[cici]

Hi all. I'm having an issue with one of my goats. He is very itchy and suffers with dandruff and scabs. My vet has come and given him injections for mites and I have used goat nutrition's anti-lice powder on him with no success. The other two goats don't seem to be itchy at all and their skin looks fine... so I suspect it may be a zinc deficiency?

Could someone please give some advise on how to supplement? Thank you and any other help would be appreciated too.
Their diet is all round goat mix + caprivite.

[Anke]

What injection did the vet give you and what breed? Lice are very common at this time of year, and yes some goats are more susceptible than others - even if they share pens etc.  Lice powder will not deal with them, also ivermectin injections have to be given more than once, it is either 7 or 10 days after first one, or you may even have to continue. It should deal with lice (both sucking and biting ones) In the meantime I would introduce a Zinc mineral lick (one of the Rockies is high Zinc, but you can only get the big ones - mine are hung up with thick fencing wire through the central hole). If he isn't used to Rockies, you could also boost him directly with a sheep mineral drench with added copper, his stable mates could probably also do with a top-up.


I take it the vet ruled out scab.

[cici]

Hi, thanks for responding! The vet gave us dectomax and we waited seven days after injecting to inject again. They are anglo-nubians. I've placed an order for the zinc mineral at the local store so with luck hopefully it will arrive soon! They are used to the baby rocky licks (selenium and copper) but thank you for the idea about the thick fencing as I know they wouldn't lick a big block on the floor! I am thinking about adding a seaweed supplement as well.

Honestly though the vet hardly looked and then gave us the injection, so I think I may have to get another vet to come and look at him, hopefully they'll take it more seriously.

Sorry for asking another question but after the dectomax injected into the skin a few weeks ago is it ok to give them their usual panomec in the mouth? I typically worm them every three months and am worried about overdoing it now!

[Anke]

Well the Dectomax should do the worming for yout this time. It seems that giving a "kill all parasites" avermecting shot is a quick way to deal anything skin unfortunately, and it doesn't always work (as I have found in the past). His immune system will just not work as well, which makes him more likely to be attacked by lice, worms etc etc. So a mineral drench  (a sheep one but needs to include copper) would be my other initial treatment. His mates could probably also do with one.


However some goats have what seems be chronic skin & parasite issues, some grow out of them, but it often returns at times of high stress (like at kidding time).



I have always found that Caprivite is a bit hit and miss, some of my goats were experts at leaving the powder in the bottom of the feed bowl every time. Drenches have worked so much better, at least you know they had them.


I am using the Premier sheep + copper from JG Animal Health for my goats a few times per year.