I have been fighting mange in my goat barn for a year. The dips I got from the vet don't clear it up. Is there a cure? Thanks for any help you can give me.

-- Rose Street (pyrplace@yahoo.com), February 16, 2000

Answers

When you treated the goats did you thoroughly clean the barn as well? The best way is to get a power washer and use hot water with some bleach to spray down ALL of the surfaces (ceiling included). Let is completely dry before allowing the animals back in. Also do you have cats or dogs that might be carrying this around?

-- beckie (sunshine_horses@yahoo.com), February 16, 2000.

Rose, are you sure that they have mange? What are the symptoms?

-- Rebekah (daniel1@transport.com), February 17, 2000.

I had a dog who use to have mange and she got it from taking so many antibiotics that is why she had mange. Vet gave me everything under the sun nothing worked. Then I got smart and went alternative if you will give your goats flax see oil 2 times a day the mange will go away. It least that is how it worked for me. My understanding is that if the animals immune system is down they seem to come down with mange. Hope this helps!!!

Sarah CBE@Dellnet.com

-- Sarah (CBE@Dellnet.com), February 17, 2000.

Turns out after fighting this for over a year the goats have ringworm and not mange. I insisted on a fungal culture and it came back positive. I have started them on TBZ cattle wormer, spreading it on the skin not giving internally. And am spraying them with chlorohexidine. The hair is starting to grow back on some of the goats already. If I had insisted on more tests back in Feb 99 I would have saved myself a lot of time and money and stress not to mention the stress on the goats. Live and learn. I will ask all of you first next time. Thanks for your help.

-- rose street (pyrplace@yahoo.com), March 05, 2000.