Screaming Goats

[cyanne]

okay, a question for those of you out there with goats...is there a special 'trick' to giving them shots?

I have given sub-Q shots plenty of times before to my dogs, cats, and even my chickens and it is usually a breeze. This is the first time I've ever had to give shots to a goat and I can't help but feel like I must be doing something wrong because every time I give the shot they scream, bellow, and holler like I am KILLING them.

Seriously, by the way they act, it's like I am trying to skin them alive.

I'm giving them LA200, and the info I found said to give it sub-Q over the ribs. So I have the hubby hold the goats, then I grab a little bunch of fur over the ribs and pull to expose the skin and cause it to tent up a little. Then I stick in the needle until it goes through the skin and slowly inject the meds.

Same thing I would do to give a vaccine to one of my dogs, only with them I do it between the shoulder blades.

The only difference I've noticed is that goat hide is WAY tougher than dog or chicken skin. I would swear I'm doing it right, but is it supposed to hurt them that much?

And is it really that painful, or do goats just put up more fuss than usual?

Oh, and the needles I am using are 20 gauge and I'm using a fresh needle each time. Seems like they would be nice and sharp, but the goats react like I'm sticking them with a rusty roofing nail.

 

[Preservation Acres]

Check out this video. It might help.

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/hobby-farms-videos/giving-injections-to-a-lamb.aspx

 

[Judymae]

Just so you know goats will scream over anything!!! They are nuts sometimes!! I love mine but they do alot of screaming over just about nothing! Good luck with the shots. I hope they settle down for you soon!

 

[helmstead]

You're doing it right...

Yup, they have super tough hide (but you can do SQ injections behind the elbow - the skin is thinner and softer there). Also, most of the injections we give them from LA200 to vaccines burn like the dickens...so they're going to react badly.

Some are bigger softies than others. I have some that keep eating their alfalfa pellets in the stanchion like nothing has happened, and some that hit their knees in agony...

 

[MissPrissy]

Goats are big cry babies! LOL

My goats scream over everything.

The baby lambs didn't even flinch when they had their shots. LOL

 

[cyanne]

Quote:
Whew! Good to know it's not my fault...well, it is my fault I guess, cuz I am the one giving the shots, but at least I'm not hurting them any more than necessary.

I will have to try for the behind the elbow thing...though I might not be able to because they do tend to struggle quite a bit and kick every which way. Can't wait until the hubby get's the stanchion built!

For now I have him grab the goat and hold him or her off the ground in a bear hug while I give the shot. Fun for the whole family!

 

[ametauss]

We have pygmies and I just straddle them and lock my knees behind their front legs and bam the shot's over.... they struggle a bit but in that position they really can't go anywhere...

Not sure how I would give them shots if they were full sized goats...

 

[dutchhollow]

The carrier in la 200 does burn like crazy, get biomycin (same drug different carrier) and you won't have the problem, well some will scream anyway, but it doesn't burn them like the la200.

 

[cariboujaguar]

Quote:
Ditto, LA200 is soooo painful! I read your first line and said to myself "must be using LA200!" Babies will holler occassionally, but as a rule I never hear a peep from anyone anymore

 

[cyanne]

Another question, since I'm administering an antiobiotic, should I give them some sort of probiotic supplement when they are done with the full course of treatment?

I saw a tube of something called ProBios at the store that said it was for cattle but it also had a dosage guideline for giving it to newborn goats. Is this something I could/should dose my adult goats with after they are done with the LA200?