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MEDICATIONS  &  SUPPLIES AND HOW  TO  USE  THEM

All antibiotics that we use with goats require vet precription as of June 2023, regardless of method of application (oral, injectible, teat infusions, feed based, or dissolved in water).   So far vaccines do not require vet script.

Goats are a minor ruminant species.  In 1990, when I began raising goats, there were 12 million goats in the USA.   As of 2013, per the USDA, there were only 1.9 million goats, and the numbers have declined since then, primarily because goats are difficult to raise. Goats are  a minor ruminant species,  so very few medications are made for them.   Drug development, testing, and approval costs seldom justify focusing on such small numbers.

Almost all of the  medications we use to treat goats, prescription or over the counter, are "off label" or "extra label" usage.    Lack of government approval does not mean that such products are dangerous or ineffective with goats.   It means that drug manufacturers have chosen not to spent the many dollars required to get government approval to market for usage with goats.  You as a goat raiser must learn which to use and how to use them, including learning the goat-appropriate dosage for this off-label usage.

Most veterinarians know little to nothing about goats. You just locate and rely  on knowledgeable breeders  for the help they need to raise healthy goats. Find yourself a knowledgeable mentor and  stick with that person until you decide the information is incorrect.    There is much bad information about goats on the Internet, especially on social media.

I am NOT a vet. I have been raising goats since January 1990, and in all those years I have met only two vets who knew anything about goats.   Use the information in this article at your own risk and only after you have consulted with a qualified goat veterinarian. (You will have to search diligently to find one.)

I have a consultation service that involves talking with the goat raiser, finding out about management and health issues, and advising what I would do in similar circumstances if the goat was under my care.  If you are interested, details are available in MeatGoatMania and on the Articles page of www.tennesseemeatgoats.com.  Or contact me at onioncrk@centex.net.

Contrary to popular belief, goats are  fragile creatures.  All prey-prone  species with short gestation and multiple births are going to experience  high  mortality.  When a goat  gets sick, it requires IMMEDIATE  attention.    It is going to die quickly if you don't  take fast  action.   This requires both a knowledge of goat health and having appropriate supplies and medications ON HAND.  You won't find what you need locally when you need it fast.   All antibiotics require a prescription.  You MUST develop a relationship with a local veterinarian so that you can buy what you need and have them on hand IN ADVANCE.

Medications are presented in alphabetical order; some of the medications are interchangeable with others, i.e. they provide similar treatment benefits but are offered because specific products may not be available in all areas. I have not addressed meat or milk withdrawal timeframes. Some of the products may not be approved for use in food animals; Gentamycin and Baytril 100   are restricted from usage in food animals in certain species and jurisdictions. Check with your local vet to find out what you can legally use with his approval.

The products listed below and comments about them are based upon my personal experiences or those of vets with whom I have had a working relationship. Jeffers 1-800-533-3377 www.jefferspet.com carries most of these non-prescription items. Jeffers now offers a prescription service if your vet  is unable to obtain the products  you need.

In December 2016, antibiotics  were  prohibited as feed additives. All sulfa-based products are subject to VFD (Veterinarian Feed Directive) which means prescription-only usage.  Animal health businesses have restructured  to sell antibiotics only to  veterinarians.  Penicillin and all other antibiotics, including teat-infusion medications,  became   prescription items  in June 2023.

A comment about antibiotics: Due to the goat's very fast metabolism, antibiotics (whether given orally or injectably) must be given for five consecutive days.  These one- time injections do NOT work with goats.   Some vets and some goat raisers refuse to believe this and goats die.

A-180 (danofloxacin) - Vet prescription. Injectable respiratory antibiotic. Neither I nor my vet like this product's use with goats. Nuflor Gold and Excenel RTU have worked better for us.

Albadry Plus - Teat infusion medication containing procaine penicillin and novobiocin sodium for treating mastitis in non-lactating goats and drying up lactating goats. Can be used topically on staph infections. Best to have the udder's contents tested to find out which organism is causing the infection so you can choose best intra-mammary antibiotic. Vet script.

Albon (Sulfadimethoxine 12.5% or its generic equivalent DiMethox 12.5%) - Vet prescription.  These products are the drug of choice for preventing and treating Coccidiosis. Give orally undiluted to kids at a rate of 3-5cc and to adults at a rate of 5-10cc for five consecutive days. Mixing with drinking water as directed on the label is another option, but I recommend AGAINST  it. Sick goats should be treated individually with oral dosing for five consecutive days. The gallon jug is the most cost-effective purchase. Will not work with automatic waterers due to continual dilution of the product.

Albon 40% Injectable - Vet prescription.   Dosed orally to treat coccidiosis. 1.56 cc given orally on first day per 25 pounds bodyweight; days 2-5, dose at .78 cc per 25 pounds bodyweight. Mix with Nutri-Drench or similar product for palatability.

Alushield - Aluminum-based water-resistant aerosol bandage spray   for topical use only.

Ammonium Chloride - Given orally to prevent/control/cure urinary calculi.  See my article on the Articles page of www.tennesseemeatgoats.com to learn how to use Ammonium Chloride powder both preventatively and curatively.

Banamine (FluMeglumine) - Vet prescription.    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 or SQ. 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.   Buy the generic version (cheaper).

Baycox - Coccidiosis treatment.  See Toltrazuril for cost-effective alternative.

Baytril 100 (Enrofloxacin 100 mg/ml) - Vet prescription. (not  Baytril 2.27%). Usage in goats is "off-label" or "extra-label," but this antibiotic is being used in goats by some veterinarians. The appropriate IM dosage is 4 cc's per 100 lbs. of body weight for five consecutive days. This medication is very effective against gut-related illnesses and works synergistically (better together than individually) with SMZ (sulfadimethoxazine with trimethoprim). Some jurisdictions prohibit use of Baytril or Baytril 100 in any form (injectable or tablets) in food-production animals because the withdrawal time from meat and milk has not been determined. Great for treating Joint Ill when no other antibiotic works. If you have a sick goat on which no other antibiotic is working, Baytril 100 is the drug of last resort. Do not use without vet approval and supervision.

Beet Pulp, Shredded - While this isn't a medication, I mention it because it is useful but sometimes  misused. I use shredded beet pulp to add fiber to the rumen of old goats whose teeth have begun to wear. This is in addition to their normal feed, not in place of it. Beet pulp has no nutritional value.

Benadryl  - Over-the-counter liquid antihistamine.  Great for clearing nasal congestion caused by allergies or allergic reactions.   I buy liquid Benadryl and follow child and adult dosage amounts on the bottle.

Biosol (Neomycin Sulfate) - Vet prescription.   Sulfa-based antibiotic for use  with scouring kids and adults when Coccidiosis is not the underlying illness. Works effectively against E.Coli and other digestive-system bacterial infections. For kids, give 3 cc orally every 12 hours until diarrhea has stopped and feces is normal. For adult goats, use 5 cc to 10 cc orally and as directed for usage in kids. Do not overdose; constipation can result. Do not stop diarrhea until you know its cause. Sometimes diarrhea is the body's way of eliminating toxins.

Black Oil Sunflower Seeds (BOSS) - Another non-medication, it is useful to add fat to the diet of thin and/or old goats. BOSS is 25% fat.     Lightly top-dress feed with BOSS.  Most goats don't need this extra fat.  Use sparingly.

BoSe (not MuSe) - Vet prescription. (A horse product, MuSe is too strong and should not be used with goats.) Injectable medication for selenium deficiency (white muscle disease, aka nutritional muscular dystrophy). Since selenium deficiency exists at different levels throughout the United States, it is critical to follow your goat nutritionist's directions on the usage of these products, as well as offering supplemental loose minerals containing selenium. Google "selenium deficiency" to see the general locations in the USA.   Selenium deficiency usually shows itself in the form of weak rear legs in kids. Older goats don't put on weight, have weak legs, and generally stay in poor condition and poor health. 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  SQ). Pregnant does receive injections  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 SQ.

C&D Anti-toxin - Over-the-counter made-for-goats product that can be safely used for many problems when they already exist. Severe diarrhea in very young kids, toxicity caused by plants, poisons (bites, overeating disease, bloat, ruminal acidosis, and ingestion of toxic substances like azaleas and antifreeze are several examples), one of the products administered to combat Floppy Kid Syndrome . . . these are a few of the applications of this very versatile product. C&D Anti-toxin provides short-term protection (about 12 hours) but works quickly towards solving the immediate problem. Follow label directions. Must be refrigerated. Freezes at very high temperatures. C&D Anti-toxin negates any protection previously given by the CD/T vaccine, so you must wait for at least five days after completion of C&D Anti-toxin therapy and re-vaccinate the animal with the initial CD/T vaccine injection plus the booster 30 days thereafter. Must-have medication.  There is no substitute.

CD/T vaccine (Clostridium Perfringens Types C&D + Tetanus Toxoid Vaccine) - Over-the-counter made-for-goats VACCINE  that provides long-term protection against overeating disease (types C&D) and tetanus. Kids of one to three months of age and all newly-purchased animals regardless of age should be vaccinated with 2 cc and then a second vaccination should be given 30 days later. Two injections 30 days apart are required in order to provide long-term protection. Annually thereafter, one injection of 2 cc per goat will renew the protection. Give SQ. It may cause an injection-site reaction called a granuloma,  which is an indication of the body's positive reaction to the vaccine. The granuloma  goes away in time.

Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL) vaccine - Introduced in May 2012 by Texas Vet Lab of San Angelo, Texas.    This very-effective  vaccine was removed from the market by the manufacturer in May 2021 because goat raisers wouldn't spend the money to buy it.  It is gone forever. NOTE: The sheep vaccine for CL (CaseBac) does not work with goats.

Chondroprotec - A skin regrowing medication. Prescription.  Applied topically. The January 2013 issue of MeatGoatMania has an article and pictures of this amazing product.

CMPK or MFO -  Over-the-counter oral solution of calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and dextrose.  Used with hypocalcemia (milk fever), grass tetany, and to introduce cervical dilation in pregnant does.

Colostrum Replacers & Supplements - Do not confuse these two types of products. Newborns must have colostrum during the first hours after birth. If the dam is colostrum deficient, you must use a colostrum replacer. The best colostrum replacer is colostrum saved (and frozen) from does on your property who have already kidded. This colostrum will have antibodies that provide the kids needed immunity to the organisms existing in your  location. If you don't have a supply of frozen colostrum, then you must use a commercially-prepared goat colostrum replacer (*not* "supplement"). Do not use colostrum or colostrum replacer beyond the first 48 hours of the kid's life. Switch to goat milk or goat milk replacer. Colostrum has already done its job for the newborn after 48 hours and the kid's body can better digest goat milk.

CoRid (amprollium) - Over-the-counter product for preventing and treating coccidiosis. Comes in granular packets and gallon liquid.   This product is a thiamine inhibitor, so I prefer  other coccidia medications.   When using CoRid,   dose with thiamine  (Vitamin B1)   at 4 cc per 100 lbs bodyweight given IM or SQ.      Albon or its generic equivalent Sulfadimethoxine 12.5% (Dimethox 12.5%) is preferred over CoRid. If you must use CoRid, buy the gallon liquid and maintain better control over dosages. Follow bottle directions for preventative and curative dosages.   If you cannot avoid putting CoRid in water,  limit the goats' water supply to one source and treat for five consecutive days.  Automatic waterers cannot be used with dosing because they are constantly refilling, thereby diluting dosages.   Daily individual dosing into each goat's mouth is much better than using in water.

Dewormers, Feed-based - Feed-based dewormers are  not effective. Dewormers are dosed based on the goat's bodyweight; there is no accurate way to do this with feed-based dewormers.    The goat needing the dewormer the worst will also be the least aggressive goat who will get less feed, therefore a lower ( or none) dosage of the feed-based dewormer. Unless you can control the precise amount of feed that each goat receives, do not use  feed-based dewormers.

Dewormers - There are multiple classes of dewormers. Some still kill stomach worms; many are no longer effective. Generally speaking, the white-colored dewormers (Safeguard/Panacur and Valbazen) no longer kill stomach worms in much of the USA.   All dewormers should be given ORALLY,  regardless of package directions. See my article on Deworming & Vaccination Schedules on the Articles page at www.tennesseemeatgoats.com.

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.  Causes abortions in pregnant does.  Sometimes 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.   Reducing the dosage each day for 5 to  7  consecutive days is normal protocol.  Dosage varies depending upon the problem being treated.

Dextrose Solution (50%) - This over-the-counter IV product in a bottle is used orally with weak newborns by slowly dropping one or two cc in the mouth and under the tongue for quick energy. Can be mixed half and half with water and offered short-term to weak goats or kids who are either having trouble digesting milk or have overeaten on milk (Floppy Kid Syndrome) and need to be taken off milk for several days until the toxicity caused by undigested milk has been successfully eliminated.

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) - Although this product is being used by some producers as a "natural" dewormer, DE does NOT  kill internal parasites (worms).  Every controlled test done to determine efficacy of this product in killing internal parasites (worms) in goats has failed. It is somewhat effective on external parasites like flies. If  you insist on using DE  as a food additive, make certain that "food-grade" DE is purchased and use DE in conjunction with an ethical (commercially-produced) deworming product.   There is no such thing as a "natural dewormer" for goats.

Dopram V - Vet prescription.    Eliminates respiratory distress in newborns caused by difficult births, including C-sections. Drop 2/10 cc under kid's tongue immediately after  birth to stimulate lung activity. Also use on "pulled" kids since the normal squeezing of the body during the delivery process is altered.  A must-have medication.

Draxxin (tulothromycin) - Vet prescription. Injectable respiratory antibiotic. Expensive product that purports to be a one-time-only usage antibiotic. Because goats have the fastest metabolism of all ruminants, they need to be dosed daily with antibiotics for five consecutive days. Nuflor Gold and Excenel RTU given daily for five days work well and are far less expensive.

Dyne - Over-the-counter oral high-calorie food supplement for animals off feed or needing quick energy. Must-have product.

Electrolytes, Oral (Bounce Back, ReSorb, or equivalent) Over-the-counter products packaged in powered form   for rehydrating sick animals, regardless of age. Can be used as an oral drench, put into baby bottles,   or mixed in drinking water. Can be used in conjunction with Lactated Ringers Solution on dehydrated kids or adults. Store in a cool, dry place.  A must-have product.

Entrolyte- This terrific product was pulled by Pfizer in January 2008 and will never come back on the market. It was an over-the-counter oral nutrient product for both rehydrating and providing nutrition to ruminants that were not ruminating or off-feed. Contained 13.4% protein in addition to electrolytes. No comparable replacement product is on the market, to my knowledge. Best alternative: Mix enough powered kid milk replacer to make an 8 oz bottle and combine with half-gallon of electrolytes.

Epinephrine - Vet prescription. Used to treat Shock. Always have it on hand when giving injections. Shock must be treated within seconds or the goat will die. Dosage is 1 cc  per 100 pounds body weight given IM.   Must-have item.

Excenel RTU - Prescription injectable antibiotic. Ready-to-use equivalent of Naxcel. Effective against respiratory and urinary tract infections. Dose daily at 6 cc per 100 lbs bodyweight. Day One: dose twice 12 hours apart. Days 2 through 5: dose once daily. Give IM or SQ.

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