Goats are a minor ruminant species. There are less than 1.9 million ( 1,900,000) goats in the USA (2013, USDA) and the number is decreasing, so very few medications are made for them. Drug development, testing, and approval costs seldom justify focusing on such small numbers. Almost all of the medications we used to treat goats, prescription or over the counter, are “off label” or “extra label” usage. Lack of government approval does not mean that such products are dangerous or ineffective with goats. You as a goat raiser must learn which to use and how to use them.
In many areas of the USA veterinarians know little to nothing about goats. Goat producers must rely on knowledgeable breeders for the help they need to raise healthy goats. Find yourself a knowledgeable mentor and stick with that person until you decide the information is incorrect. Contacting multiple people on the Internet will only confuse you and may hurt your goats. There is much bad information about goats on the Internet, especially on social media. I am NOT a vet. I have been raising goats since January 1990, and in all those years I have met only two vets who knew anything about goats. Use the information in this article at your own risk and only after you have consulted with a qualified goat veterinarian. (You will have to search diligently to find one.)
Description
A well stocked medical cabinet is a must have when it comes to owning goats. You never know when sickness will hit and what goat medications you will need to fix it. Most medications have a pretty long shelf life- but even if they only last a year, it is better to have them on hand than to risk losing your goats! Goats are cute mischievous and yes, accident-prone. A goat medicine cabinet is essential to successful goat farming. If you don’t believe that statement just ask any goat owner! Goats hurt themselves in so many ways. The medicine cabinet should include goat medications for treating external wounds like cuts, bruises, and sores. Goats may need internal first aid, too. Parasites are one cause for taking internal first aid action.
There are many products that can stock a goat medicine cabinet. One thing you may first notice after acquiring goats is that livestock veterinarians are not as widely available as pet veterinarians. In some areas your ailing goat cannot be seen the same day that an illness or accident occurs. Your vet might give you advice over the phone, in order to assist the animal, in the meantime. Learning as much as you can about wound treatment and common ailments can save the life of your goat when veterinary help is not immediately available. Keeping a well-stocked goat medicine cabinet can literally be a lifesaver.
Types of Goat Meds To Have On Hand
A Good Dewormer
A Good Antibiotic
Electrolytes
Kao-Pectin
CD&T Vaccination
CD/T Anti-Toxin
Activated Charcoal
Milk of Magnesia
Sulmet (or other antibacterials)
Epinephrine
Uses/benefits of Goat Meds To Have On Hand
Provide long-term protection against overeating disease and tetanus. Newborn kids and newly purchased animals should be vaccinated with 2 cc (kids at one month of age) and then a second vaccination should be given 30 days later (kids at 2 months of age.) Two injections 30 days apart are required in order to provide long-term protection. Annually thereafter, one injection of 2 cc per animal will renew the protection. Can be given either IM or SQ. Do not be surprised if it makes a knot at the injection site. This is the body’ reaction to the vaccination, and in most cases, it eventually goes away.
Features of Goat Meds To Have On Hand
Anti-inflammatory that is good for bringing down high fever, stopping severe diarrhea in very young kids, calming the gut in digestive illnesses, and relieving pain and soreness associated with animal bites and other injuries. Cannot be used but once every 36 hours, because it builds up in vital organs and will cause permanent damage to the animal, including but not limited to ulcerations in the digestive system of the goats.
Dosage is 1 cc per 100 lbs IM. Refrigerate
Prices of Goat Meds To Have On Hand
$44.99 – $85.08