When to start worming kids? Safe wormer for kids?

[porkchop48]

When do I start worming the kids?

Right now eveyone ranges from 1 week to almost 8 weeks.

What is a safe wormer to use for them?

 

[DonnaBelle]

Babies don't need to be "dewormed" unless they are showing symptoms of scouring. In which case, it may be coccidia, which is not "worms" but needs to be treated with DiMethox. 1 cc of 40% dimethox per 5 lbs. of goat the first day. Then 1 cc of 40% dimethox per 10 lbs of goats for 5 more days.

Coccidia is diagnosed by taking a fecal sample to a vet for an analysis and diagnosis.

Never treat a goat with a dewormer without knowing if it has worms for sure or not and then a GOAT VET will tell you what type of dewormer and how much. If you are going to have goats find a GOAT VET. Ask around, and find one. A cat/dog vet will not do.

The only way to know if a goat has worms is to have a fecal test done.

DonnaBelle

 

[Pearce Pastures]

There is no age to start worming. In the past, it was habit to do worming on a rotation. We now know that doing that has led to resistant parasite, meaning they no longer respond to treatment.

The first step is to get a fecal test. I would recommend getting a test done between 4-6 months of age and then, three times per year (or more or less depending on the type of parasite you are treating and how loaded your goats are----they might not have issues at all and need no treatment).

The second step can only come after the first step: what wormer to use. That depends upon the parasite you need to treat and how resistant your area is. If you give Safeguard but your goats have coccidia, you have just given them a medication they do not need and have not treated the parasite they have so the problem continues. There are specific medications for specific worms and it is best to just test, know if you even have parasites, what kind, and then treat.

It will save you money in medications, lessen your goats chances of developing resistant parasites by given unneeded meds, and improve their health by treating the parasites they do have with the right med.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Babies don't need to be "dewormed" unless they are showing symptoms of scouring. In which case, it may be coccidia, which is not "worms" but needs to be treated with DiMethox. 1 cc of 40% dimethox per 5 lbs. of goat the first day. Then 1 cc of 40% dimethox per 10 lbs of goats for 5 more days.

Coccidia is diagnosed by taking a fecal sample to a vet for an analysis and diagnosis.

Never treat a goat with a dewormer without knowing if it has worms for sure or not and then a GOAT VET will tell you what type of dewormer and how much. If you are going to have goats find a GOAT VET. Ask around, and find one. A cat/dog vet will not do.

The only way to know if a goat has worms is to have a fecal test done.

DonnaBelle

In other words x2 on what DonnaBelle said, lol. Sorry---must have been typing as you were posting.

 

[porkchop48]

Thanks guys.

I am getting some of the kids disbudded at the vets this week. I am going to take in some samples and see what they have to say.

 

[mdavenport0121]

How much do your vets charge? I'd take a huge loss if I took a fecal sample to the vet as often as some people say to do. My vet charged $24 for a fecal sample. I'm going to have to learn how to do it myself. I took a kid to the vet a couple of weeks ago. I got him tubed, some electrolytes, and some antibiotics and it cost $82.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

How much do your vets charge? I'd take a huge loss if I took a fecal sample to the vet as often as some people say to do. My vet charged $24 for a fecal sample. I'm going to have to learn how to do it myself. I took a kid to the vet a couple of weeks ago. I got him tubed, some electrolytes, and some antibiotics and it cost $82.

My vet charges $15 and we take in a group sampling most of the time---several berries from each goat.

You really should think about learning to do them. I am going to learn, just because it would be nice to be able to do. It would save you money on meds and all of us goaties on a lack of meds that work if everyone would test before treating.