Worming goats?

[Roll farms]

Switching dewormers isn't always enough...if the worms aren't being killed by what you're using, you're wasting your money on an ineffective treatment and building up resistance to other things.
Meningeal worms are ONLY killed by ivermectin-based dewormers. If you have a meningeal worm infestation on your property, and don't use the ivermectin often enough to combat it...your goat's spines will be severed by the worms. It's a horrible thing to watch them go through.
Barberpole worms can kill a goat. If you don't reduce their load enough the first time you deworm for that, then switch to a different wormer that doesn't kill barberpole worms, the goat can develop bottle jaw and become so anemic that any form of stress will kill it.
(Again...I learned BOTH of those lessons the hard way...back when I was "switching wormers ea. time".)
You have to know what dewormers work for what types of worms, what worm issues you have, and how to best administer the specific dewormers so that you increase their efficiency.
Fecals, FAMACHA...learn what you have, how to treat it, and follow-up to make sure it's working.
Just doing what everyone else says to do, doesn't always work.

 

[ksalvagno]

So meningeal worm affects goats like it affects alpacas? I didn't realize that. Very good to know. Is it the same that Ivomec is the preventative and Safeguard is the treatment (if you catch it early enough)?

What is the dosing for goats? Alpacas are 1cc per 70 lbs for Ivomec and 1cc per 7 pounds specifically for meningeal worm. Regular Safeguard treatment is 1cc per 10 pounds.

 

[ksalvagno]

I meant that Safeguard is 1cc per 7 pounds for meningeal worm treatment.

 

[redhen]

I live in MA. What is the best wormer to use in my area? Thanks

 

[Roll farms]

You should speak to someone locally, either a KNOWLEDGEABLE goat vet (not a dog vet who's read a book on goats) or a long-time goat rancher and ask them what works on worms in your area...
There's nothing like experience.
You can't decide what to use based on where you live. Not all of Indiana is a swamp, just my 18 acres, LOL.

You also really DO need to have a base-line fecal ran (it's not expensive) to see if you even NEED to worm them. Why waste the money and unbalance their rumen if you don't even have issues?

Then, learn your animals...you will know when they're "off" if you observe how they're eating, pooping, baseline temps, etc. Check their eyelids. Are they pink? Rumen moving often?
I have goats I literally haven't wormed in years, b/c they never show signs of needing it.

I don't understand using chemicals "just because"...nor do I understand wasting money on meds if you don't even know WHY you're using it, or for what type of worm you're after...just because someone says so?

Nearly everything I know I researched myself, there's TONS of info online or read in goat magazines...your states' agriculture extension office website, other goat producer's sites (Fiasco farms, onion creek ranch, etc.) and even the dewormer manufacturer's sites can help you.

When I need to use Ivomec on our goats, I use a generic ivermectin injectable, 1 cc per 40# given orally