July 2024 Issue |
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• Subscribe to Meat Goat Mania • Email Us • Onion Creek Ranch • Bending Tree Ranch • OCR Health & Management Articles • MGM Archive |
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SNAKEBITES AND GOATS Treat all snakebites as if they are life threatening to the goat. Some snakebites are worse than others, but you likely won't know what kind of snake caused the bite. Snakebites close to the heart are usually the most dangerous. Head bites are not as severe, because there is less blood supply to carry the venom to the rest of the body. Leg and body bites cause lots of swelling. Swelling will spread over the body for several days as the bloodstream spreads the toxin. A snakebite above the hoof will cause swelling to occur up the leg and across the chest. Note: If any breed or crossbreed of dog is bitten, you need a vet, especially with rattlesnake bites. In my experience, dogs cannot survive rattlesnake bites without vet help. A dog needs snake anti-venom administered immediately. Dosages cited below are based upon a 100 pound goat. You must adjust upwards or downwards based upon the weight of the goat that is being treated. 1) Locate the bite and clean it thoroughly with a disinfecting solution like Betadine. If you can't find the fang marks, move on to the next steps. 2) Do NOT apply a tourniquet. Do NOT bandage the bite(s). Leave bites open and uncovered so drainage can occur. If the tissue begins to die, apply Trypzyme Spray (vet prescription) to help slough off necrotic (dead) tissue. Copperhead snakebites are usually less poisonous than rattlesnakes; rattlesnake bites usually cause necrosis (tissue death surrounding the bite). 3) To reduce inflammation and swelling, I administer 8 cc Dexamethasone IM (into the muscle) on the first day. On days 2 through 5, I give 7 cc, 5 cc, 3 cc, and 1 cc Dexamethasone respectively. "Dex" is a vet prescription which you should always have on hand. This cortico-steroid has many uses, but should never be administered casually. Dex induces labor in a pregnant doe. Dex should always be stepped down when dosing and never stopped "cold turkey." Buy a 100 ml bottle and keep it with your vet supplies. 4) Administer the antihistamine Benadryl orally every twelve hours, totaling at least four dosages. WalMart's Equate brand is called "Diphedryl Allergy." The tablets are 25 mg and you must administer 1 mg per pound, so a 100 pound goat gets 100 mg orally per dosing (4 tablets). 4) Inject 5 cc of penicillin SQ daily for a minimum of 5 to 7 days. I give penicillin SQ over the ribs, using an 18 gauge needle. 5) If fever is present, I give 1 cc per 100 lbs bodyweight of Banamine IM or SQ every 12 hours until rectal temperature is back to normal (101.5* to 103.5* F). 6) Give the goat lots of fluids, preferably ReSorb or other electrolytes to flush toxins from the body. Don't be alarmed if soft feces occurs. See my article on Diarrhea. Diarrhea is a symptom of other problems and can be a way for the body to cleanse itself of toxins. 7) Green leaves, fresh grass hay, and even some legume hays are desirable. The snake-bitten goat is not likely to eat grain. If a veterinarian is available, he can give the goat an IV solution of 10 cc of DMSO diluted in 60 cc Sterile Saline Solution. Do NOT try this yourself. IV administration of medications is best left to trained professionals, especially when DMSO is involved. If the goat survives the first few hours, it is likely to survive the snakebite. Suzanne W. Gasparotto, Onion Creek Ranch, Texas 7.1.24 |
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Subscribe FREE now! Monthly issues with new articles and other educational information on meat goat health, nutrition, and management written by Suzanne W. Gasparotto of Onion Creek Ranch and Pat Cotten of Bending Tree Ranch. In all cases, it is your responsibility to obtain veterinary services and advice before using any of the information provided in these articles. Neither Suzanne Gasparotto nor Pat Cotten are veterinarians. None of the contributors to this website will be held responsible for the use of any information contained herein. |
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Come Learn in Person!! Join us at the once a year GoatCamp™ at Onion Creek Ranch in Texas where you will learn from the experts in hands on as well as classroom instruction. (Where no question is too dumb!!)
Taking reservations for GoatCamp™ 2024 Oct 21-24, 2024 FAMACHA training. Doing microscopic fecal counts. Reading fecals. Learn how to diagnose and treat illnesses and diseases Nutrition: learn best nutritional practices Tubing, injections, tattooing, eartagging, handling and restraints Hoof trimming, hoof care Necropsy demonstration Diseases affecting goats Drawing blood, disease testing Selecting goats for breeding, market sales Marketing your animals Humane slaughter demonstration Breeding, Kidding, Kid care Importance of private property rights to goat owners. ...and much more, all on a working goat ranch. The GOATCAMP™ Instructors MARK SWENING, DVM - VETERINARIAN, Coleman, Texas Vet Clinic JAMES MILLER, DVM, LSU - PARASITOLOGIST KENT MILLS, HI PRO FEEDS - NUTRITIONIST DAN BYFIELD, AMERICAN LAND FOUNDATION - PROPERTY RIGHTS & LEGISLATIVE ISSUES BOB GLASS, PAN AMERICAN VET LABORATORY - SERUM DIAGNOSTICS SUZANNE GASPAROTTO, ONION CREEK RANCH PAT COTTEN, BENDING TREE RANCH Classroom Instruction as well as Hands-on Work with Onion Creek Ranch goats on a working goat ranch TUITION PER STUDENT - $550.00 IF RECEIVED BEFORE 10-1-24 $575.00 IF RECEIVED ON OR AFTER 10-1-24 Registration Form on the GoatCamp™ page at www.tennesseemeatgoats.com Additional Information or questions: Suzanne Gasparotto - 512-265-2090 (Texas) or email her at onioncrk@centex.net My name is Christy Dalros. I attended Goat Camp™ in October. A few weeks ago, I noticed one of my does was not acting like her normal self. She had recently given birth to triplets and had been fine up until then. I check eyes at least weekly and she had good pink membranes prior. When I checked her eyes that day she was at a 4 on the FAMACHA scale. I immediately took a fecal sample and her count was extremely high. I began deworming her but she went down to a 5 on the FAMACHA scale soon after and developed bottle jaw. I have been so worried but I have run fecal samples on her weekly and continued deworming. I started her on daily iron and B-12. I also started giving her all the alfalfa she wanted for the added protein. I am happy to say that today she had no signs of bottle jaw and her eyes were at a 3 on the FAMACHA scale. I wanted to thank you for the opportunity to attend Goat Camp™ last year. Without your class, I would not have known what to do. I lost more than 10 goats last year by this time and because of the training GoatCamp™ gave me, I am happy to say that ALL of my goats are thriving. I run my own fecal tests, something I would never have known how to do without Goat Camp™, and I refer to your articles and the notes from GoatCamp™ regularly. Thank you so much for the knowledge you shared. You have helped me more than you know. **************************************************** I want to send you a huge thanks you for doing what you do and offering me the opportunity to attend Goat Camp and learn from the best!! There was a ton of new information for me to absorb but equally valuable was to confirm whether or not I have been doing things correctly or not. It was amazing to see how you setup your operation and all the things you had to consider . Since I got home, I set up monthly random fecal testing to monitor wormload. I also have a Jeffers shopping list and a few books to add to my collection. After the necropsy, all the things that I have read and pictured finally made sense. I found that demonstration fascinating and really well explained. The 4 days for information was more than worth the time and travel and you have provided me with more confidence in looking after my little herd. I wish you all the best with your business and hope you continue to educate others, as your experience and knowledge is priceless. Shelley Helmer Canada **************************************************** We had the most amazing experience at Goat camp . The information I found there was very impressive. That is one of the best decisions I have made going into this venture. My second best decision is I will be back next year. My brain hurt trying to retain all the info. I will continue to review everything you supplied but I will be lucky if I have retained 50%. My 82 year old Mother was so excited when I explained all that went on she wants to come with us. Brian returned for a second GoatCamp™ and was amazed at how much he has missed the first time around! Thank you, best money we ever spent. Brian & Lori, Rockport, Texas
Click here for more photos from the very successful 2023 GoatCamp™ |
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