What Are the Treatments for Sarcoptic Mange in Goats?

Goats develop sarcoptic mange, or scabies, as a result of an infestation of the Sarcoptes scabiei mite. This microscopic mite tunnels into your goat's skin, causing severe irritation and itching, as well as thickened or crusty skin, hair loss around the eyes and ears and dry, flaky skin across the entire body. According to C. P. Peacock, author of "Improving Goat Production in the Tropics," severe scabies infections in goats may result in weight loss and death if left untreated. Human infection may occur, so exercise care when treating your goat for this infection.

  1. Isolation

    • In mild cases of scabies, isolation of the infected goat may be enough to allow the infection to resolve itself without medical treatment. This mode of treatment typically works well during the very early stages of infection, provided your goat is not underweight and possesses good health otherwise. Wash your goat thoroughly with warm water and soap to remove crusty skin lesions and drainage.

      Talk to your veterinarian about giving your goat supplemental subcutaneous injections of fortified vitamin B complex to strengthen its immune system and bolster its appetite; provide a dosage of 5 cc's per 100 pounds of body weight each day for at least three days. If your goat's infection appears to worsen during that time, you should talk with your veterinarian about providing chemical treatment to prevent the scabies infection from worsening further.

    Topical Medication

    • Topical medication, in the form of chemical sprays, often works well during the early stages of sarcoptic mange in goats, according to Peacock. Use a spray approved for use in goats that contains amitraz or permethrin, synthetic chemicals proven to be effective for the treatment of mites.

      Provided cold weather is not a limiting factor, don rubber gloves and scrub your goat's body with warm water and soap to soften the skin before applying the spray. Follow application instructions on the spray bottle, which typically require you to apply an even coating of the spray to your goat's entire body. Spray your goat a second time seven to 10 days after the first application to prevent re-infestation from newly hatched mite eggs.

    Injectable Medication

    • Subcutaneous injections of ivermectin, doramectin or moxidectin may provide an effective method of treatment for certain cases of sarcoptic mange in goats, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. These injections treat your goat's scabies infection systemically by moving to the site of the infection and attacking the mites where they're buried in the skin.

      Mary Smith, co-author of "Goat Medicine," suggests that you also bathe your goat to remove surface crusts and fluid when you treat it with injected medication. Just as with topical treatment, you should administer a second round of treatment seven to 10 days after the first to keep your goat from being re-infested.