What Are the Treatments for Mange in Goats?

Mange is a serious skin disorder that affects animals like dogs, cats and goats. Mange mites tunnel into an animal's skin to suck its blood, and cause sores, scabs and infection. Mange is most likely to occur in hot, crowded conditions, and can spread quickly without proper treatment and prevention.

  1. Chemical Dip

    • Chemical dips are the most efficient, and only guaranteed, way to treat mange in goats. Take the infected goat to the vet for a diagnosis of its infection. If the goat has mange, the vet will prescribe a dip like lime sulfur, triclorfon metrifonate or caumaphos Co-Ral, which will kill the mange mites and clear up the infection. Wash the goats with the solution, per the directions on the label and the vet's prescription.

    Increased Nutrition

    • Mange generally occurs in animals that are malnourished or immunocompromised, so another effective treatment is increased nutrition. Improve a goat's diet with high-nutrition grain and more fresh food. Give the goats fruits and vegetables, and turn them out in a pasture to expose them to fresh green grass. Better nutrition gives goats more resources for fighting existing mange infections and preventing future mite infestations.

    Cleaning

    • Mange mites spread rapidly from goat to goat through physical contact, shared bedding and food, and the environment. Isolate any goats that have mange during their treatment, and take steps to prevent spreading. Wash your goats with soap and water, throw out any old bedding and food, and wash down walls and fences with a bleach and water solution. Return the infected goats to the herd only after the mange is gone.