[NormandyMary]

Hi all. I went to the vets today to get a wormer for the boys, so that they would be wormed before they had their op (roll on next Wednesday!). Ive got to give it to them via a syringe. I intend to get my hubby to cuddle them, so that I can prise their mouths open and pop the liquid in, as you do for moggies etc. Is this the best way to go about it or does anyone have any better way?

I was quite chuffed actually as I found out that their vaccinations will only cost 4€ each. I saw the vet to discuss it and he said it would cover pretty much everything they needed to be vaccinated against. Much cheaper than cats and dogs. Phew!!

[jinglejoys]

You cuddle them,put one finger on the corner of the mouth and squirt it in the side (Why is the vet vaccinating them?)

[Mays]

Ha I have just been thru this with my girls   I started off in the cuddling mode, then the holding on for dear life mode... then, just when the struggle was over I learn that though goats may not be able to vomit, they sure as hell can spit!! Spitting it all out over me! they simply looked at me thinking "by all means put that syringe in my mouth, but u & I both know I am not going to swallow!!"

So armed with my new found knowledge, I approached the task like I would with a cat... no mercy was my motto (briefly) I then held the mouth shut n up!! I ended up wearing at least 1/2 the bottle, but thankfully I managed to dose them eventually 

Horses are much easier as the wormers are paste, the wormer my vet gave me was just too watery, that I think was the lesson I learnt.

[Beewyched]

 

Remeber this with my mother's goats - after the wrestling, finger down side of mouth (get it bitten  ) , replace with syringe, quickly squirt, hold mouth shut & blow gently at their nostrils - this usually makes them swallow.  You do really need 2 of you to do this, but if you do, back them into a corner first.  Oh & wear your oldest, muckiest gear 

[plumseverywhere]

Remeber this with my mother's goats - after the wrestling, finger down side of mouth (get it bitten  ) , replace with syringe, quickly squirt, hold mouth shut & blow gently at their nostrils -

must remember this for next time my children need calpol. scarlett in particular hates the stuff 

[Beewyched]

Te He  mine always loved Calpol 

The trick with blowing at the nostrils works well with dogs too 

[NormandyMary]

You cuddle them,put one finger on the corner of the mouth and squirt it in the side (Why is the vet vaccinating them?)

Is it not the done thing to have a vet vaccinate them? He did ask me if I wanted to do it but Ive never given a jab before....mind you, I have done surgery on my beloved cockerals foot many times, cutting it open to get poison out when he had bumblefoot. That was certainly not for the fainthearted I can tell you. Ill let the vet do the first ones next week, and if he shows me what to do , Ill have a go. Im game for anything me! I used to be so scared of touching animals and doing anything even slightly medical, but I have to do it all as my husband is a great wuss!!

As soon as Ive wormed the boys, Ill let you know how I got on. Im looking forward to it already...NOT!

[cuckoo]

Hi,

I dont know the volume you need to give but I use a drenching gun which has a metal "spout" which has a slight curve in it to help it goin the mouth and down the throat.  Vaccinating is easy once you have been shown - I tend to use sub cutaneous (under the skin).

[plumseverywhere]

If you ask the vet to show you once, you do the second with him/her watching perhaps?  I was a nurse (human nurse not animal) so felt fairly confident injecting my goats - although was shocked how thick their skin is compared to our own!
Now I do any injections that the goats or lambs have needed.
You will need to do some sub cut (under skin) but occasionally you will come across intramuscular so always double check with the vet before giving that you are using correct route for that drug. 

[shiv22]

Hi,

I've just spent the past few days giving all of mine worming stuff. I got my husband Ben to hold them. One arm hugging the neck and one arm around the front of their chest  - stroking them on their chest to calm them. I opened their mouths by pushing my thumb and finger either side of their bottom lip, they did clamp on to my fingers but it left enough space to slip the syringe in and squirt it down their throat.

I got the impression that two out of the four of mine enjoyed the taste because once we let go they were following me hanckering for more.

Hope this helps.

[Beewyched]

What flavour was it shiv? 

[jinglejoys]

If you ask the vet to show you once, you do the second with him/her watching perhaps?  I was a nurse (human nurse not animal) so felt fairly confident injecting my goats - although was shocked how thick their skin is compared to our own!
Now I do any injections that the goats or lambs have needed.
You will need to do some sub cut (under skin) but occasionally you will come across intramuscular so always double check with the vet before giving that you are using correct route for that drug. 

 Agree.
I was just thinking  dost of wormer +deisel and time to a vet+£15 for the privaledge of entering the surgery+cost of the vet doing something anyone who has livestock can do......Sorry,just object to vets cornering the  market on everything so that soon(or from the sound of  it,now)all the skillsthat came naturally to livestock keepers are lost ad then only vets are allowed to do it at stinging costs!

[divanp75]

Golden syrup makes everything go down better.  my goats fight to get to the syringe first

[Beewyched]

"Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, the medicine go down ..." 

[NormandyMary]

Sorry all, I took the cowards way out. My hubby's back went this morning, so he has been housebound, unable to help with the boys. I did want to get them done today as I started to see white bits in their poo so thought I couldnt delay the treatment. Therefore, I waited until this afternoon, measured out the dose for each boy into separate bowls and put a few of their "biscuits" (pellets)in each bowl, mixed it all around and gave them to the boys. I had to sit in with them to make sure each got the correct dose, happily they scoffed the lot. Will this be OK for them taking it in this way?

NOW...I have another VERY silly question. Should their little tummies rumble all the time? Something in the grey matter of my brain says that its normal, I just need to be sure. I was cuddling Billy this afternoon, and the noise he was making was amazing!

Thanks folks,

Mary.