common goat meds that we use*
Ammonium Chloride (NH4CL)**—Good to have on hand for home treatment of urinary calculi build up in wethers, and sometimes bucks, due to diet changes or simply too much grain, especially corn. Symptoms: Tail twitching, restlessness, anxiety, a "hunched-up" body posture as the goat strains to urinate. Urinary calculi build up can cause death and should not be left untreated. Call a veterinarian if the urine flow is no more than a dribble for a day. Ammonium Chloride dissolves the stones in the urinary tract and bladder. **See note.
Aquaphor—Healing ointment that seals and softens wounds and scabs to promote faster healing. We often apply Aquaphor on top of Betadine to promote healing.
Arnica—Gel or Cream—Apply thoroughly to affected area for bruising or sprains until healed. In addition, we sometimes administer up to 3 arnica pills 2X per day for bruising or sprains.
Aspirin—Regular strength 1 tablet per 10 pounds of body weight for pain, swelling, fever over 102.5. Can be administered 2X per day.
Blood Stop Powder—Used as an aid to stop bleeding from minor cuts or wounds. We keep this product on hand and us it any time a hoof is trimmed too closely and causes capillary bleeding or when disbudding causes continued bleeding after the area is sterilized with Betadine.
Barrier II Wound Care Spray—An antiseptic and pain reliever containing iodine and lidocaine is another handy wound treatment.
B-Complex—Normally 5 CC per 100 lbs. Always check label for dosage. For stress and for weak goats. We give our goats a dose the day before and/or the day of travel to reduce stress. We also use B-Complex to boost the immune system when inner eyelids are light pink.
Betadine—A good, all-purpose antiseptic to keep on hand for treating wounds. We use Betadine rather than alcohol to mark injection sites so that we know exactly which spot has had antiseptic applied.
Sheep & Goat Liquid B-12—A “super concentrate” oral med produced by Rooster Booster. We have found this med good for boosting energy and regaining health in anemic goats. We give doses of 5-10cc, depending upon the size of the goat.
CDT--(Clostridium Perfringes Types C & D-Tetanus Toxoid) is a preventative against enterotoxemia and tetanus caused by Types C & D clostridium tetani. We administer 2cc of CDT to all adult goats annually. The does receive their annual booster one month prior to delivering kids. Kids whose dams have been vaccinated receive their first CDT vaccine at 6 weeks of age and their second dose 21 days later. It is recommended that kids whose dams have not received a CDT vaccine prior to delivery receive their first 2cc dose at one month of age, their second dose 21 days later and their third dose 21 days after that. CDT injection sites often develop cysts despite efforts to clean and use antiseptic on the area. These cysts often disappear, sometimes drain on their own, and can be removed by owners who want to make a small incision with an X-acto blade and excise them. All cysts and abscesses should be treated as infectious and handled with preventive care, including wearing gloves and flushing the area with Iodine and applying antibiotic ointment. Onion Creek has an informative page on causes and treatment of abscesses.
Cydectin—We have rotated to Cydectin as our go-to broad spectrum dewormer and are happy with the results. Dosage 4.5 cc per 20 lb.
Cylence—At 1 cc per 25 lb, Cylence works very well for us as a pour-on for external parasite control.
Fung-A-Way—Topical antiseptic to help control ringworm, summer itch, girth itch, rain rot, and other fungal conditions. We have found it to work quickly and wonderfully for hair restoration in goats whose flaky skin and bald areas did not respond to pour-on treatment for mites. Fung-A-Way is usually found on the horse meds aisle.
Herbal Dewormers—We have used Molly’s Herbal Worm Kit Formula #1 and Formula #2 successfully. We have also used Hoegger’s All Natural Wormer purchased from APL Farms. Both are great maintenance dewormers. Goats should still be checked regularly for signs of anemia and have fecal counts if there is any concern about internal parasites. We recommend Famacha Chart training for owners.
Cydectin—Oral dewormer containing 0.1% moxidectin. Controls infections due to internal parasites. This is the broad spectrum dewormer on our current rotation of dewormers. We use it for deworming pregnant does when necessary and for preventative deworming of does the day after kidding. There is a recommended 56 day milk withdrawal, so I would not advise using it on lactating milk does. Cydectin can be used simultaneously with Safeguard or Panacur in the treatment of barber pole worm infestations (See Goat Care: Barber pole worms). For goat dosages of Cydectin, we refer to the Cornell University Dewormer Chart for Goats.
Ivomec—Injectable dewormer for Cattle & Swine 1% Sterile Solution (Merck) (Agrilabs produces the generic, much less expensive product, Agri-Mectin.). Previously we used 1 ML per 20 pounds for treatment of lungworms, gastrointestinal roundworms and larvae. Works much better if given orally. More recently, we used the Cornell University Dewormer Chart for Goats and administered 4.5 cc per 25 lb. Measure with a syringe and remove needle before squirting dewormer into back of goat’s mouth. Safe for pregnant does. Administered to does the day after birthing and to all kids at 1 month of age. We administer broad spectrum dewormers a second time 21 days after the first dose to kill residual eggs and larvae. Although worms are a silent killer among goats, we no longer use dewormers with adult goats on a routine basis. Instead of the old monthly deworming routine, we now use the Famacha Chart as a guide to monitor inner eyelid color (should be medium to dark pink), and we monitor our goats' poop. We deworm individual goats when their inner eyelids are light rather than medium or dark pink. We monitor poop for signs of tapeworm (Along with round worms, one of the few worms visible to the naked eye; looks like white grains of rice.) and for soft, clumpy poop versus nice hard, round pellets. If the soft, clumpy poop is not caused by diet (nutrient-rich food, green grass, etc.,) we consider deworming the goat. All does receive a broad spectrum dewormer the day after kidding, when their immune systems are compromised and another check for dewormer needs one month after kidding. Ivomec or another Class 3 broad spectrum deowrmers is sometimes used simultaneously with Safeguard or Panacur in the treatment of barber pole worm infestations (See Goat Care: Barber pole worms).
Ivermectin (Pour-on for Cattle)—Topical solution used on goats for external parasites only. Administer at 3X the cattle dose. We give 1 cc per 20 lb. for goats. Good general treatment early spring or late fall to ward off external parasites. Can be administered weekly for problem infestations, such as mites. Also, after weekly treatments have ended, Ivermectin Pour-on treatment can be followed by administration of Nu-Stock to problem areas, such as dorsal area, legs, tail area and sternum.
Noromectin—Clear, Injectable broad spectrum dewormer used like Ivomec. Cattle & Swine 1% Sterile Solution (Norbrook Laboratories). 1 ML per 20 pounds for treatment of lungworms, gastrointestinal roundworms and larvae. Works much better if given orally. Measure with a syringe and remove needle before squirting dewormer into back of goat’s mouth. Safe for pregnant does. Administered to does the day after birthing and to all kids at 1 month of age. We administer broad spectrum dewormers a second time 21 days after the first dose to kill residual eggs and larvae. Although worms are a silent killer among goats, we no longer use dewormers with adult goats. Instead of the old monthly deworming routine, we now use the Famacha Chart as a guide to monitor inner eyelid color (should be medium to dark pink), and we monitor our goats' poop. We deworm individual goats when their inner eyelids are light rather than medium or dark pink. We monitor poop for signs of tapeworm (Along with round worms, one of the few worms visible to the naked eye; looks like white grains of rice.) and for soft, clumpy poop versus nice hard, round pellets. If the soft, clumpy poop is not caused by diet (nutrient-rich food, green grass, etc.,) we consider deworming the goat. Choose a broad spectrum dewormer and be consistent with its use. We used Ivomec for several years and now use Noromectin. We will continue to search for the best dewormer for our goats and our region as parasites build resistance to current dewormers. It is always good to have your veterinarian conduct a fecal count to determine the parasites present in your herd and to monitor treatment results in your goats.
Nu-Stock—Effective for skin disorders, hair loss, mites, ear mites, wounds, cuts. Non-toxic topical treatment, stops itching, promotes hair growth. Ingredients: Sulfur, pine oil, mineral oil. We use Pierce’s All Purpose Nu-Stock for use on animals. Can be used as a follow-up treatment to Ivermectin Pour-on.
Penicillin—For infection. 1 ML per 25 lb. once a day for 5-14 days. Never less than 5 days.
Pepto Bismol (Generic: Pink Bismuth)—Helps soothe goats with diarrhea after treatment for the cause of the diarrhea has been administered. Pepto Bismol can be administered every 4-6 hours in the following dosages: Newborns 2 cc, Kids at or near one-month 5 cc, adult goats 10-15 cc.
Quest—A potent broad spectrum dewormer that can be used to treat barber pole worms. I never give Quest to a weak goat. Quest is said to stay in the system for 28 days and does not need to be repeated in 10 days as recommended for many general broad spectrum dewormers. The dosage we use is 1 cc per 100 lb. We have also dialed up the tube dosage to 2X the goat’s weight with good results.
Quest Plus— A potent broad spectrum dewormer that can be used to treat barber pole worms and also contains the active ingredient praziquantel for tapeworm treatment. I never give Quest Plus to a weak goat. Quest Plus is said to stay in the system for 28 days and does not need to be repeated in 10 days as recommended for many general broad spectrum dewormers. The dosage we use is 1 cc per 100 lb.b.
Red Cell—6 cc per 100 lb. Although normally given to horses, we use Red Cell successfully with goats as well. It serves as an iron supplement and can be administered to weak goats in addition to Vitamin B Complex. To boost energy levels in stressed goats, administer over a 3-day period. For weak or anemic goats, administer over a 7-day period.
SafeGuard—For tapeworms only; does not work for other parasites; safe for pregnant and lactating goats. We follow dosage instructions on product and administer for 3 consecutive days. Tapeworms are common but not a regular occurrence. The first time the unmistakable tapeworm larvae, looking like living grains of rice, showed up in goat poop we treated the infected goat immediately then treated the entire herd as well. We have only had one other occurrence, and we treated all kids and any adults who showed signs of clumpy poop or who seemed to have low weight. SafeGuard flushed out the whole adult parasites (visible in the poop) in the infected kid. The effectiveness of individual dewormers depends upon your region, your farm, and your herd; you will need to determine which dewormers work best for your herd. Safeguard is sometimes used simultaneously with Cydectin, Ivomec, or other Class 3 broad spectrum dewormers in the treatment of barber pole worm infestations (See Goat Care: Barber pole worms).
Sulmet—(or the generic Di-Methox—sulfadimethoxine concentrated solution 12.5%.) for prevention and treatment of coccidiosis. 5 day treatment; 1 CC per 5 lbs. day one; 1 CC per 10 lbs. days 2-5. We use this med as a coccidiosis preventive in all kids beginning at 1 month of age and continuing each month for the first 3 months. We have only found this product in gallon containers but find it to be a worthwhile investment. We have found Sulmet to be much more effective than Corid. We are always ready to administer another 5-day treatment for any kid under one-year of age with diarrhea that is not caused by diet, especially any dark watery diarrhea that has an especially foul odor. Sulmet is a must-have in your goat medicine chest. With any diarrhea, we make sure the goat has plenty of dry hay to munch. I also draw up a little syrup and water to hide the bad taste and prevent the goat from gagging and spitting out the medication.
Tetanus Antitoxin--0.5 ML for kid; 1 ML for adult with puncture wound or just before tattooing, castrating or disbudding. Tetanus Antitoxin is administered for immediate tetanus resistance when an animal has a puncture wound or is being disbudded, banded, or castrated. Tetanus Toxoid is administered annually, usually in the annual CDT vaccine, to help the animals build an immunity to Tetanus.
Toltrazuril 5%—for use against coccidia in the prevention of coccidiosis. We administer 1cc per 5 lb. orally one time to kids at one-month, two-months and three-months of age as a preventive. Any kid up to one-year of age with diarrhea not caused by change in diet is treated with Toltrazuril. Available from Horse PreRace suppliers. Although it is more expensive, we prefer the one-time Toltrazuril dose over the 5-day Sulmet treatment against the silent killer coccidiosis. Cocci can live in even the cleanest environments and cause a tell-tale black, very stinky diarrhea, not the green diarrhea caused from eating fresh green forage. However, sometimes the diarrhea is not as obvious as lethargy, standing off away from the rest of the herd and, in the final stages, bottle-jaw (a swelling of the lower jaw that must be treated immediately).
Triple Antibiotic Ointment—Can be used topically for infections in goats. We keep it and Betadine on hand in our goat bag that goes to the barn with us on each visit.
Yogurt—I have used 2 oz. of plain liquid yogurt to help restart a “soured” foul smelling rumen. My Betty Lu sucked down what yogurt there was in my syringe then lapped up the remaining yogurt from the cup.
Valbazen is another recommended tapeworm treatment among goat farmers. Recommended oral dosage is at a rate of 1 cc per 10 lb. of goat weight; not to be administered to pregnant or lactating does. Purdue University Dosage Chart is handy for goat worming meds. We used Valbazen with a newly purchased kid who showed tapeworm signs but for whom SafeGuard did not flush out the tapeworms. Wait at least 10 days after administering SafeGuard before administering Valbazen, then, if it works to flush out the tapeworms, stick with Valbazen for that goat in the future so as not to rotate dewormers. Dewormer rotation should occur only every 3 years minimum.
**Amonium Chloride: To a wether who had almost complete blockage from urinary calculi build-up and was visited by the veterinarian, we administered penicillin injections for 5 days as a precautionary measure against infection and also administered orally for one week ¾ tsp, approximately 0.1 oz. Ammonium Chloride dissolved in 30-40 cc apple juice for palatability and administered orally through a syringe.
Ammonium Chloride tastes horrible and burns the throat. Judging from the gag reflex, this 0.1 oz. , ¾ tsp, was the maximum we could have gotten down him. This was followed by carrot or apple slices to help cover the taste and soothe the throat.
A balanced diet is the best prevention. In 10 years of goat farming, we have had only one wether with urinary calculi issues, and he had problems only after spending six months on a different farm with a different diet. Diet is the key.
GESTATION CALCULATOR: American Goat Society
NOTE: We are not veterinarians and do not recommend medications; we simply share information on what works for us and our goats.
