Disclaimer: This information is provided as an example of how we personally raise goats at Goat Milk Stuff. We are not veterinarians and any information on the GMS website should not be taken as veterinary advice. Please seek the advice of a professional vet before making any changes to your herd management or individual treatment of your goat.
Raising dairy goats is all about practicing prevention. Many of the medications listed below are used for prevention, but some of them are used when we are facing a problem. Below is information on the items we regularly keep in our Goat Medicine Chest.
DOSAGE SUMMARY
Bo-Se: 1 cc per 40 lbs subq
CD/T Toxoid: 2cc subq
CD/T Antitoxin: See below
Lysigin: 5cc subq
Dimethox 40%: Day 1: 1cc per 10 lbs orally. Days 2-5: 1cc per 20 lbs orally
Valbazen: 1 cc per 10 lbs orally
Cydectin: 1 cc per 22 lbs orally
Banamine: 1 cc per 100 lbs IM
DELIVERY METHODS
Orally: Hold goat's head up and squirt medication into back of mouth. Hold mouth closed for a few moments.
SubQ (sub-cutaneous): Pull up medication in a syringe with a needle, shake out any air bubbles, pull up the skin and inject just under the skin.
IM (Intramuscular): Pull up medication in a syringe with a needle and make sure there are no air bubbles. Insert needle into a large muscle (leg or neck), pull back on syringe to make sure you are not in a vein. If you get blood in the syringe pull the needle out and try a different spot. If no blood comes out, inject the medication.
BO-SE
Bo-Se is selenium and vitamin E. Most soil in America is deficient in selenium which is a trace mineral and necessary for survival and a healthy immune system. Bo-Se can be fatal if overdosed, so don't be afraid of it, but use with caution.
- Source: Veterinarian
- Delivery method: Subq
- Adult Dose: 1 cc per 40 lbs
- Kid Dose: 1/2 cc per kid. We give 1/4 cc if the kid is really small (under 4 pounds) and up to 1 cc for a very large kid or 1 cc for a kid that is showing symptoms of weak legs that are not a result of a difficult delivery.
- Schedule:
- Give to does 30 days prior to breeding
- Give to bucks 30 days prior to breeding
- Give to does 30 days prior to kidding
- Give to kids the day of birth
If we have a goat that is not thriving, we will sometimes give them a selenium booster if they haven't received any in over 2 months.
CD/T TOXOID
CD/T stands for "Clostridium Perfringens Types C & D and Tetanus." The toxoid is a vaccine for the prevention of Enterotoxemia. Whether or not you believe in vaccinating your children, vaccinating your goats for this disease can save their lives if you have any errors in your goat management.
- Source: Feed stores or online suppliers. We purchase ours locally as well as online at Jeffers at this link: Bar Vac CD/T Toxoid
- Delivery method: Subq
- Adult Dose: 2cc (dosage is independent of weight)
- Kid Dose: 2cc (dosage is independent of weight)
- Schedule:
- Kids: 6 weeks, 9 weeks, 12 weeks
- Does: 1-3 weeks pre-breeding
- Does: 1-3 weeks pre-kidding to bolster colostrum
- Bucks: Pre-breeding
CD/T ANTITOXIN
CD/T stands for "Clostridium Perfringens Types C & D and Tetanus." The antitoxin is a treatment for an active case or immediate potential case of Enterotoxemia.
- Source: Online suppliers. We don't have much success finding it locally. We purchase it online at Jeffers at this link: Clostridium Perfringens Types C & D Antitoxin
- Delivery method: Subq and Orally
- Adult Dose: 18 cc subq (9 cc on each side of goat) AND 9 cc orally
- Kid Dose: 10 cc subq AND 6 cc orally
LYSIGIN
Lysigin is a toxoid that helps prevent sub-clinical mastitis from a staph infection. Since our family drinks our goat milk raw, it is important to me that we avoid sub-clinical mastitis. Lysigin is given to does only at our farm.
- Source: Online suppliers. We don't have much success finding it locally. We purchase it online at Jeffers at this link: Lysigin
- Delivery method: Subq
- Adult Dose: 5 cc (dosage is independent of weight)
- Kid Dose: 5 cc (dosage is independent of weight)
- Schedule:
- Does: pre-kidding to bolster colostrum
- Doe Kids: 3 weeks AND 6 weeks pre-kidding (so if due date is 2/1, we would give approximately 1/1 and 1/22)
- Bucks and Bucklings do not receive lysigin
12/16/17 Update: Since becoming a certified Grade A dairy, we no longer give lysigin because our raw milk goes through monthly testing which would reveal if there was a sub-clinical mastitis problem.
Disclaimer: This information is provided as an example of how we personally raise goats at Goat Milk Stuff. We are not veterinarians and any information on the GMS website should not be taken as veterinary advice. Please seek the advice of a professional vet before making any changes to your herd management or individual treatment of your goat.
