Is is safe to worm pregnant does with Ivermectin (injectable)? I know it's a good idea to worm right after kidding, but I can't see letting them carry a heavy parasite load while pregnant.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), January 12, 2002

Answers

Hi Rebekah.. Most any product is safe if used beyond the first 45 days of pregnancy...although Valbazen has a warning against use during pregnancy..I've used it in late pregnancy without problems, however. The key IMO is to do a fecal first to know if they even have worms, what kind, and how severe the outbreak is...then you'll know which drug will be the most effective. I've used the injectable ivermec at double the (labeled) cattle dose, but use it orally, rather than injected. :) patty Prairie Oak Miniatures http://www.minifarm.com/prairie_oak visit our message board! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Littlegoats moderator

-- Patty Putnam (littlegoats@wi.rr.com), January 12, 2002.

Oh boy, by the time some of them are 45 days pregnant, the others will have kidded!! I don't want them to freshen as 'walking skeletons'. They definitely have worms, we have very wet ground here and I haven't wormed them since spring or summer. In fact, I actually saw a small white worm on one of the does.

What about liver flukes? Do those show up in a fecal test? Our vet has never mentioned it, but we have a pond here and some very swampy areas, I know that there are snails in the pond.

-- Reflex (daniel1@itss.net), January 12, 2002.

The warning on Valbazen is for the first 45 days of pregnancy of a 300+ day pregnancy of a cow. If you were to believe that this cause a problem in goats, than it would be the first 12 to 14 days of the goats 150 day pregnancy. Ironically the same 14 days in which implantation occurs and you should not be using anything on the goats! Ivermectin injected to deer will cause long bone fusion of their babies, and this is also during the first weeks of pregnancy. If you have liverflukes than worm your goats, Ivermectin Plus or Valbazen are the ones to use. We rarely need to worm during the fall and winter, it is also when the does are bred. We fecal and will worm if needed, and I would not hesitate to use Valbazen. I would hesitate to use Cydectin when there is eveidence that abortions have been caused when giving this orally. I know not one credible person who has had problems with Valbazen. I do know the Ivermectin problem in deer is very real, and I know personally and have talked via goatworld.com 911 to folks with Cydectin deaths. That's enough to get me to not use it. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 12, 2002.

I need to state this post over. I never meant to say that I "know not one credible person" who knows a Valbazen story of abortion after using. Lets' just forget I said that and just say that most stories about wormers, or med reactions aren't well documented. Most just blame the wormer, without vet checks, and without necropsy. And now I will just keep my big trap shut :) Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 13, 2002.

Vicki open your mouth all you want .You have helped so many with your knowledge you can slip now and then .~ Patty

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@hotmail.com), January 16, 2002.