Here is a list of some essentials to always have on hand in the goat first aid kit/medicine cabinet. Although I use herbal, natural, and holistic methods as much as I can, sometimes it is necessary in extreme circumstances to use drugs to treat very serious health problems. I am gradually needing to use less and less of the conventional drugs, but I keep them on hand, just in case. This is a list of all the herbs and medications that I try to keep on hand.

Everything (other than herbs/herbal remedies) is available at Tractor Supply unless otherwise noted.

Medications/Supplements:

Natural:

• Herbs:
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Cinnamon
  • Cloves
  • Echinacea
  • Garlic
  • Herbal Dewormer
  • Herbal Coccidia Treatment
  • Kelp meal
  • Red Raspberry
  • Slippery Elm Bark
  • Thyme
  • Wormwood
• Honey
• Apple Cider Vinegar (get a gallon jug at the grocery store)
• Diatomaceous earth
• Probiotics (Goats Prefer® probiotics or Probios® powder)
• Baking Soda (get at a grocery store)
• Copper boluses (get at Jeffers or Amazon.com)

Antibiotics/Drugs:

• Ivomec 1% Cattle and Swine injectable (for severe worm infestations, give 1 cc per 40 lb orally; more info here)
• Coccidiostat (Di-Methox; get at Hoegger Supply. DO NOT use CoRid, it is a thiamine inhibitor and is BAD for goats)
• SpectoGard Scour-Chek (spectinomycin, labeled for pigs. Get at Southern States, PBS animal health, or Jeffers)
• LA-200 (broad-spectrum antibiotic for pinkeye, pneumonia, and other sicknesses; see dosage here)
• Today® mastitis treatment (more info here, you can get it at Hoegger Supply)
• Triple antibiotic ointment (topical antibiotic, also used for pinkeye) (get this at your local pharmacy)

Other:

• Red Cell (Give 2 cc per 50 lb, Iron supplement for anemia)
• Vitamin B12/B complex supplement
• Electrolytes (Bounce Back® or Manna Pro® goat electrolytes; Gatorade works in an emergency)

Supplies:

• Luer lock syringes
• Oral syringes (luer slip)
• 22 ga x 1/2″ needles (other sizes may be needed)
• Rectal thermometer
• Producer’s Pride® Pritchard Nipples and a 16 oz water bottle for bottle feeding orphaned or rejected kids.
• Rubbing alcohol
• Cotton balls
• Thick plastic bottle w/ tight lid to dispose needles in (take to your vet for disposal when full)
• Index card with your vet’s phone number (always use a large animal vet for goats; most dog-and-cat vets have no experience with small ruminants)