10/19/2026
Hey Goaty People, this one is for you!
Erica is working on getting her FAMACHA certificate. FAMACHA is a grading scale for measuring anemia in goats by looking at the inside of the lower eyelid.
During this course, Erica learned the answer to a question we have been asked many times. How often do we deworm our goats? I now have the answer, and it is interesting. So let's break it down and talk about it.
Worm resistance is very common in goat parasites, so it is recommended to only deworm the goats that need it. How do we know who needs it? One way to get a good idea without costing a ton of money, especially in large herds, is the FAMACHA test. The FAMACHA score is only going to tell you which goats are probably being affected by the barber pole worm and experiencing some anemia. The second way is to do a f***l test. You can f***l test all the animals or just the ones with high scores on the FAMACHA test.
**How do we treat these animals?**
It is recommended to treat all adult animals scoring a 4–5 on the card and all young, ill, pregnant, and lactating animals scoring a 3 or higher. It is also recommended to use 2 to 3 different drug types when you deworm and to use the drug with the longer waiting period for the second dose/treatment. With the use of 2 to 3 drug classes, the hope is to also kill and stop the worms that have developed resistance.
**How often should you check a FAMACHA score, and when is peak parasite season?**
June–October is the barber pole worm's peak season, so it is important to be checking a FAMACHA score or doing a f***l test every two weeks. This doesn't mean you have to check all of the animals in your herd/flock, but rather check a select group. These might be the ones that are most affected, like babies, lactating animals, older or sick animals, or even just the ones that come up last.
**What drug names should you use, and which brands of medications?**
It is important to use dewormers that have been tested and are safe for goats. There are 3 drug classes, and each class has a selection of products or medication types that are specifically safe for goats. You should only use these on your animals under veterinary recommendation.
The first drug names are fenbendazole and albendazole. There are 3 brand names approved for goats/sheep: Panacur, Safeguard, and Valbazen.
The second drug names are ivermectin and moxidectin, and the approved brand names for goats and sheep are Ivomec and Cydectin.
The third and final drug names are levamisole and morantel, with approved brand names for goats and sheep including Prohibit, LevaMed, Rumatel, and Goat Care Positive Pellet.
It is recommended to always double-check low-scoring animals with a f***l test, use 2–3 different dewormers at the same time, only use oral dewormers, and observe the longest withdrawal period among the medications used. It is also recommended to weigh the animals or use the highest estimated weight of the animals being treated.
Always check with your veterinarian before giving any medications! Always keep an eye out for illness in your animals. I am not a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine, and this information came from the link in the comments. This information only pertains to barber pole worms.
I am also looking for 2 goats whose owners would be willing to let me practice the FAMACHA technique and video the process to complete my certification. If you are in the Culpeper, VA area or surrounding areas and would be willing to help, please reach out!
Located in Culpeper, VA, serving surrounding areas.
