dried, flaky skin ...

motdaugrnds · #1 06/25/11, 08:52 AM

This occurs every single summer with this "one" goat. My herd buck, Roman, who is over 12 years old now. (Last year I started giving him copper boluses and I can see a positive difference in his hair, especially at the tip of his tail.) Every single summer he gets like this (over back and top sides) and loses a lot of hair in those areas. Every year I try whatever I have on hand and never know what actually works. What I always suspect is some form of parasite and some dehydration. What I have been doing is:

1. First I worm him (either Cydectin or Ivermectin Plus)
2. Then I give him some Bo-Se (1cc/40 lbs)
3. Then I give him a big dose of C.M.P.K.
4. Then I follow that with a big dose of Probios Paste
5. Next I give him a good brushing
6. Next comes a good soapy bath
7. Next comes whatever insecticide I have on hand that will not harm goats
8. Next I rub some NFL (Nitrofurazone Ointment) onto all the areas

Then I keep him out of the sun for at least 24 hours and wash him again with soapy water.

It takes awhile but each year this skin condition (symptom of something wrong) disappears and he gets his lovely coat back.

Can anyone help me understand what this is and maybe suggest a better way of treating it or, better yet, keeping it from occurring?

Alice In TX/MO · #2 06/25/11, 08:59 AM

Is there enough natural oil in his diet?

1/2 cup Black Oil Sunflower Seeds may make a huge difference!

Eunice · #3 06/25/11, 09:49 AM

I have a nine year old Alpine buck that sounds much the same. I have upped his copper in the loose mineral mix, and am giving him Black Oil Sunflower Seeds now and a bit of Nutrena Top Goat. He looks much better and isn't as itchy all the time.

motdaugrnds · #4 06/25/11, 11:28 AM

Roman does get BOSS and has every day for some time now. He's been getting copper in his loose mineral mix and gets additional copper (since last year).

I am going to give him a shot of an antibiotic today as I'm suspecting some form of dermatophilosis now. It has been quite damp here for awhile; and a single shot won't harm him.

He is still quite active, though as old as he is, he lays around more often when it's hot.

Never heard of Nutrena Top Goat. What is it?

CaliannG · #5 06/25/11, 11:40 AM

I have a similar situation. Two of my does have been together since they were 3 months old. They are now 3 years old. They have eaten the same feed, the same minerals, had the same worming schedule, same vitamin supplements, etc., etc.

One of them has NEVER needed her hooves trimmed. Her hooves are perfect. She never has any skin problems, hair loss, or anything like that.

The other one, if I don't stay on top of it, would have long, pointy hooves like some sort of goaty version of jester shoes, she gets flakey skin constantly, and in summer, suffers hair loss. ARGH!

Same genetics (came from the same breeder and they are related), same management practices, same health schedule, same feed....but different outcomes. I might add that none of the other goats suffer long toes or flakey skin....

I top dress her feed with a table spoon of olive oil and put a thin line of hand lotion down her back every other week for the month of June. I wish I knew what was causing it, but I don't.

motdaugrnds · #6 06/25/11, 03:34 PM

Yes CaliannG, that does sound similar. Not one of the other goats in this small herd have this problem; and we treat them all alike.

I just got in from giving Roman the antibiotic and washed him again with warm/soapy water. It is so nice out doors and he enjoys getting groomed (except for when I am washing his private parts).

I will start adding the olive oil to his feed. Thanks for letting me know what you do.

Alice In TX/MO · #7 06/25/11, 08:49 PM

I think it is just the same as some people having dry skin.

CaliannG · #8 06/25/11, 09:56 PM

Yep...that's why I do the lotion. I figure if everyone else is doing fine on the management, she was just a goat with dry skin like I am a human with fine, dry hair.

pookshollow · #9 06/25/11, 10:19 PM

Try supplementing the buck with zinc - you can buy tablets at the drugstore.

motdaugrnds · #10 06/25/11, 11:04 PM

pookshollow, will you give me more information about supplementing a buck with zinc please? I've never heard of giving zinc to goats before.

Backfourty,MI. · #11 06/26/11, 12:12 AM

Also the soap is going to maybe make his skin dryer as well. Since you already washed him I would hold off any more baths for now.

I would maybe try Avon's Skin So soft rubbed into his skin every 4 or 5 days for a couple weeks & see if that doesn't help too. It surely won't hurt him, will help keep the flies & mosquitos away from him & he will smell sooooo good too.

Minelson · #12 06/26/11, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motdaugrnds

pookshollow, will you give me more information about supplementing a buck with zinc please? I've never heard of giving zinc to goats before.

I'm giving Frankie (wether) zinc because of his flaky skin and going bald this spring. I read about it while doing a search for causes of loosing large amounts of hair. I don't think I will know if it works or not until next year when they start to shed again. Right now he looks a ton better...but still "some" flakes. I don't know if it's because of the season, the zinc, or from the mite treatment.

motdaugrnds · #13 06/26/11, 02:01 PM

Minelson, can you tell me where you get the zinc and how you give it?

I am holding off the bathes. Only did it first time to clean him up; then second time to get the NFL off him so he could go out in the sunshine. I do have the Avon Skin So Soft and will put that on him today.

Minelson · #14 06/26/11, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motdaugrnds

Minelson, can you tell me where you get the zinc and how you give it?

I am holding off the bathes. Only did it first time to clean him up; then second time to get the NFL off him so he could go out in the sunshine. I do have the Avon Skin So Soft and will put that on him today.

I got it at the grocery store. It's chelated Zinc 50 mg tablets. I don't remember the price but it seemed cheap. Frankie gets a peanut butter/ammonium chloride dosage ball every day and I just stick the tablet in the middle of it. He gobbles it down.

You could probably put it in a marshmello or something like that.

motdaugrnds · #15 06/26/11, 10:26 PM

Would you advise giving a 50 mg tablet of chelated zinc to Roman (He weighs 200 lbs.) every single day for awhile; or how often?

Mironsfarm · #16 06/27/11, 03:04 PM

i have had this problem with this one la mancha doe that i have for the longest. tried everything under the sun this year the vet came out gave me a bottle of muti min and told me to give it 1 cc every 6 months. i gave her a shot and 4 days later her skin hair looks great! not falky very shiney `looking good you have to get a vet to order it for you i paid 46.00 for it and all my goats are looking great! worth a try

motdaugrnds · #17 06/27/11, 04:43 PM

Just googled "multimin". The recommendation is 1cc per 100 lbs 3 times a year. Did your vet tell you why so little at a time and why so long in between injections? Thanks for the information.

prairie song · #18 06/27/11, 04:45 PM

sometimes a shot of vitamin AD&E will help with the flakey skin.

Minelson · #19 06/27/11, 04:46 PM

That is interesting about the MultiMin. I never heard of that stuff before.
Here is an article on Zinc. It wouldn't hurt to try it and I would think 50mg would be ok. If he has a defficency it might not be too bad because he doesn't go bald. Frankie weighs just under 100 lbs
https://www.facebook.com/note.php?no...00070903336321

Mironsfarm · #20 06/27/11, 09:29 PM

he didn't say why so little but i dont think i ever asked him why i just do what he says. i think it works great i have noticed a big differnce in the coats since i been using it. the more i talk to people that show there goats they seem to use it. anyone else use it?