GOAT HERD HEALTH
KIDS
- Iodine navel and monitor amount of colostrum consumed, give tetanus antitoxin
and over-eating antitoxin if doe was not boostered.
- If a doe has multiple kids, or has not been on a good mineral/vitamin
supplement, the kids may require Vitamin A&D and selenium shots.
*Vitamin A&D: ¼ - ½ cc SQ (under the skin) depending on size of kid.
*Selenium: ¼ - ½ cc SQ also depending on size of kid.
- Dehorn at 7 to 10 days of age.
- Vaccinate with Covexin-8 at 4-6 weeks of age, booster 3 weeks later.
- Deworm at time of booster vaccine with Panacur. - Revaccinate and deworm doelings prior to breeding. Rotate wormers.
DOES
- Vaccinate with Covexin-8 6-8 weeks prior to parturition in order to stimulate high
levels of colostral antibodies.
- Deworm at 6-8 weeks prior to parturition. Deworm again prior to breeding.
Rotate wormers with Ivermectin, Panacur, and Oxybendazole.
- Maintain does on a good mineral and vitamin supplement (RVC#2). This is
important for the health of the doe, and for the health of the kids, since minerals
and vitamins are passed from the doe to the kids through milk.
BUCKS
- Vaccinate annually with Covexin-8.
- Deworm twice yearly. Rotate wormers with Ivermectin, Panacur, and
Oxybendazole.
ALL
- Check regularly for external parasites.
- Run periodic fecal examinations to monitor internal parasites.
- Keep feet trimmed. Ideal is every 4 to 6 weeks to keep them in the best
possible shape.
- Any kids with diarrhea should be checked for coccidia.
- Feed RVC Mineral #2 free choice.
- Consider testing all does for CAE.
For any questions concerning routine or emergency health care, contact your veterinarian.
* Select only well grown individuals for breeding as doelings. It is safest for doelings to have attained 80-90% of adult body size before breeding. Vaccinate and deworm as you would adult does.
* Clostridial vaccinations that we use include:
-Clostridium chauvoei - blackleg
-C. septicum - malignant edema
-C. sordelli - various infections mimicking the first two mentioned
-C. novyi - infectious necrotic hepatitis (black disease)
-C. haemolyticum - redwater
Apparently these are all present in the soil of Central Oregon, with the possible exception of C. haemolyticum. Goats are known to be susceptible to all of these.
* The set of circumstances necessary for the development of the above diseases vary, and cases can be sporadic even among unvaccinated animals. However, when those conditions have been met, the resulting outbreak can be instantly devastating considering that the most common first symptom of these diseases is sudden death.
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