Basic Herd Health: an intro to dewormers, antibiotics, & supplements

Basic Herd Health: an intro to dewormers, antibiotics, & supplements

Abbreviations used on the medicines below:

SQ = Subcutaneous (Under the skin)

IM = Intramuscular (In the muscle)

Orally = In the mouth

OTC = Over the Counter

RX only = Prescription Only

A handy little conversion chart which may be useful for you in figuring dosages up. I have this committed to memory now, so they are always with me.

1 CC = 1 ML
5 ML = 1 teaspoon
3 teaspoons (15 cc’s) = 1 tablespoon
2 tablespoons (30 cc’s) = 1 oz
 
 
 
Dewormers 
 
Cydectin Drench1 cc per 22 lbs. given orally – For use in goats over 12 weeks of age

Ivomec – 1 cc per 25lbs. given orally – For use in goats over 12 weeks of age

Ivomec Plus – 1 cc per 40 lbs. given SQ – For use in goats over 12 weeks of age. Do NOT give orally and do NOT use in the weak or anemic goats. It will clean their system out too quickly and cause them to get even weaker and possibly die. 

Panacur (RX only) (Also known as Safeguard when bought OTC)– 1 cc per 10 lbs. given orally – For use in goats over 4 weeks of age, can be doubled if there is a heavy worm load suspected and can also give it 3 straight days in a row if there is a heavy worm load.
Safeguard Paste (for horses) treat three days in a row 
12lbs=1cc
15lbs=1.2cc
20lbs=1.6cc
25lbs=2cc
30lbs=2.4cc
35lbs=2.8cc
40lbs=3.2cc
45lbs=3.6cc
50lbs=4cc
60lbs=4.8cc
70lbs=5.6cc
75lbs=6cc
80lbs=6.4cc
90lbs=7.2cc
100lbs=8cc
125lbs=10cc
150lbs=12cc
175lbs=14cc
200lbs=16cc
250lbs=20cc

 
Levamisole (Prohibit)  4cc per 100 lbs given orally. Used to treat barberpole and stomach worms. 

Valbazen – 1 cc per 10 lbs. given orally – For use in goats over 12 weeks of age. Do NOT use in pregnant does. There is speculation it can be given to pregnant does in a certain trimester, but I wouldn’t want to take the chance. I never give this to pregnant does. This can however, be safely doubled or tripled and given 3 straight days in a row if a heavy worm load is suspected. Any time I get a new goat in that hasn’t been wormed, I automatically worm 3 straight days in a row and if the goat is sturdy enough I double the dosage. If there are too many worms or I’m not sure how many maybe present, then I do a single dose the first day and double it the second and third day. If the goat is too wormy then giving them too much wormer can cause the worms to all release at once and can seriously hurt or kill the goat. So it’s better to be on the side of caution to begin with. 

Cylence - 1 cc per 25 lbs. put on the back. Part the hair on the spine and put it in a couple different spots. Treat again in 3 weeks to kill the life cycle of the lice/mite. - For use in goats with lice/mites. I use this on all my goats over 8 weeks of age and have seen AMAZING results with it. It works time and time again, so I continue using it. 

 
Vitamins:
The duration at which I give any vitamin is dependent upon each individual goat. If I have one that is very anemic I will give it Ferrodex 100, Vitamin B12 and Fortified B Complex every day for 2 weeks, and then back it off to once every other day for a week. It takes roughly 3 weeks to get iron back into the system enough that the goat can be fine on it’s on. After all, the goat didn’t get anemic overnight. You may’ve noticed it was acting weak one morning and was fine the night before, but the anemia has been playing with the goats system for weeks or months. If it’s a goat without an appetite I’ll give it for a couple days and once the goat starts eating again I’ll back off of it. It really is a case by case thing for how I use it.

Fortified B Complex - 1 cc per 25 lbs. – given SQ or IM. Fortified Vitamin B is best to use when you have one that needs a boost and/or one whose rumen isn’t working properly. Alone, It is not sufficient enough if you have a goat with Polio. Thiamine, Vitamin B1 is needed to treat polioencephalitis. 

Thiamine - 1 cc per 25 lbs. 


BoSe - Selenium is toxic at low dosages, and the dosing margin of safety is narrow. The addition of selenium to feed is controlled by US law. In some areas, producers only need to provide loose minerals containing selenium. In other regions, selenium injections are necessary. When BoSe injections are required, they are usually given at birth and again at one month of age (one-half cc IM). Pregnant does receive injections four to six weeks before kidding, and bucks are vaccinated twice a year. Adult dosage of BoSe is 2-1/2 cc per 100 lbs bodyweight given IM. It is easy to overdose selenium.


Red Cell (for horses) – given orally. 

Iron (sometimes listed as Ferrodex 100) – 1 cc per 50 lbs. - given SQ. This is supplemental iron. Use this for anemic goats or goats with low iron. Keep in mind you CAN overdose on pig iron and CAN make a goat toxic. So, be sure you give it only when needed and don't overdose.
 
 
 
Antibotics:

Note, that giving a tetracycline product like Bio-Mycin with a Penicillin product, will make both ineffective and basically cancels the other out.

Agricillin (sometimes listed as Pro Pen G) – 1 cc per 25 lbs. – given SQ. Can’t be overdosed easily, but can be doubled or tripled depending on sickness/infection with goat. In most cases I give this for 10 days, but it would depend what the reasoning was behind me giving it to the goat in the first place.

Bio-Mycin – 1 cc per 25 lbs. given SQ 3 times, but skipping every other day.  

For example: If you give it on Monday, then you would give the 2nd dose on Wednesday and the 3rd dose on Friday. This medicine does hurt a bit due to the thickness of it and the goat will probably kick its leg, baa and generally act like it’s killing it. 

La-200 – 1 cc per 25 lbs. given SQ 3 times, but skipping every other day.  

For example: If you give it on Monday, then you would give the 2nd dose on Wednesday and the 3rd dose on Friday. Giving IM hurts the goat more, but it allows the medicine to kick in faster. If it’s not a serious rush, then I would give SQ. This medicine does sting and the goat will probably kick it’s leg, baa and generally act like it’s killing it. Please note that La-200 and Bio-Mycin are basically the same drug. The only difference being Bio-Mycin does not sting the goat, but the La-200 does. I highly recommend Bio-Mycin in any case. The only exception being if you only have access to La-200 and have to give it to a goat, then by all means give it.

Tylan 50 – 3 cc per 12 ½ lbs. or 6 cc per 25 lbs. – given SQ once a day for 3 days, but give no more than 10 cc’s in one spot. It’s best to use this on kids or small goats. 

Tylan 200 – 3 cc per 50 lbs. – given IM or SQ once a day for 3 days, but give no more than 10 cc’s in one spot. It’s best to use this on adults and larger goats.
 
 
Miscellaneous
Banamine (FluMeglumine) - Vet prescription required. Anti-inflammatory that helps reduce fever, soothes irritation in the gastro-intestinal tract (gut) when diarrhea or other gut-related digestive illnesses occur, relieves pain and soreness associated with animal bites and other injuries. Use no more frequently than every 12 hours (stomach ulcers are possible) unless goat is dying, justifying the risk. Dosage is 1 cc per 100 lbs. body weight IM. A newborn kid with fever at Onion Creek Ranch would receive an injection of no more than 1/10 cc IM. Keeps best in hot climates when refrigerated. Must-have medication; never run out.
 
 
Dexamethasone - Vet prescription. Cortico-steroid. Use sparingly and under the direction of a vet. Dex can have bad side effects. Used for swelling and inflammation after infection is under control. Do not use if broken bones exist; Dex interferes with bone repair. Do not use on pregnant does unless you are trying to induce labor. Used to induce labor in pregnant does when the slow introduction of labor over a 48-to-72 hour period is desired (pregnancy diseases like Pregnancy Toxemia & Ketosis). Dex interferes with the functioning of the goat's immune system. Usage of this drug must be tapered off slowly; serious problems can occur if Dex is given in large amounts and then suddenly stopped. Tapering off over five days is a normal procedure, i.e. reducing the dosage each day for five consecutive days. Dosage varies depending upon the problem being treated. Keeps best in hot climates when refrigerated. 5 cc per 100 lbs. 
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