One of my wethers looks like he has cuds in both cheeks. But it isn't his cud. It's kind of hard feeling and is at the back of the lower jaw. He seems fine otherwise. He is current on his vaccines, and this isn't like when they puff their fur out when it's really cold. Any ideas? It's weird. Thanks!

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@yahoo.com), February 02, 2002

Answers

Doreen, what size is it?? Does it feel "smooshy" at all? I am sure Vicki would have a better idea of what you are dealing with in good old Texas. Up here my first suspicion would be CL. This one I am surely hoping I am guessing wrong on!!

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), February 02, 2002.

Doreen, I've heard this is a sign of worms. I'm with diane, Vicki will know.

-- sherry (chickadee259@yahoo.com), February 03, 2002.

I had a 2 year old doe come up with something that sounds like that. I about had heart failure thnking that it was CL. I have been really diligent to keep that out of my herd. Turns out, it was her teeth! She had one on both sided giving her problems. She was still able to eat and in a day or so had worked it out. Best I can tell, she was losing them.

-- Tana Mc (mcfarm@totelcsi.net), February 03, 2002.

It feels hard, no "smoosh" to it. I did have a doe that had CL, but thank God none of these have had it. The thing that makes me believe it is NOT CL is that it is the same on both sides. Thanks for your thoughts...hope Vicki knows!

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@yahoo.com), February 03, 2002.

Is it hot at all? Does it affect his eating (either grain, hay or cud)? Is it affecting his behavior (does he act sick)?

-- Sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), February 03, 2002.

I have a goat who does this! It may not be what is wrong with your goat, but, it is a suggestion. My doe gets large wads of cud stuck way back in between her lips and her teeth. I have learned to take my finger and run it waaay back in front of her teeth and between the lips and draw out the cud stuff. Hope this is all it is. In His Grace, sissy

-- Sissy Barth (iblong2Him@ilovejesus.net), February 04, 2002.

Hi Doreen, with this not being snake season :) I do think, as Sherry said, that this is bottle jaw. Give him a good dose of Ivermectin and then next week dose him again. If it doesn't go down then I haven't a clue :) I know that most folks say the bottle jaw will go all the way around the throat, and from jaw to throat, but why couldn't it just puff out the throat? If you have any iodine at all in your grain, feed or minerals, or if you feed kelp than it isn't goiter. He is to old for a salivary cyst to pop up now, would have been draining all along. Have blue tongue is very unlikely! CL coming up on both sides is not going to happen, and to have 2 teeth abscess on both sides at the same time is also unlikely. So......:) worm him good with Ivermectin 1% at least 2cc per 100 pounds and give it orally, and hope it goes down. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), February 04, 2002.

It went down yesterday.?. I think all of my goats need worming anyway, but the last time I tried to use ivermectin two of them acted like they were going into seizures. Scared me. I will worm him with the ivermectin as suggested. He does get iodine in his feed, but I haven't been giving kelp to the boys.

There is no heat to his jaw at all, and he is eating just fine and acting fine although I am beginning to have trouble keeping weight on him. He is my oldest goat and is cae+. He is also the one that destroys all shelters I have made for him, so winter is a rough time. He only has a roof and a pallet fixed to trees to block the wind. Yesterday I made the cattle panel hoop house for him, and it is still standing so far;). I hope it stays that way as I would like him to be better protected.

Thanks everyone!

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@yahoo.com), February 04, 2002.

Give the Ivermectin 1% cattle injectable, orally, by mouth. 2cc per 100 pounds. It actually works better this way, it is the slowest route so gives the drug more of a chance to work. Injecting it 1cc per 110 pounds does kill nosebots, lice and mites, and yes it stings. But I much prefer it to dusting for lice with my asthma. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), February 04, 2002.

I wormed him this morning and he didn't do the spazzing thing that the other goats did when I used the ivermectin orally on them. I have never used a wormer as an injection on my goats, but I guess if I develop those problems I will know what to do now! Thanks much!

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@yahoo.com), February 04, 2002.