I know what this is. Do you?

mrs whodunit · #41 09/11/14, 12:12 PM

Never seen or heard of that before

valsey · #42 09/11/14, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraterCove

I've only had one doe fall victim to this nasty little bug but she never presented with a line like that.

Was there intense itching?

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraterCove

It was devastating as Sunny was my first doe and the vet just could not care less about my or her distress.

maybe they thought it was a simple inner ear infection

Some vets...

marusempai · #43 09/11/14, 12:26 PM

I had heard about such a thing being a symptom of meningeal worm, however I was under the impression that it was unusual - most of the time the worms migrate to the spine far enough inside the goat that there is no itching. It's interesting to have a picture though, as it is something to be aware of.

Also, I'm REALLY glad that it isn't from a marking harness, as was suggested. I just ordered one of those for use this fall - we are borrowing the neighbor's buck and I don't want to damage him, but I *really* need to know when my ladies are due. XD

valsey · #44 09/11/14, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marusempai

I had heard about such a thing being a symptom of meningeal worm, however I was under the impression that it was unusual - most of the time the worms migrate to the spine far enough inside the goat that there is no itching.

Well then I'm grateful I have lazy worms

sisterpine · #45 09/11/14, 02:07 PM

Herpes Zoster?

CraterCove · #46 09/11/14, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valsey

Was there intense itching?

maybe they thought it was a simple inner ear infection

Some vets...

From everything that I knew at the time, I thought she had a skin borne parasite and was treating her thus, until the neurological signs showed. The local vet where I lived at the time wouldn't even come out, or make an appointment available. Where I was living goats are worth about 40$ a pop and his answer was he'd only come out to put her down, not treat her.

You are lucky that your variant gives you such precise signs.

Backfourty,MI. · #47 09/12/14, 10:11 PM

I've heard & read bout meningeal worms but never saw what it looks like on a goat or any animal. I'm glad you figured it out & catch it early.
Too bad you have had to go through this more than once. I can't imagine how frustrating that is.

light rain · #48 09/13/14, 09:18 AM

Crater Cove I am glad your little terriers are so hard working. We did not have our terrier when we had goats but he has the same instinct. Two possums got into his run and they were no more.

AkHorizon · #49 09/13/14, 03:45 PM

Never seen this before, good to learn new things.

farmmaid · #50 09/16/14, 08:19 PM

Thanks SOOOOOOOOOOO much for sharing.

Pony · #51 09/20/14, 05:33 PM

Very timely share.

Trub had a heckuva lesion on her right side, up near her "armpit" area. I thought it was from a yellow jacket sting she'd worried at too much.

Today, we noticed she was lame in her left rear. No swelling, no lesions, no bruising.

After talking with Emily, I started treating for meningeal.

I hope I'm in time to save her.

Pony · #52 09/20/14, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valsey

This is how meningeal worm presents itself in my herd. The larvae are migrating from the rumen, trying to find the brain. These lesions are from the goat scratching himself and self-mutilating.You can see the direct line very clearly, and it's always the first thing I see when one has picked it up. The first goat who got MW was weak at the back end already. I didn't know that the itching could have been something else until it had progressed that far. I had been treating for lice, not knowing what this was.

Sadly, because of have my broken foot, I haven't been able to keep a close eye on my guys the last couple of weeks and this has progressed pretty far. I hope I got it in time...there are no signs of neurological damage yet.

I don't understand why in most of the articles I read about Meningeal Worm, they don't mention this itching….and it's a huge red flag, to me. Do goat owner's not get this same symptom or do they not look at their goats as closely as I do?

Either way, I wanted to share so that if one of you sees this in your goat, you'll know what it is and can treat immediately.

4 out of 5 of my goats have had it and it's always around the same time of year. NOW

How's your herd doing now? (And how's your foot?)

valsey · #53 09/20/14, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony

How's your herd doing now? (And how's your foot?)

Thanks for asking - week 6 so I'm walking on it now. Tender, but finally mobile.

I gave Guido super high doses of both the ivermectin and fenbendazole. But I didn't give it as long as I should. He's a 200 lb goat and very hard headed. For once I had to think of myself (foot) instead of wrestling him. Hiding the wormer paste on tortilla chips worked for a few days. But his sores are drying up and he doesn't seem to be itching, so I think he's on the mend. He's a strong boy.

My first goat who got MW did recover, but she has....and probably always will have....minor weakness and lameness in her back end. She's definately not the same goat anymore, but she's doing okay. The others recovered perfectly fine.

Best of luck to you with your goat. Hopefully you've caught it in time and all will be well. It's kind of a waiting game...