When dealing with parasites in goats, one of the most frustrating scenarios is when a dewormer seems to fail. Before we dive into the reasons behind this, it’s essential to understand the basics of deworming and the common misconceptions surrounding it.
For a comprehensive understanding of goat worms and their effects, consider visiting Goat Worms: A Complete Guide to Winning the War in Your Pasture for detailed information.
The Frustration of “What’s the Best Dewormer?”
Asking about the “best” dewormer is not the most helpful question. All dewormers are designed to target roundworms, including barber pole worms, brown stomach worms, and others that cause illness in goats. If used correctly and there’s no dewormer resistance, they should all work well. The key is understanding that the success of a dewormer depends on several factors, not just the dewormer itself.
Following the proper dosage is critical — and probably the most common reason that a goat does not get better after using a dewormer. Most dewormers require twice the sheep dosage for goats, except for Levamisole, which is 1.5 times. For detailed dosage guidelines, refer to New Goat Dewormer Guidelines. It’s also important to note that rotating pastures and using the 5-Point Check for Parasites can help manage parasite loads.
Factors Affecting Dewormer Success: It’s Not Just the Dewormer!
There are several reasons why a dewormer may not seem to work, despite being used correctly. Understanding these factors is crucial for effective parasite management.
How Anemic is the Goat?
The level of anemia in a goat significantly impacts its recovery. Using the FAMACHA system, which checks the color of the goat’s eyelids, can provide a quick insight into the goat’s condition. The worse the anemia, the longer recovery will take.
White eyelids indicate a PCV (packed cell volume) of less than 17, signaling severe anemia. Goats with slightly white eyelids (PCV just below 17) can recover faster, while those with severe anemia (PCV 10 or lower) may require a blood transfusion.
Regular FAMACHA checks are essential for early detection and intervention so that you can use a dewormer when the eyelids are pale pink. You do NOT want to wait until the goat has white eyelids to treat for worms!
Blood Transfusions in Goats
Unlike humans, goats do not have blood types, meaning any goat can be a donor for another. This simplifies the process of performing a blood transfusion when necessary. However, vets don’t have goat blood sitting in their refrigerators like we do in human hospitals, which means you need a goat donor.
The best donor is a big, healthy wether. You don’t want to use a doe in milk or one that is pregnant. If you don’t have a goat available, bovine (cow) blood has been used successfully in one study.
Individual Goat Resilience
Resilience refers to a goat’s ability to survive with parasites in its system without showing severe symptoms. Some goats can carry high worm loads without issue, while others may become severely ill with much lower loads. This variability is due to genetic differences in resilience.
Research by Susan Shoenian, discussed in the podcast episode on “Using Dewormers Correctly,” highlights an 11-year buck study where some of the healthiest bucks were found to be carrying thousands of eggs per gram, yet showed no signs of illness. This emphasizes the importance of not relying solely on fecal egg counts to determine a goat’s health status but also considering its overall condition through methods like the 5-Point Check for Parasites.
Diet and Protein Levels
A diet with enough protein is crucial for parasite resistance. Feeding high-protein hay like alfalfa, peanut hay, or clover, along with a 16% goat feed, can help the goat recover. This is a short-term strategy aimed at boosting the goat’s health and resilience and rebuilding muscle mass that has been lost. Note that long-term feeding of high-protein and high-calcium diets to bucks and wethers can lead to issues like urinary calculi.
Is the goat on a wormy pasture?
After deworming, it’s essential to remove the goat from pasture, especially if the goat is severely anemic, to prevent re-infection. If the goat stays on pasture, it will consume more worm larvae to replace the worms you just killed, so the goat won’t improve. When I treat a goat for worms, they stay in the barn until their eyelids get darker and they have regained the weight they lost.
Was the dewormer expired?
No one likes to throw away money, but when it comes to using dewormers, it’s important to use only dewormers that are not expired! I saw first-hand how a dewormer that expired only a few months earlier was not effective when my husband gave it to one of our goats without checking the expiration date.
Has the dewormer been properly stored?
Dewormers should be kept at room temperature. Keeping them in the refrigerator or in a hot car (or freezing car) can reduce their efficacy.
Mineral Deficiencies
Mineral deficiencies, particularly in copper, can significantly weaken a goat’s immune system, making it more susceptible to parasites. Using a loose, goat-specific mineral supplement is vital, as “sheep and goat” minerals will lack sufficient copper, leading to deficiencies. Poor parasite resistance is a symptom of copper deficiency.
Key Takeaway: Stop Asking, Start Observing
The success of a dewormer depends on many factors, including the goat’s level of anemia, its individual resilience, diet, and mineral intake.
Instead of asking what the best dewormer is, goat owners should focus on understanding these variables and how they impact their goat’s health. By doing so, they can make informed decisions about deworming and overall parasite management.
Remember, there is no single “best” dewormer; all can be effective when used correctly and as part of a broader parasite control strategy. For more detailed information on using dewormers correctly and managing parasites, visit Using Dewormers Correctly.
Addressing dewormer failure requires a holistic approach that considers the health, diet, and living conditions of the goat, as well as the potential for dewormer resistance. By understanding and addressing these factors, goat owners can better manage parasites and ensure the health and well-being of their animals.
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