealing with a mineral deficiency, and if so, why are they the only ones?

 

[cmjust0]

Hair loss around the eyes, and the fact that they went bald during lactation, kinda points to mineral issues..

You say you feed them "a goat feed for minerals"...is that to say that you don't provide them with free choice loose mineral? If not, start there.

Most feeds are designed to be accompanied by a supplemental source of vitamins and minerals.

 

[()relics]

The first thing that would come to mind is Lice. What with the hair loss and potential "rubbing spots" but if you have treated them with Ivomec they should be good, I would check their eyelids compared to a FAMACHA chart just to be sure they still don't have a blood sucker somewhere.
Second thought would be a mineral deficiency. But you said you have available a free choice goat mineral and have also used a SE paste. I would try some BoSE just to be sure they are not selenium deficient.
third would be a broad class of some sort of dematitis. There can be a wide range of causes and treatments for an actue case of dematitis.
I would tend to lean towards a selunium deficieny. Not all goats show the same outward signs of a mineral deficiency so I would assume all are deficient. I would dose them all with BoSE at the rate of 2.5cc per 100#. It certainly wouldn't hurt them. See if you see any results/improvements. Possibly slick shave them, as well. If they do have mites or lice you will see them right away and the removal of the old hair can relieve the irritation it may be giving the skinin a dermatitis case.

 

[tiffanyh]

Thanks guys! Ill keep moving forward with the mineral stuff then and add the loose minerals too.....