STAPH IN SHOW GOATS…HOW TO TREAT SKIN INFECTION IN GOATS

One of the frustrating skin problems we see frequently in show goats is dermatitis caused by various species of Staphylococcus.

Staph is a normal skin bacteria that can be found on healthy goat skin but it can become a problem when it gets out of control.

Staph dermatitis usually starts as an infected hair follicle and looks like a big pimple.  A lot of time that’s as far as it goes and early treatment can keep it limited to no more than a little pustule.

However, untreated (and sometimes when treated) it can spread and become a generalized and much more problematic issue.

It’s important to keep a close eye on your goats skin daily and if you see any small pustules treat them ASAP.

Traditionally we have recommended topical treatment with chlorhexidine or povidone iodine scrubs and systemic antibiotics if it spreads beyond a pustule.

The esterfied MCTs in Provilli are a valuable addition to the treatment protocol.

The bar graph represents the effect of using dilute Provilli on Staph.  It is highly effective at killing Staph while the emulsifiers and medium chains are beneficial to the skin and won’t dry it out like soaps. Using Provilli at one ounce per quart cut’s the Staph population in half within an hour and virtually eliminates it within 12 hours.

Another point that a lot of people don’t think about is sanitizing their equipment like clipper blades, brushes, halters, chains, stands, etc. Chlorhexidine is a good disinfectant to use and you can just mix it in a bucket clean the equipment first then just drop your smaller equipment in then pull it out and let it air dry.  For bigger stuff clean it first then use a sprayer to spray the disinfectant on every surface and let it air dry.  Barbasol is another good disinfectant choice for clippers heads and blades.

We have a lot of customers that use Provilli routinely as a preventative. You can either add it to its own spray bottle or add one ounce per quart to your leave in conditioner. If you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to call or text.