Thin coat on tail and back end

Momto5 · #1 08/30/10, 05:24 PM

Ok our little guy Petey who was banded about 3 or 4 weeks ago has lost a bunch of hair on and near his tail, not bald , but the hair there has thinned. Vet was out about 3 weeks ago because they had lice and she was rechecking them and did a fecal which was negative. He acts fine, is eating well and his weight is normal. Normal temp., etc....vet recommended adding BOSS to their diets to help with coat. They are on Cargill loose mineral and high quality feed, also browse and our own good quality hay. They also have free choice baking soda.
After being treated for lice Petey had really dry skin for awhile which is now almost gone, him and the girls are in together, though he gets fed seperately because if not the girls gobble down his food. They are both fine, no thinning hair. He was the runt of the 2010 breeding season and was a bottle baby, he weighed just barely a lb at birth and is expected to remain small.
Called vet today and she mentioned that when she was out he kept scratching and licking that area right above were the band was on his "walnuts" so that "could" be the reasoning? Vet stopped back out this afternoon and said the banding looks great and he looks good except for those thin spots of hair.
Any ideas????
I added BOSS to their feed, but maybe I need to add more?

LomahAcres · #2 08/31/10, 01:06 AM

How long have you been feeding him boss? In general it takes about 4 weeks before you start to see new hair growth, sometimes 6 weeks. Is the hair falling out on it's own when you brush it, or is the goat rubbing it hard on something and pulling it out, or is it simply not growing back in? If its rubbing on something/falling out - It could be a fungus on the skin or a mite you can't see. Did your vet try a skin scraping? If the boss has had enough time to work (to rule out hair growth problems), you might try a dust like DE (for bugs) and/or iodine (for fungus) on it, either wouldn't hurt if its something else.

Momto5 · #3 08/31/10, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LomahAcres

How long have you been feeding him boss? In general it takes about 4 weeks before you start to see new hair growth, sometimes 6 weeks. Is the hair falling out on it's own when you brush it, or is the goat rubbing it hard on something and pulling it out, or is it simply not growing back in? If its rubbing on something/falling out - It could be a fungus on the skin or a mite you can't see. Did your vet try a skin scraping? If the boss has had enough time to work (to rule out hair growth problems), you might try a dust like DE (for bugs) and/or iodine (for fungus) on it, either wouldn't hurt if its something else.

Started the BOSS close to 3 weeks ago. Hair is not falling out when we brush it (well a bit but normal shedding not in clumps) The vet did do a skin scraping and that was negative. She mentioned he could have had a reaction to the meds we gave them for lice????

Minelson · #4 08/31/10, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Momto5

Started the BOSS close to 3 weeks ago. Hair is not falling out when we brush it (well a bit but normal shedding not in clumps) The vet did do a skin scraping and that was negative. She mentioned he could have had a reaction to the meds we gave them for lice????

That's what I'm thinking...after effects from the lice treatment.

Backfourty,MI. · #5 08/31/10, 01:22 PM

I was wondering if rubbing a little M-T-G liquid on the bare spots might help? It is sold in the equine section at TSC. Works great on all kinds of things. If a fungus or dermatitis, etc. this stuff may help.

Minelson · #6 08/31/10, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Backfourty,MI.

I was wondering if rubbing a little M-T-G liquid on the bare spots might help? It is sold in the equine section at TSC. Works great on all kinds of things. If a fungus or dermatitis, etc. this stuff may help.

I second that! Good thought Backfourty!

Momto5 · #7 08/31/10, 06:24 PM

I will try the MTG wont be getting to TSC until Thursday. Funny thing is, today his coat looks like its coming in over his whole body (like the old baby fur is shedding out) the hair underneath it is much darker and very shiny. Could it be the reaction to the lice treatment and now the new hair is coming in. There are NO bald spots, just thin in the areas where the lice treatment was put.
If it was the lice treatment, NOW what do I use if they ever get it again????The supply of goat products is pretty sparse in our area.

Minelson · #8 08/31/10, 07:44 PM

Are you sure it wasn't thinning while they had the lice? Then it would be from the lice...not the treatment

Momto5 · #9 08/31/10, 07:49 PM

Minelson, It was falling out when he had lice in small clumps, no baldness, but he was really shedding . If I had stopped to think for a minute it DOES make sense...look like a fool now huh!???LOL!
Well hopefully the mystery has been solved. He was the only one WITH lice and the only one WITH coat thinning....hmmmmm.
Thanks Minelson.....hopefully this is the solution!!!

Minelson · #10 08/31/10, 07:58 PM

I think it is...I remember mine had real thinning areas when I treated for lice. I was afriad they were going to go bald! lol! And only Frankie and Gretta had it...not Flossie

Backfourty,MI. · #11 08/31/10, 08:31 PM

Lice No More is sold at TSC by the cattle products & Cylence also are good treatments for lice & other parasites. They are both pour on's for cattle. Your right not much out there for goats.
The Lice No More comes in a big jug, I think it's a gallon size. I've had the same one for 2 years & have only had to use it a couple times so it would last a long time for you if you just want to have it to keep on hand.