help - minerals and swollen glands??

cjean · #1 08/08/10, 09:32 PM

Our 4 goats all suddenly today have swollen glands under the jaw, where the thymus gland is. Two are adults, the others are 4 months. Looks like milk goiter....

The only thing different is that we gave them minerals after they have been out for a couple of weeks. They are sheep minerals, with a bit of iodized cattle salt added, which we have always given them. Plenty of fresh water, as usual.

We have never had this happen...what is going on?

Goat Servant · #2 08/08/10, 10:07 PM

The only info I can offer is that sheep minerals is not at all sufficient for goats. Goats need lots of copper in their minerals.

cjean · #3 08/08/10, 10:17 PM

Yes, I know the copper thing - we give them supplements of that too. Has to be separate, since we have the sheep, as well.

This is sudden, just today. They seem to be having a reaction to something, and the only different factor that I can think of is the new bag of minerals...

2manydogs · #4 08/09/10, 03:10 AM

Okay, the thyus gland is actually at the base of the neck in front of the heart.The swelling comes up the neck in goiter. It really sounds like you have bottle jaw from barber pole worms. You'll have to figure out what wormer you need for your area. Check eyelids, give red cell, and if the swelling is gone tomorrow don't assume it's okay because it just means the larva moved.

Alice In TX/MO · #5 08/09/10, 07:00 AM

Bottle jaw is not caused by the larvae. It is fluid build up because the goat is anemic due to worms.

cjean · #6 08/09/10, 09:20 AM

Their glands were all totally normal in the morning, and by the afternoon, they were swollen and baggy. Huge. All four goats, suddenly. Does that really sound like worms?

Alice In TX/MO · #7 08/09/10, 09:59 AM

Look at their inner eyelids? Are they pale? If the goat is anemic, the inner eyelids are pale.

This is about sheep, but down the page on the left is a sample of the eye color chart.

http://www.sheep101.info/201/parasite.html

cjean · #8 08/09/10, 11:06 AM

I will definitely check the eyelids again (thanks for the chart link!), but it really does not look like bottle jaw. The swelling is not actually under the jaw ( I was wrong in the OP) or on the face...it is back further, more on the neck/throat. Just like milk goiter, on the fias co farm website.