Goat with flaky dry skin, possibly mites or mineral deficiency

[Galatia]

Hello hope you are all having a good day. So I have a Nigerian dwarf goat named Violet who has some dry flaky bald spots on her coat. I have a hunch it might be mites or a mineral deficiency but don’t know how to tell the difference. Trying to figure out if we can solve/cure it without going to the vet but if NEEDED will look into. Thanks y’all’s

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Welcome To BYC!

I'm sorry no one has responded to your question. I don't know anything about goats.
Perhaps @oldhenlikesdogs or @cassie may be able to offer some suggestions?

BYC also has a sister site called BackYardHerds, you may also want to check that out as well
https://www.backyardherds.com/

Hope you find some answers, Good Luck!

 

[Canina]

Dang that looks like eczema/contact dermatitis or something. EDIT: Makes sense. Mange, caused by mites is just one type of dermatitis.

I'm no vet but it is fairly easy to get some medicated shampoo meant for horses with mud fever, rainscald and other skin conditions that might also involve a secondary bacterial or fungal infection. Probably some topical steroids might help?

You could put coconut oil on it. It's moisturising, soothing, will help maintain the integrity of the skin barrier and has the bonus of antibacterial/antifungal properties. If you are worried about mites a liberal application of DE might help, but for the love of god wear a dust mask put one on the goat if you can, do it outside and take the time to rub the powder into the fur as close to the skin as you can get it with excess floating off in the air as it can cause respiratory problems. You can also put it down on the floor underneath their bedding (assuming they have concrete floor and straw or something in their stable).

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Looks like lice to me with the sores. I'd treat for lice. I'd normally say use ivomec, either the pour on, and apply to the back, or the cattle injectable one, but use that one orally, 1cc per 30 pounds, but it's getting hard to find unfortunately.

You may be able to get some topical dust. Those made for chickens sometimes say for goats as well. Not as effective, and you will have to dust multiple times.

I've also used a horse wormer with ivomectin, but again it's getting hard to find as well.

Always provide a good goat specific mineral free choice. I also provide baking soda free choice. Loose mineral is best.

 

[cassie]

Could be lice or it could be a vitamin or mineral deficiency or both. For lice I would get some louse powder from the feed store and give the goats a good dusting. I prefer powder to ivermectin for two reasons. One, it is cheap, and two, it will kill all the lice. Ivermectin is effective on either biting or chewing lice (I forget which) but not both. If there is hair loss and crusty skin that is a fungal infection and BluKote will clear that right up.