Need help with sale goat I looked at

[QoTL]

I looked at a goat tonight to bring home to my lonely doe. I really really liked her, but prior to her current (and very temporary) home, she was VERY neglected.

She is supposed to be a nigerian, so is very small. She still has a lot of long winter hair left, but in spots it's really thin and I could see her skin below. It almost looked like she had dandruff. And I could tell that in other spots she was losing her hair.

The lady who currently has her said she needs to be treated for lice. Not a problem. BUT- I'm a super goat newbie. Can someone please point me in the direction of other ailments this 'dandruff' might be pointing to, so I can do a websearch? Again, I REALLY liked this goat, she was so sweet and calm. But if she has some horrible, untreatable, contagious disease I can't risk bringing her home to my Loopa.

Thanks for anything you can suggest. I don't mind doing the research, but I need a starting step of something to search for.


Meghan

[Terre d'Esprit]

I don't want to sound judgmental, but if you are new to goats, I would think that you would be ahead of the game if you started out with healthy animals. Even if it would take just a little TLC to get her healthy again, with all of the things that there are to learn about goats, it seems like you would have an easier time if you started out with a healthy goat, especially if the one you have at home is healthy.

Just my $.02. Good luck, whatever your decision!

T

[QoTL]

I understand what you are saying, and I appreciate the advice.

I just didn't want to rule her out if it was simply a matter of lice, and easily treatable.

[RiverPines]

Actually, even if it is just lice there can be a hole lot of other probs hiding because of the lice.

You said the goat seems thin. Well, it very well could be...and too thin.

Lice will suck the strength out of a goats immune system and entire system leaving it vulnerable to a whole lot of probs.

And if lice are a prob that hasnt been treated, what else has been neglected?
Has it had its vaccines? What about wormings?
What type of diet?

I would pass.
I wouldnt want to bring home potential risk to any other goats.

[AnnaS]

She could have lice, mange, ringworm, or a zinc deficency. I would avoid a goat with any form of mange. There are several varieties of mange, difficult to tell apart. Some forms are easy to treat and some impossible. Any vet should be able to do a skin scraping and rule out mange.

Lice, ringworm, and zinc deficencies are pretty easy to treat and manage. I would not reject a goat for any of these issues.

[Alice In TX/MO]

If they haven't cared for her, she could have a damaged digestive system due to coccidia.

She could have CL or CAE, which you do NOT want to bring home to your goat.

Pass her up.

[QoTL]

Thank you folks so much for your information.

I've thought a lot about this goat, mostly because she touched my heart. She is such a sweet little thing, and has obviously had a rough life. She deserves to be somewhere where she will be loved and taken good care of.
If I had lots of goat knowledge to draw from, and a great place to quarrantine her until she was fit and healthy, I'd take her in a heartbeat. But the reality is that my knowledge right now is very limited, and I'm afraid if I bring her home that what is wrong will continue to be wrong, and maybe also be wrong for my healthy girl. That wouldn't be right for any of us, all the way around.

Thanks for the information you folks have provided. I'd be lying if I said it was all graciously and calmly taken, but I know you are right. I'll be calling the seller later today to let her know she can find another home for this girl.

Meghan

[Alice In TX/MO]

I sent you a Private Message.

Rose

[cathleenc]

well, just cuz I'm one of those who always 'saves' neglected animals - would you be willing to bring a vet with you to look at the goat? Would the seller be willing to let you/the vet test for cl & cae and fecals for worms and coccidia? If you put down a deposit - pending good test outcomes - then I personally would follow my heart and try to buy the goat.

If the seller is not willing to make the sale pending decent test results I would pass. Bringing home cae or cl to my personal goats would kill me...

edited to add: I bought 2 rather starved goats last november and all has turned out well. Yes, one was cae+ and I would have passed if I knew - but I love her and she'll have a good home till she dies.

[HilltopDaisy]

Sent you a PM.