Dimethox

 Dimethox (ordered from Hoegger Supply)

I think I have mentioned before that coccidiosis can be a major problem for goat kids.  Cocci (a special type of worms) can stunt their growth and make them sickly.  I had been using the Molly's Herbal Wormer for Edna which is supposed to help/prevent  cocci.  I still plan to use this herbal formula for various reasons.  However, the farm where I purchased Charlotte and Elly May noted that Dimethox worked really well for preventing cocci and raising healthy kids.  Elly May had already had one dose of this before I purchased her.  And she is considerably bigger and healthier looking than Edna.  Now, much of this is due to genetics and other factors, however I thought that the Dimethox might have something to do with it too.  So, I ordered the Dimehtox and retrieved my drench syringe.

The drench syringe

"A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down!"

Just fill the syringe with medicine and a little agave nectar (or at least dip the end of the syringe in the agave nectar), and the goats quickly learn to LOVE the syringe. 

The treatment lasted for 5 consecutive days.  The first day the kids received 3cc of Dimethox plus a little agave nectar.  For the next four days, they received 1.5cc Dimethox plus agave nectar.  Here we go...

 

 Mmmmm.  Elly May loved her turn!

 It doesn't really look like Edna is enjoying her treat in this picture, but she really was!

After I gave the Dimethox, I set the syringe in a bucket outside the goat pen.  I was taking Charlotte to tether her outside the goat pen and she greedily grabbed the syringe and held it in her mouth!  She must have had a "sweet" experience with a syringe too!

Since a lot of the grass in the goat pen is eaten down, I have been letting her eat around the pen.  I tie a dog leash to a post, then clip it to her collar.  She loves all those yummy "weeds" in the field.

 Another remedy I tried: Charlotte's teats got really dry recently.  They were bits of peely skin dropping into the milk bowl when I milked!  I rubbed some coconut oil on it one evening.  I am not sure if the coconut oil did the trick, but her udder is clear now!