Frequently (and not so frequently) Asked Questions
BRIEF: What do you think about using tobacco or garlic to get rid of worms in goats?
QUESTION:
Can you tell me what you think about getting rid of worms in goats with
medicines such as garlic or tobacco?
ANSWER:
The dose of tobacco required to get rid of worms varies with the nicotine
content of the tobacco used, is very close to the dose that is harmful to goats
and is usually more costly per goat than safer, more effective commercially
available worm medicines. (Unless you are growing your own tobacco, of course,
and have no market or use for it that pays more than its value as a vermifuge.)
QUESTION:
Is this effective?
ANSWER:
The tobacco certainly is. Garlic is often used as an adjunct to herbal wormers,
but I don't know why and I don't know if is effective by itself. Perhaps its
value is that the smell and taste of the animal and its milk reminds one which a
nimals have been treated, so the produce is not consumed for a while....
QUESTION:
Other suggestions?
ANSWER:
Go to your local tobacconist and price a pouch of tobacco vs two doses of
ivermectin, thiabendazole, etc.