Rescued some does in milk, suggestions?

[Lorelai]

So this morning a guy posted two dairy goats on Craigslist, in milk, for free, because he rescued them a couple days ago and didn't have the first clue what to do with them. Both udders were quite swollen, especially in the larger one (I think they are Toggs), and they are super skinny, need baths, and are in dire need of a trim. After much wrestling and many hours later, we were able to get both goats' udders completely empty. They were obviously in pain, and not used to being milked. They are both three months fresh, from what the guy understood. The larger Togg was totally a different goat after being milked, but we're going to be keeping a watch on her, since she was just sooo swollen with milk, and we're not sure what it did to her udder. Their hooves also need a proper trim.

The question now is, aside from getting them on a good organic feed, along with alfalfa and pasture, and some good quality minerals, what next? I'm thinking an herbal dewormer is in order... they look really skinny, but with round bellies. They both really perked up and got active once their udders were emptied. But, what else? If at all possible, we'd like to keep their natural, organic, preventative, etc.

TIA! This is our first foray into goats, and I'm happy to say, I can milk a goat! Successfully and perhaps even well, for a first timer! (Okay, okay, a woman who is experienced milking Alpacas told me I was a natural).

[KrisD]

I use Molly's herbal wormer. I would probably double the length of time for worming for the first time then dose as directed. Molly's herbals can be found at Fias Co Farm- Dairy goats, Cheesemaking I would copper blouse as well since it probably has never been done. Milk the girls twice a day. Thank you for rescuing them.

[goatkid]

Goats don't handle big feed changes well, so introduce them to the grain you plan to feed slowly. While it's great that you want to raise your goats naturally, with these goats appearing to have worms, I'd worm them with something like Ivermectin or Cydectin to start and reworm in 10 days. A couple weeks after the second worming, have a fecal done. If it's clean, then you decide if you want to use an herbal wormer as a preventative. Kat at Fir Meadow should have something you can use. Another important thing to do is look these does over carefully for abcesses. If you find any, take them to the vet and have him/her lance them off your property and test the exude for CL. This is a disease you do not want on your property as it will contaminate it for years. If your goats have CL it's best to cull them right away. You also want to draw blood from each doe or have your vet do it for you and send it in to either WADDL or BioTracking to test for CAE. If the does are positive, you will need to decide whether to sell them for meat or eat them or raise any kids you get out of them on prevention. The milk from CAE positive does will not hurt people, but will infect any kids who drink their colostrum or milk which has not been heat treated/pasteurized.
I hope your does are disease free and that they do well for you.

[Oat Bucket Farm]

What Goatkid said.

Oh and of course, you really didn't get any goats until there are pics to prove it. (we love pics here)

[Creamers]

herbal dewormer

I would get a fecal and then, if they have a worm burden of significance, as I am sure they will, use cydectin in 10 day intervals. The herbal wormer will do nothing on a heavy worm load.

I would send off CAE testing, probably CL/Johnes testing, too. . .though the latter two will not tell you anything concrete.

Offer changes in feed slowly.

BO-SE and copper bolus.

A high quality loose mineral like Cargill Onyx Right Now mineral

[Alice In TX/MO]

All of this, exactly....

Originally Posted by goatkid

Goats don't handle big feed changes well, so introduce them to the grain you plan to feed slowly. While it's great that you want to raise your goats naturally, with these goats appearing to have worms, I'd worm them with something like Ivermectin or Cydectin to start and reworm in 10 days. A couple weeks after the second worming, have a fecal done. If it's clean, then you decide if you want to use an herbal wormer as a preventative.

Another important thing to do is look these does over carefully for abcesses. If you find any, take them to the vet and have him/her lance them off your property and test the exude for CL. This is a disease you do not want on your property as it will contaminate it for years. If your goats have CL it's best to cull them right away.

You also want to draw blood from each doe or have your vet do it for you and send it in to either WADDL or BioTracking to test for CAE. If the does are positive, you will need to decide whether to sell them for meat or eat them or raise any kids you get out of them on prevention. The milk from CAE positive does will not hurt people, but will infect any kids who drink their colostrum or milk which has not been heat treated/pasteurized.
I hope your does are disease free and that they do well for you.

[Backfourty,MI.]

I too agree that this is the way to go.

Originally Posted by goatkid

Goats don't handle big feed changes well, so introduce them to the grain you plan to feed slowly. While it's great that you want to raise your goats naturally, with these goats appearing to have worms, I'd worm them with something like Ivermectin or Cydectin to start and reworm in 10 days. A couple weeks after the second worming, have a fecal done. If it's clean, then you decide if you want to use an herbal wormer as a preventative. Kat at Fir Meadow should have something you can use. Another important thing to do is look these does over carefully for abcesses. If you find any, take them to the vet and have him/her lance them off your property and test the exude for CL. This is a disease you do not want on your property as it will contaminate it for years. If your goats have CL it's best to cull them right away. You also want to draw blood from each doe or have your vet do it for you and send it in to either WADDL or BioTracking to test for CAE. If the does are positive, you will need to decide whether to sell them for meat or eat them or raise any kids you get out of them on prevention. The milk from CAE positive does will not hurt people, but will infect any kids who drink their colostrum or milk which has not been heat treated/pasteurized.
I hope your does are disease free and that they do well for you.

Pictures would be Great too!

[Alice In TX/MO]

Info about using Biotracking.com to get the CAE test:

What it is | BioTracking.com

Use menu at left of screen to get the forms and instructions.

[Lorelai]

One thing we are fairly certain of: no abcesses. Which is a good thing.

So what I'm thinking is wormer, BoSe, and copper bolus. Are all of these okay to do while the does are milking? And where do I get those last two things?

Then, draw blood and have it tested for CAE, etc., and have a fecal done. I assume this can be done by the local vet?

Goats have been on our to-do list, but these ones just kind of fell in our laps, you know? And like I told BF yesterday, if nothing else, we did a good deed. The poor girls were so uncomfortable! Oh, and I will try to get some pictures up today.

ETA: Oh, and this is what we'll probably start them on, feed wise, at least for now: http://www.scratchandpeck.com/products/goat. We don't plan on feeding much grain, just a little on the milkstand. Hopefully it will help train them to be milked, and to trust us, too. Now... do you think the raisin trick will help with the trust thing?

[Alice In TX/MO]

BoSe injectible is Rx from the doc. You *can* get a gel, but it's not as quick and effective.

Copper boluses from Jeffers Livestock.
Copasure

Yes, you can do those things while they are in milk.

[Alice In TX/MO]

How to trim hooves:

How to Trim Goat hooves the right way.

[Oat Bucket Farm]

A couple of people on here sell the boluses already broke down into goat size if that is easier for you.