Sharing our copper / selenium problem ...Sept. update / pics pg 8

[SDGsoap&dairy]

It would be awfully strange for Penny to have had hair loss from the Cylence, then shorter after more generalized hair loss from a totally different issue... What are the odds that the two would be totally unrelated? Pretty slim I'd think considering the fact that it's not that common for goats to just go bald. Very curious indeed!

 

[elevan]

Ok, I'm gonna throw another possibility into the mix for you

Vitamin deficiency

There are two vitamins that play a key role in a healthy crop of hair. When there is a Vitamin A deficiency, an excessive production of a protein called keratin takes place, which makes the skin rough and dry, and in extreme cases, hyperkeratosis can lead to hair loss, as keratin blocks hair follicles, stunting hair growth. Vitamin A deficiency can be easily overcome by including those food items that contain this vitamin in diet. However, excessive intake of Vitamin A can be toxic. Another vitamin, earlier known as Vitamin H, Biotin also helps in hair growth. When Biotin is bound by avidine - a sugar-protein-containing molecule present in the raw egg white, then the body cannot absorb this vitamin. Biotin is essential as it metabolises the sugar content into a usable chemical fuel. A deficiency of this vitamin can lead to hair loss. Biotin is found in milk [cow's milk and goat's milk], chicken eggs, cabbage, cucumber, cauliflower, onions, raspberries, strawberries, almonds, walnuts, oats. Carrots, tomatoes, romaine lettuce and chard however, are the richest source of this vitamin

Also have you tried giving her something for allergies? In case that is the result of the extreme hair loss?

You've mentioned Penny being High Copper...where does she stand as far as selenium?

 

[helmstead]

:/ That is one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen.

Did you have her zinc levels checked? And, yes, I'd somehow get the loose minerals away from her and just offer loose salt for awhile.

If you didn't have her zinc levels checked, I would start bolusing her with zinc tablets ASAP. High Ca, low Zinc can cause widespread hair loss...and interestingly zinc and copper inhibit each other - so if her copper is chronically high...welllll....

I agree the initial alopecia was related to the CyLence (altho I've NEVER had one react like that to it!)...but the rest of that hairloss I don't feel is related.

And, no, that's not ringworm.

 

[ksalvagno]

I would probably be pulling out the NuStock and using it on her. No idea what the problem is but if MTG isn't doing enough then I would probably move on to witch's brew or NuStock if she were here.

Hopefully you can figure it out.

 

[ThornyRidgeII]

I would pull the MTG also.. I tried that on a buck one time and it seemed to make his condition worse.. so wondering if you are slathering her up with the MTG.. maybe it could be some of the culprit.. cause when I used it .. well I saw no hair regrowth and seemed like hair thinned! I supplemented with zinc picolinate once and had some improvement with one of my bucks a few years back.. used the capsules from health food store (raisin rack) and dropped a couple in his grain rations every other day for a while and his coat improved.. no chance of allergy? unlikely due to what seems like a sudden onset.. blowing coat literally after kidding.- major hormonal issue??. hmmm I bought the Cylence to get away from chemical burns.. I was previously using Ultra Boss and dripping some down top lines and several goats would end up with bald racing stripes.. have not used my cylence yet so curious to see what will happen.. I have a couple that seemed extra licey this winter and they developed thinned hair in spots- not as extensive. curious to see what becomes of this..

 

[Roll farms]

 

[Goatmasta]

mites

 

[Roll farms]

If there's a mite left alive on that goat after 3 rounds of ivermectin (injected and oral) and a dose of cyclence....it's a mite I can't kill.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

From what I can find, ringworm makes the hair break off at the base of the shaft.

The red spots almost looks like mange like dogs get.

You don't think it could be scrapie, do you?

 

[Roll farms]

OK, so technically this thread's probably about done but...I took all these darn pics so I'm going to post them.

Pardon any mud / dirty goats...I think we've had only 5 days w/ no rain in the last month.

Shawnee (pic taken last week), she was bought in April so didn't get the bad hay and looks great....she's due in July.

Levi (been here since she was 6 wks, she's 4 now, pic taken last week) Obviously a fattie who's looking good.

Jazmine, bought in January w/ Patch...(pic taken last month)

Another doe in good condition / no issues...but - She and Levi have lived together in a different barn (the one where the kids are) w/ the 'better' hay. The 'bad' hay only was given to the goats in the "big" barn.

Now here's Patch...tested 'high normal' copper, 'normal' selenium.

The day she got here...see what I meant about her nasty winter coat?

This pic was taken about 3 weeks ago, after a couple days of very thorough brushing, trying to get all the fuzz out so I *could* get a decent pic of her for our website.

Patch taken today. She's been regrowing her coat for about a week.
Before brushing

See what I mean about all the thick, nasty dead skin flaking off...? Her bumps are all but gone, though.

Here's a shot after I brushed the crusties off.

Dazzle -

Tested 'normal' for both copper and selenium...this is what her back is doing, dry flaky skin.

Foxy - did test 'low normal' for copper, normal for selenium. I will probably give her a bolus tomorrow, see if it helps her coat any.

Derri...the one I thought looked 'the best' as far as her how her coat feels / condition...tested the LOWEST of the group for copper, normal for selenium. I will probably bolus her, too.

That's it for the tested goats, but here are most of the rest of our herd, except the kids and the Togg buck who kept hiding behind Chaos.

The boys - Saturday - 1 yr old

Bullitt - 4.5 mos old - I love his little fluffy butt fur....

Chaos - 4 yrs old, red in the rump still after a calf bolus...

Creampuff, 9 yrs old, our 'old lady'. Holding her condition pretty good, for an old broad.

I'm always telling you guys that when Puffy is mad, her ears stick out...she was annoyed b/c I made her go out in the sprinkling rain today...this is what she does:

Nissan, 5 yr old Kiko doe....holding her own, as well.

These two are 1.5 yr old 1st fresheners this year, Peyton (who is hard to tell anything about since she's 72 different colors...)

And Reggie

And finally...the Toggenheifers...

Itty Bitty, 5 yrs old

And her daughter, Missie (Itty Bitty chewed her ear and tail tips off when she was cleaning her off as a newborn...)

So that's all of 'em but the young kids and the Togg buck.