Treatment for Goats with Mange Mites

Goats can be challenging creatures to raise and maintain. They have a habit of breaking out of their enclosures and eating flower and vegetable gardens, attacking trash cans and generally getting into trouble. In wet or humid weather, goats are also particularly prone to skin disorders like mange. Mange occurs when mites move onto a goat and burrow in the skin, laying eggs and sucking blood. This condition causes intense itching and skin irritation, and should be treated immediately to keep it from spreading.

  1. The Facts

    • Mange in any animal is highly contagious. It can be passed not only to other goats, but also to dogs, cats, cows, sheep, horses and pigs. Some types of mange can also be passed to humans. Most types of mange are treatable with medicated washes as prescribed by a vet.

    Symptoms

    • The symptoms of mange vary slightly according to the type of mange mite, but generally consist of scabby, flaky skin, lesions, irritation, hair loss and possible ulceration. Mange strikes first on a goat's lower limbs, scrotum, udder and between the thighs, though some types of mange will also strike a goat's head. The condition causes intense itching.

    Preparing for Treatment

    • When treating for mange, it's a good idea to start by shaving the affected areas. This gives the vet an open space for taking skin scrapings to properly diagnose the condition, and opens up the area for easier, more effective treatment. Since mange mites thrive in warm, humid places, this also opens the skin up to better circulation.

    Chemical Dip

    • Mange is treated with a chemical miticide, which kills the mites and their eggs. Because this chemical dip is highly toxic, it is available only through a prescription from a vet, after diagnosis of mange. Farmers don protective masks, gloves and goggles, and sponge the dip over their goats to get rid of mange. These treatments are repeated until the skin scrapings show dead mites instead of live ones. Treatments can take up to 2 weeks, with as many as eight applications of chemical dip.

    Prevention

    • Although most mange is treatable, it's recommended that farmers do what they can to prevent reinfestations instead of depending on future treatments. When goats are diagnosed with mange, take all bedding out of the barn and burn it. Mites are highly contagious and can be spread from goat to goat through bedding, food and physical contact. Many farmers also wash down the walls of their barns with a bleach solution, since mites can rub off onto walls when goats are attempting to scratch themselves.