Goat Lice Question

[elemay17]

I read that goats can get lice. My pygmy goats have been scratching at their ears and nibbling at an itch or two on their sides and legs. The oldest (about 9) has very dry skin (lots of dandruff when we brush him)

How/can you check for lice or could it be something else?

What product would you recommend for treatment? I see some products are for ears and some for body, is their one for both? Or maybe a natural treatment? TIA! :)

[cinok]

The below site is part of Langston Univesity in OK they have an excellent goat research program i am including the link for the search section.
http://www2.luresext.edu/goats/goat_search.htm

[Anon001]

elemay,
Just go to your local coop and buy permethrin... Give them two doses, two weeks apart.

[bookwormom]

my goats have not had lice, but the cows have. we dusted them with DE and the lice must have died or left.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

If their hair looks rough rather than smooth (not semi-curled like boer goats, but rough), they have lice. *Ivermectin 2cc per 100lb will take care of it. You can use the horse wormer 1.87% rather than the ivomec if you want to save money. Give it by mouth. There is no withdrawal period for ivermectin, and it will worm the goat too. *Caprine parasites are resistant, so the dosage is double for caprine where it is simply 1cc per 100lbs on all other animals.
Since the horse wormer is a bit stronger you could give a bit less than the 2cc, but I just use it full strength. *It doesn't hurt them. If you use the 1% ivomec, it is the 2cc per 100lb.

Pyrethrens have a withdrawal time. You will need to check that if you choose to use them. *You can also use imidaclorpid from Bayer, but you will still have a withdrawal period. Most people choose ivermectin simply because it is cheap, safe, and has no withdrawal period for milk or meat plus it worms the goat internally too. I am not familiar with DE, but I have heard people talk about using it or sevindust. Maybe someone else is familiar with those.

[Anon001]

Momma, Ivermectin does have a withdrawal time (48 days for slaughter). Also, it cannot be used on any dairy animal that is breeding age. *just about the only one that can be used for dairy animals is Cydectin.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay_10551_10001_34542_-1______14602%7C14625%7C34542?listingPage=true&Spec ial=false


All ivermectin is off label in caprine, as most medications are. *But it is widely used. *It does kill lice. It works better by mouth rather than pour on.
Most medications in the states are not tested on Caprine because they are not considered a popular livestock meat/milk. That is why so many are used off label. *

[Anon001]

Momma and I have been PM'ing. One thing I realized from our discussions is that the Ivomec Eprinex appears to be the only ivermectin product (I can find) that has no withdrawals in milk or meat.

Another thing is that although most coops and farm stores do not carry animal health items labeled for goats, you can get them but you may have to request they be special ordered.