Here’s the thing. All goats have parasites. They’re born with them, they carry them with them for the rest of their lives, BUT, the make it or break it factor is how resistant a goat’s immune system is to each parasite. Rather than bore you with lots of science, I’m going to share with you what to do AFTER you’ve treated for worms, because it’s something I’m dealing with right now. And it’s called.......Anemia.
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Anemia is a condition caused by a shortage of hemoglobin or red blood cells. There are several possible causes of anemia in a goat, ranging from improper nutrition levels such as a lack of copper or iron, to certain blood-sucking parasites, liver fluke, barberpole worms or brown stomach worms. Symptoms of anemia are most commonly characterized by a goat that is lethargic and off-feed. But the ONLY WAY to confirm is by checking the membranes of the eyes. The membranes should be a good deep pink to red but if anemia is present due to a heavy parasite load they will be a rather pale pink to white.
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Treatment for anemia includes vitamin B12 injections, a properly balanced mineral/vitamin ration and deworming according to the lifecycle of the parasites present after running a fecal test for blood-sucking parasites and worms.
While you are treating the FULL lifecycle of the parasites causing the issues you must treat the anemia as well, and AGGRESSIVELY! If not, the animal can die. The following has worked very well for treatment of anemia after deworming.
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1. Give Vit B 12 injections daily for two weeks 2-3 cc per 100# SQ or IM.
2. Fortified Vit B Complex daily for two weeks. 6-8 cc orally.
3. Ferrodex 100 injections for 5 days. 2 cc per 100# IM
Feed them good hay. Quit this treatment too soon, and you get to start all over. If a goat has bottle jaw, you will see the edema subside after three to four days, but it is not over until you get the red cell count back to normal