Goat drench question...

[Gatorpupsmom]

We're new to the goat thing, and you guys with first hand goat knowledge have been a big help to us. When Mary, our Saanen, was toxemic I read here and other sites about things to give her that would help, and I kept running across articles about "drenching."

What we had to work with at the time was syringes, and that's what we were giving her meds, etc. with. It's pretty darned easy to give most of the stuff we gave her, because the taste wasn't so bad, but when she didn't want to take it, it was pretty darned hard to get her to keep her mouth open to get the dose given. Again, I have been looking online and have seen some syringes with long attachment to reach far back into her throat, but I am thinking it would be really hard to get that to the back of her throat if she was fighting you on it. But, one of the drenches tasted so horrible (Pokey laughed at me when I stuck my finger in it and tasted just to see how bad it was....BLECH!!!) that she stayed mad at me for an hour after I gave it.

Can you experienced goat hands please give a couple of novices more advice and tell me what you have found to be the easiest way to "drench" a goat? We've got a delivery coming up in early March, and we need to know how to do this as easy as we possbily can.

Thanks,

Kim

 

[ThornyRidge]

Drenching a goat.. easy??? never.. truly no "easy" way to do it.. I would definately invest in a goat "drenching syringe/gun". They sell them at TSC and in most goat supply catalogs.. They are clear plastic with a metal bottom that goes in the mouth.. I think they hold like 20-30ccs which is usually all you really need for drenching a goat.. some people use turkey basters and I have tried that but soooooo much messier. The drench gun is messy too so whatever you use plan on wearing some of what you are giving.. I find that no matter what I drench ( nutrient mixes, aides for stomach, etc) I find that straddling the goat and inserting the drenching tool from the side of the mouth towards back of mouth works best. YOu have to be nimble and hold head level and gain access to mouth. It is important to not let goat inhale the liquids as this will cause problems and be worse in long run.. after drenching I give them a good rub, and a couple animal cracker treats. Also note that if you are drenching with wormer and or some other fluid that does not require a lot of volume use the disposable plastic syringes (without the needle of course!!). If you have large or very strong goats it is also a good idea to either restrain the goat appropriately or have someone assist you in holding goat. Again this will aide in at least most of the drench going where it needs to go and makes it easier for you the drencher to hold head level and administer the liquid. Hope this helps and know that over time it really never gets any easier

I have never met a cooperative goat to drench!

 

[Gatorpupsmom]

Basically that's what I was wondering......if it was worth the trouble to buy the drenching gun, if it would help get it down them, or if it is just about as easy to ear 'em down and squirt it in with the syringe. We used one of the bigger syringes to get 30ccs down her, but it was so big around it was hard to get it in her mouth. And yes, we ended up wearing quite a bit of it. The 10cc syringes have been easier to get in her mouth, but the thought of doing it three times to get the dose doesn't sound too fun....

She was NOT HAPPY with us following the calcium drench stuff, and I told Pokey that if she had hands, she'd have been using them to give us an obscene gesture.

Kim

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

If you just have a few goats or sheep, one of these is well worth the money

http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=219&cat_id=8

Its easier than a syringe, and they can't bite and break it.