Darn Strongyles

Isabella is doing much better and appreciates all of the advise given on her behalf. We took that advise. I had to work and Ted was a good sport, collected a fecal sample. A fresh, very fresh fecal sample from Isabella, and trekked over to Dover-Foxcroft Vet for analysis. I called in the afternoon and yes, it was worms. Strongyles. We had de-wormed in the fall. The vet recommended using Ivermectin anthelmintic (big word for de-wormer). When I got home I looked up the treatment recommended for goats in my "Goat School" book. Out to the barn we went with Ivermectin Sheep Drench (off label use for goats is okay but the dosage is different), a drenching gun, tape measure, and a weight chart from Fias Co Farm. We measured Isabella just behind her legs, around her chest. She was 38" and from the chart she weighs approximately 160 lbs. According to the book she was to receive 3ml of Ivermectin for each 25 lbs. We withdrew the 21ml's with the drench gun and placed the nozzle to the left side of her mouth and instilled the liquid. No coughing. She did make a horrible face. One that I have seen on my children's faces with medication administration. She wanted to know where the bubble gum or grape flavor was. Goats! I noticed that she had picked up a little weight with the extra grain over night. Annie, Isabella's daughter, was with her so we weighed the little girl and treated her too. The spent the night in the stall with fresh hay, water and some grain. Everyone else still looked good. No other outward signs of weight loss. We will weigh and treat all of the goats after I get through with my 3 shifts this week. Ted said that everyone was happy in the barn and Isabella's appetite was back to normal this morning. Our temps got down to -14 last night. Isabella is refusing to give me back my shirt. I guess it does look kind of good on her.
Much Love and Prayers from Mainely Ewes Farm