| Chocolate Chip |
OCTOBER 2006
Chocolate shortly after purchase in Oct 2006 - she is about 5
months old. She was a young, healthy, well muscled fainting goat.
She was my first and favorite pick of 5 doelings we purchased.
I first noticed changes in her behavior in November - separating
from the other goats, not interested in grazing as much, etc.
Chocolate shortly after purchase in Oct 2006 - she is about 5
months old. She was a young, healthy, well muscled fainting goat.
She was my first and favorite pick of 5 doelings we purchased.
I first noticed changes in her behavior in November - separating
from the other goats, not interested in grazing as much, etc.
.November 2006
As soon as we saw the bottle jaw we wormed her with
Safeguard. We had previously used Ivomec and were
rotating wormers at the time. The jaw went down only
slightly and we saw tapeworms in her goat pellets so we
wormed again. Tapeworms were gone but she continued to
decline RAPIDLY and the bottle jaw was still present. She
never scoured, but was not eating normally.
As soon as we saw the bottle jaw we wormed her with
Safeguard. We had previously used Ivomec and were
rotating wormers at the time. The jaw went down only
slightly and we saw tapeworms in her goat pellets so we
wormed again. Tapeworms were gone but she continued to
decline RAPIDLY and the bottle jaw was still present. She
never scoured, but was not eating normally.
EARLY DECEMBER 2006
Everything we read said bottlejaw was caused by a worm overload, yet
she had been wormed with several different wormers!
By now she had almost stopped eating. She would pick at the hay.
She was so frail that if she fell over she could not get up. Her muscle
tone was gone.
The coat was to keep her warm during her short jaunts outside, and
she often slept in it. I think it helped cushion her and feel "normal."
We bought a microscope and started doing fecals as we had ruled out
all other causes of her decline. She was now living in the laundry room
as it was winter and she could not get up very easily.
Everything we read said bottlejaw was caused by a worm overload, yet
she had been wormed with several different wormers!
By now she had almost stopped eating. She would pick at the hay.
She was so frail that if she fell over she could not get up. Her muscle
tone was gone.
The coat was to keep her warm during her short jaunts outside, and
she often slept in it. I think it helped cushion her and feel "normal."
We bought a microscope and started doing fecals as we had ruled out
all other causes of her decline. She was now living in the laundry room
as it was winter and she could not get up very easily.
January/February 2007
Chocolate Chip's appetite and strength gradually returned and she
regained her shape and put on weight.
After worming her we were concerned about excess scar tissue as
this can be a long term complication of barber pole worm overload. I
did everything I could to insure that her rumen healed properly and
and quickly - that she had extra vitamins, minerals etc.
She received Red Cell, aloe juice, liquid vitamins, and for some
strange reason she loved bird seed (not just the sunflower seeds).
This was in addition to the standard NutriDrench, B Complex
injections, beet pulp, etc.
Chocolate Chip's appetite and strength gradually returned and she
regained her shape and put on weight.
After worming her we were concerned about excess scar tissue as
this can be a long term complication of barber pole worm overload. I
did everything I could to insure that her rumen healed properly and
and quickly - that she had extra vitamins, minerals etc.
She received Red Cell, aloe juice, liquid vitamins, and for some
strange reason she loved bird seed (not just the sunflower seeds).
This was in addition to the standard NutriDrench, B Complex
injections, beet pulp, etc.
| An acute anemia success story What I've learned about Barber Pole worms and Bottle Jaw... |
DECEMBER 2006
Barber pole worms were found in her fecal. Bottlejaw only
seems like a worm overload as the anemia caused by the barber
poles allows other worm populations to flourish. She was
virtually wormless except for the barber poles by the time we
ordered and received Levamisole.
Levamisole was deemed an older wormer not in common use and
shown to be effective against more resistant barberpole worms.
Only a day or so after treatment with Levamisole the bottlejaw
was finally gone. But we still had a very weak goat. Research also
told us that in severe cases killing these bloodsucking worms can
create a "swiss cheese" effect and they can bleed internally......
Barber pole worms were found in her fecal. Bottlejaw only
seems like a worm overload as the anemia caused by the barber
poles allows other worm populations to flourish. She was
virtually wormless except for the barber poles by the time we
ordered and received Levamisole.
Levamisole was deemed an older wormer not in common use and
shown to be effective against more resistant barberpole worms.
Only a day or so after treatment with Levamisole the bottlejaw
was finally gone. But we still had a very weak goat. Research also
told us that in severe cases killing these bloodsucking worms can
create a "swiss cheese" effect and they can bleed internally......
July 4, 2007
Chocolate Chip is the picture of health and we decided she was
ready to be bred. She was the only goat to have bottlejaw and we
treated her and ONLY HER with the Levamisole. In order to
prevent resistance we opted against treating the whole herd.
Further research and our own observation has shown that to have
been the right decision. The only downside is you mix a large
quantity and it does have a short shelf life...
Levamisole is our secret weapon for barber pole worms. 1 year
later we had another case of bottlejaw in a new goat. Levamisole
was used again only on the affected goat with great success.
I am glad we have not used the strongest wormers on the market
on a regular basis so that we have options if the need arises.
Chocolate Chip is the picture of health and we decided she was
ready to be bred. She was the only goat to have bottlejaw and we
treated her and ONLY HER with the Levamisole. In order to
prevent resistance we opted against treating the whole herd.
Further research and our own observation has shown that to have
been the right decision. The only downside is you mix a large
quantity and it does have a short shelf life...
Levamisole is our secret weapon for barber pole worms. 1 year
later we had another case of bottlejaw in a new goat. Levamisole
was used again only on the affected goat with great success.
I am glad we have not used the strongest wormers on the market
on a regular basis so that we have options if the need arises.
| If you are already worming and have a case of bottlejaw - then you may be dealing with a more resistant strain. If you are already using Levamisole on a regular basis, then of coarse you will need a different solution if a goat develops a resistant strain of barber pole worms. Internet Searches: Barber Pole Barber's Pole Barberpole (I found all 3 on the internet) Bottle Jaw is usually two words but some sources use bottlejaw..... If you would like further information about our experience you can email us at: linda@blessedgreenpastures.com |
NOTE: This is the practical experience of one breeder, other breeders may have different experiences. I have opted to put
Chocolate's story on our web page because many sources we found said acute anemia was almost always fatal. Maybe that is
the case for a commercial herd, but for those desiring a different outcome, it can be successfully treated.
We recommend that further research be done before initiating any treatment on your own. As always, contacting your
veterinarian is an excellent option, but many breeders are in areas where vets with cutting edge goat knowledge are hard to
find.....
Chocolate's story on our web page because many sources we found said acute anemia was almost always fatal. Maybe that is
the case for a commercial herd, but for those desiring a different outcome, it can be successfully treated.
We recommend that further research be done before initiating any treatment on your own. As always, contacting your
veterinarian is an excellent option, but many breeders are in areas where vets with cutting edge goat knowledge are hard to
find.....
| Tidbits from our experience: If I had read/been told early on that bottle jaw was caused mainly by barber pole worms, I would have treated with a product like Levamisole much earlier and saved Chocolate from such severe anemia. It takes a bloodsucking worm to cause that type of swelling. PERIOD. Doing your own fecals will save you time, money, and GOATS, and along with FAMACHA is the best way to manage your worm load. We still do whole herd wormings but not very often and certainly not every month! Culling: Nearly every source said to cull such an animal - I will let you know in a couple of years, but for now: Why on earth would I cull such a beautiful, healthy animal??? She requires no extra attention at this point. A goat can actually learn to like the taste of Red Cell! |
UDPATE!!! JANUARY 21, 2008
Chocolate gave birth to two beautiful
kids. She is looking great and so are the babies!
He looks just like his mom....
Chocolate gave birth to two beautiful
kids. She is looking great and so are the babies!
He looks just like his mom....
UDPATE!!! November 2008
Chocolate is expecting again!! She is due in
December. She is the picture of health and still
requires no extra care and is as worm resistant
as any goat we have.
She continues to be worth every minute spent
saving her....baby pictures coming Dec 2008!!!!!
Chocolate is expecting again!! She is due in
December. She is the picture of health and still
requires no extra care and is as worm resistant
as any goat we have.
She continues to be worth every minute spent
saving her....baby pictures coming Dec 2008!!!!!