Goat Lovers of Arizona

[jeepgirl13]

Oh and also, can you give me a plan of action for keeping the worms down after treatment with all the above? I really prefer to do things naturally, but I'm fairly sure that natural route won't quite help these guys. His stomach looks normal bit hers kinda hangs down and her hips protrude. Worms, ive guessed from research. I've heard pine needle? Green or brown? And a lot of places saying many goat health problems can be eliminated with proper nutrition,(of course), and a proper copper intake.

 

[Stacykins]

Thank you! What a wonderful help you have been. I went to get just one for my horse as her herd mate had to be put down :'( and she was lonely. When I saw the place I couldn't leave without two. She was so pitiful. Now these drugs you mentioned, can I get all these at my feed store?

Absolutely! Corid is at any feed store in either powdered or in bottles as a solution, as it dimethox in the 12.5% concentration (or sulmet tablets is a brand of dimethox medication, but is quite expensive, so generic is a lot cheaper if it is available). Ivermectin is almost always available in paste form at feed stores. I personally give the injectable kind of ivermectin, because it can't be spat out, so I know they get the whole dose, but paste works great too, and is inexpensive. I don't think most feed stores carry valbazen, but it is a very good wormer. A lot of folks alternate ivermectin and cydectin (clear wormers that are chemically similar) with valbazen, which is a "white" wormer that works differently.

Goat doses are always double or triple the cattle or horse doses. They're metabolism is so much higher, so they process the wormer out of their bodies faster. Whatever medication you find, we can help you figure out the goat dosages.

With dimethox and corid, you can either add it to their drinking water (measure out how much per gallon for the right concentration), or drench them directly (with the dose measured based on their weight). I personally give it as a drench. That way, I know they got the dose. But be warned, both are horribly bitter (confirmed when I accidentally held a dosing syringe between my teeth while holding a struggling goat, and got a little taste, yuck!), so the goats will fight you all the way. I back their butts into a corner, hold them between my legs, and tilt up their head and give 'em the dose.

 

[Fuzzybird]

I was so surprised after months anyone even posted on this thread I made posted! Welcome!
My sister Denise uses a shot wormer about twice a year but also we put DE, food grade, in their grain and it prevents worms most of the time. You can get DE in the stock shops. She worms just before we breed with the shot. She is not home or I would ask her what the shot wormer is called.
Do ask about wethering from an expert and get help. The easiest would be as was suggested keep the buck separated until you want to breed the does. You may just want to experience babies.

 

[Fuzzybird]

Hi everyone! I just adopted a couple goats. One is a male and is either two or five months old and the other is a female and she is only five weeks old. I rescued them basically. They came from a really dirty cramped wet place and were infested with lice. Yuk. The poor little girl could barely stand and was layin down very strangely when the others were up walking. She is doing much better and the lice are just about gone. Now my problem is the male is trying to mount the female and she is waaaaaaay to young for that. I know he is going to hurt her. I need to castrate him, but my boyfriend is to squeamish to help me. After reading up on it I'm understanding the only ways to do it now, because of his age(and the size of those things!!), We have to cut or crush them. Is this correct? Can anyone direct me to a place or person who can help or do it for me?

I reread you post and the mounting at this age is just play but it would be wise to separate them for sure if he is the older one by the time she is 6 months old for then she can come into her heat. You must get the male banded soon if you don't want kids. Where in Arizona do you live we may be able to help you and with the worming shots. Coming from the conditions you say I bet they having gotten any vaccines at all yet. Were they dehorned? So good of you to recue them. They are surly better off.

 

[jeepgirl13]

The female is. The man said the.boy had horns too big for his burner. Yes I know I posted on an older thread but this site has been invaluable to me with my chickens, I figured I would try to find goat owners in Az too! It worked! Lol. I'm glad to hear its just "play" but she is already very bony and kinda weak still. I'm worried about him dislocating or breaking something. Yes the place was very nasty. It was the only trashed place in the whole neighborhood and as I was driving I was thinking, gosh I hope its not that place. The poor little girl was just laying there, her neck bent so extremely the top of her head was on the ground. She didn't even get up when I went in the pen. I felt so bad :'(. To the person who asked where I am located I am out near mesa and Apache junction. I am willing to tether them in my jeep and drive to you if its not very far. I just want some help from an experienced goat owner. She is doing better but I am still worried about her. I work 12 hr shifts 6 days a week at a mechanic shop. My only days off are Sundays, but I can request to get off early one day if there's someone local willing to help me get a game plan lined up for getting her in peak condition and to help me neuter him. Thank you all for your kind help. If no one is.local I can post pics of her for you to kind of evaluate and cam check out whatever u need to know to help me. I appreciate it!!

 

[Fuzzybird]

I am worried about your little girl. Is she eating good? Have you gotten her grain that has molasses in it? That will get her interested in eating. Since she is so low in weight you should have her on mixed hay or even straight alfalfa hay.
We live in Wittmann quite a drive for you but we can help and Sunday mornings are the best time. What are your goaties names?

 

[jeepgirl13]

Wow Whitman is far. She is eating very enthusiastically. She meets me at the gate and waits and then dives right in. She is getting Bermuda right now as that is what I feed my horse. The lady I got them from said it was ok for them to have a little bit of horse grain so I have been giving them a little tiny bit of that to. Like half a handful each. I don't get paid for another week, nut my boyfriend gets paid tomorrow. I was going to get them some show goat feed they have at my feed store. She is up walking around and moving a lot more too than when I first brought her home. The tips of her ears are crimped up tho. Like the tips are folded up against the rest of her ear. Is this a sign of dehydration or deficiencies or something? She is doing much much better than she was. Like just getting her out of the place made her feel better

 

[jeepgirl13]

Oh and I forgot to say the boy is named sneakers and we haven't picked one for the.girl yet. Sorry I had just woken up. Lol

 

[Fuzzybird]

Wow Whitman is far. She is eating very enthusiastically. She meets me at the gate and waits and then dives right in. She is getting Bermuda right now as that is what I feed my horse. The lady I got them from said it was ok for them to have a little bit of horse grain so I have been giving them a little tiny bit of that to. Like half a handful each. I don't get paid for another week, nut my boyfriend gets paid tomorrow. I was going to get them some show goat feed they have at my feed store. She is up walking around and moving a lot more too than when I first brought her home. The tips of her ears are crimped up tho. Like the tips are folded up against the rest of her ear. Is this a sign of dehydration or deficiencies or something? She is doing much much better than she was. Like just getting her out of the place made her feel better

Sounds like your little girl is on her way to good health. The grain is not always called goat grain but Cob and it needs to have vitamins in it. We find that if it is the one with molasses it does have vitamins. Until they get their weight up give them 1/4 cup of grain twice a day a piece. Maybe you can find a goat person closer to help you band Sneakers.
I don't know what the ears folded means.
Did you understand what I meant about putting DE , food grade, in food to control worms? We put it in the grain.
Your feed store should be-able to show you DE and the shot you need for the worms. Also ask them how to give the shot and also get them vaccinated! The feed store will be able to tell you what they need. They will have to have two shots 3 weeks apart.

 

[jeepgirl13]

Ok thank u! Ill have to write all this down before I go to the feed store. Oh and yes I understood about the DE. I've read a lot on it and it seems to be controversial as to whether it works. But no one has said its hurt their animals so I might as well try it! Thank you for your help!