So Confused about Goat Deworming!

[bbRedMom]

Help!

I took in poo to the vet a couple of weeks ago. Turns out my pygmie brought coccidia and hookworms with her. I just finished treatment for those lovely conditions, and the goats are 100% better. No coughin, lively, getting into mischeif, the usual.

But now I have no idea what to do for a deworming regimen. I was using the feed-like granules they sell at TSC, but I can't really find any info on their effectiveness. My vet is useless, as I've mentioned previously, and I dont really know any other goaters in Arkansas.

The amount of info on the internet is overwhelming. Can anyone outline a good, solid calendar for keeping my herd healthy? Thanks!

 

[dfchaser]

On our farm we use dectomex injectable. We worm every 3 months (only ends up being 4 times a year!). Dosage is figured out by weight, so we use a tape measure to get that and then inject IM. You can find the wormer, and needles/syringes at jeffers.com. The best part about dectomex, besides the 4 times a year thing, is that it is safe for pregnant does.

 

[mistylady]

We use SafeGuard on our goat every month. Our neighbor raises Boers and Kikos and they use SafeGuard also.

 

[helmstead]

Well, in our area, the crumbles are useless. They're no longer effective on the few parasites they're intended to control.

BTW Good for you for getting fecals!

We use ivermec to deworm our goats - it's the broadest spectrum available and at this time has no resistance in our area. At current, we use the pour on version intended for cattle. The only time we cannot use it on our goats is in the first 45 days of pregnancy (out of our own precaution). We use it topically like you would use Frontline on a dog quarterly (and also dosing each doe the day she kids). Our kids receive two doses before they're weaned and leave for their new homes. Some of our goats have a site reaction to the pour on, so they receive it orally. You can also use injectable ivermec (again, for cattle) but give it orally via drench.

Thing is, ivermec (I think) doesn't control hookworms. I think you have to use pyrantel pamoate for those. Just remember, any oral dose (as in from a horse syringe) of a paste has to be dosed times four for a goat to be effective. Under dosing will only cause resistance.

According to my vet, the new treatment for cocci is Albon/Dimethox and Safeguard. Safeguard is proving effective as an antiprotozoal despite being ineffective as a dewormer. We treat the whole herd for cocci twice a year. It's a 14 day course of the above. Also, kids get prevention treatments before weaning with either the above or substituting amprollium for the dimethox to avoid resistance.

Ugh. I probably just confused you again! Sorry, hope this makes sense.

 

[helmstead]

And, forgot to mention tapeworms.

Many producers are treating for tapeworms regardless of knowing if they're present.

I don't like this. Tapeworm control meds are touchy at best, and overdose can be dangerous. In goats, it can be difficult to spot them in the stools, so have a fecal done yearly on a sampling of your goats and, if present, ask the vet for a recommendation for treatment.

 

[reallemons1]

I use Ivermec injectable. Give 1cc for every 34 pounds orally every 8 weeks. About 2x yearly I double dose with Safeguard. My goats (5 at the moment) are not closely confined so reinfestation is not real bad here.

 

[bbRedMom]

Ok, so here what I'm hearing:

Ivermectin is a good all around, and should be done every 3 months/4x a year. 1cc per pound. I'll probably doo injectables because I'm comfortable with that.

For hookworms, use pyrantel pamoate at 4x the horse dosage. How many times a year?

And for cocci, use Albon/Dimethox and Safeguard once a year for fourteen days.

I've also moved the goats into a much larger pen. The old one was already there when we moved in, but its ony 6x6 for three goats. The new one is like 10x10x12x8 or something like that. And has a lot more ventilation.

Let me know if I've got it right!

 

[goldensunriseranch]

Hi, I rotate at least 3 classes of wormers and dose them about 4 times a year. Some strains are getting very resistant to several wormers. I've found the pellets and the Safeguard to be useless now. I only usually need to use Albon on young kids. Adults should have built up an immunity to cocci, to treat yearly in adults the cocci could build up a resistance to it and then it will be useless for any new kids born. Some cocci present is normal, it's when they get out of hand (bloom) that it is a problem. Rotating where the goats live can break the lifecycle also. But clean stalls is the best method to keep it under control. When my does have young kids I use a feed called DC finisher that has the anti-cocci in it to keep young kids safe. And switch back to my regular feed when they are out of the danger age range. The most recent class of wormer I have had to introduce is Moxidectin, I buy it as Quest. I use this on my bucks and only on my does when they are NOT pregnant. Not safe when they are pregnant. But it is effective. Was the only class of wormer my vet said would get the worms that have built resistance to everything else.
The injectible Ivomec you need to give oral, injecting it is not effective.