Meningeal Worm

[Deleted]

Oh, man.

Nomo is not doing well. Despite dosing with Safeguard per TN Meat Goat's instructions, she's still slowly going downhill. Today, just before I left for work, I was giving her a "Have A Good Day" scratch and noticed a meningeal worm lesion on her back.

We're struggling. Don't know whether to put her down, or just keep treating even though it looks like she'll never be healthy enough to breed even if we do get the worms wiped out.

Man, I hate this part of raising goats...

[woolybear]

I had this info copied onto my computer. Maybe it will help. What follows is from the article.

My thanks go to Ray Kruse in Kentucky for the vital information and experience that he provided in putting this article together.
Suzanne W. Gasparotto, Onion Creek Ranch, Texas 5/8/14
The curative treatment (treatment for infected goats displaying symptoms) has changed in 2013. Very high dosages of fenbenzadole (Safeguard/Panacur or equivalent) at a dosing rate of ten times the label dosage. Liquid Safeguard's label dose is 2.3 cc (ml) per 100 pounds bodyweight, which means that you must multiply this by 10 and dose at 23 cc (ml) per 100 pounds bodyweight. You can use Safeguard paste, also dosing at ten times the label's dosage rate based upon the goat's body weight. Treatment is given once a day for five consecutive days. Ivermectin was eliminated from the curative treatment protocol because researchers at Ohio State University found that it didn't penetrate the spinal column to kill the worms, so once neurological symptoms appeared, using Ivermectin was ineffective. If the goat is down and can't get up on its own, the chance for recovery is not good. An anti-inflammatory drug like Banamine can be useful in alleviating the inflammation of nerve tissue. Dexamethasone may also be used, but it will cause abortions in pregnant does.

This treatment, if utilized early in the disease, can stop its progression but cannot undo any nerve damage. Permanent spinal damage (including curvature), hindquarter weakness, and/or inability to deliver kids may be the residual effect of Meningeal Worm infection. Once the spinal cord is damaged, treatment can only do so much and the goat will never be back to full health. You should let at least one month pass after treatment is completed before deciding to euthanize the goat or being convinced that it has been successfully treated.

The preventative treatment for goats showing no symptoms whatsoever involves a one-time oral dosing of 1% injectable ivermectin given orally dosing at 1 cc per 55 pounds of bodyweight, OR a one time oral dosing of Safeguard/Panacur dosing at 2.3 cc per 100 pounds of bodyweight (either suspension or paste). Ivermectin paste and Ivermectin pour-on are not effective. Using Ivermectin preventatively (prophylactically) or to treat pre-neurological symptoms is effective.

[Deleted]

Thanks so much, Woolybear. I'm afraid that, with the spinal damage done to our girl, that she won't ever be able to breed again.

Darned shame... She is a sweetheart, and threw such lovely kids.

[woolybear]

Not sure where you live, but around here ivermec is mostly useless against worms. So it is suggested to use it for the meningeal worm. Suppose to work well for mw, can use it prophylactic without worrying about causing stomach worm resistance.

[Deleted]

I used ivermec for the meningeal when I followed the old protocol (Ivermec followed by Safeguard). Since have learned that ivermec doesn't cross the blood/brain barrier.

We use Cydectin for stomach and lung worms.