AboutGoatlady Expertise Specializing in New Goat Owner understanding of goat physiology, goat anatomy, goat care and herd management. *I am not a veterinarian, any advice and information should be verified by your veterinarian before administering to your goats.
(! During times of severe weather in the Midwest, I may experience a delay in internet service due to the interference of the satellite reception - but will answer your questions as soon as service is restored. !)
Note: Keep in mind, the goat expert is volunteering her time to help other goat owners, she also runs her farm with her own herd of 100 goats and may not be at her computer at all hours. Questions are answered as soon as she can possibly read and answer them, usually within 24 hours.
Experience 18 years experience of raising goats and herd management. Active hands on experience with goat herd and research with various Caprine University Research and Extension Centers nationwide. 15 years dedicated to helping other goat breeders/owners with goat anatomy, goat disease and goat health care issues via phone, published goat care articles and internet interaction. The information I have to offer is not only from personal experience and years of research updated often as new information is made available to me, but supported by many Veterinary Research colleges and all medications and information I have to offer on how the medications work and what dosages "I" use, is information I have acquired by discussing directly with the company's veterinarians and staff research experts.
Organizations 5 year active member of International Veterinary Information Service
Publications United Caprine News, Homesteaders Magazine, Columnist for Goat Magazine, Owner and Author of GoatPedia™
Education/Credentials Graduate Programs in Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University
Question QUESTION: Hi. I am new to goats. I bought a goat that had a big lump (bigger & wider than a softball). I was told she had been headbutted & it will just go away in a few weeks. It got smaller (now down to softball size)& she was licking it. I called the previous owner & he said that was normal like a dog licking it's wound. He said it was good that it was getting smaller. I've had her 2 months now & since it hasn't gone away like he said, I went to the internet. 3 days ago, another lump showed up (golfball size). I took her to the vet for a blood test but won't have results still for a week. On your website, the CL abscess locations diagrams, both hers are about 3" left of the 2 dots infront of hind leg. Big lump being by the lower & small one just above. The vet said it could be CL or from something else.
I'm thinking CL & when it got smaller, that was it draining some & now my goat yard is infected along with all the goats. Is it possible to clean my goat yard so it will be safe for a brand new herd? What should I do with the goat yard & the other 3 goats I have?
Thank you, Tanya
ANSWER: Hi Tanya,
I'm sorry this happened to you. Did you read on my website how to deal with CL using formalin?
While it will not cure it (There is No cure) it will control it and keep it from contaminating your yards. This is a very controversial treatment that your vet will more than likely not approve of but it does work for control and spread. Now that the place is already contaminated- the only real thing you can do its to remove the top 6-8 layers of dirt and get it away from any of the animals and if possible bury the dirt in a big hole. When ever you get new goats in- put them in quarantine- each group from the same farm should be together and not with others from different places. Keep them there for at least 30 days and if you see another lump develop on any of them act before it can burst.
Here is a great article on CL and using formalin: http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles2/CLFormalin.html http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles2/caseouslymphadenitis.html http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles2/formalin06.html
I used the formalin control for CL with my neighbor's goats and she has not had an outbreak since in any of her goats.
goatlady
Goat-Link.com
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QUESTION: Hi again. Remove the top 6-8 inches of dirt? Is that layers? I've read I can bleach the yard like if you get a parvo puppy, would that or anything else work? I've read the dirt can be infected for weeks, months, years even forever. Do you know how long?
My other goats are still young 6 months, should I have them tested also? Thanks for your help.
Answer HI Tanya,
You need a tractor to scrape and remove the dirt down about 6-8 inches which is where the bacteria will be- I cannot imagine how much bleach it would take to bleach the entire goat yard, barn and everywhere. If you remove the dirt then it is no longer infected and yes it can remain this way if left alone for months - up to a year is what I have heard. Kids with fresh navel cords can pick it up as can does with active udders via the teat openings and any scrapes or cuts - and when hooves are freshly trimmed. Best to remove the dirt. If you can. Tests are not accurate without an active abscess- the only way to truly get a 100% result is from the contents of the abscess. Keep me posted.
goatlady
Goat-Link.com
