

Black, Red, Paint, & Traditional Boer Goats

Below is a table containing diseases, conditions, symptoms, causes, and possible treatments. Information contained on this page should not be used soley to diagnose or treat a condition without consulting a professional.

*Note: All diseases have an incubation period. This is the period from when the goat has been infected until the time symptoms arise. Incubation periods can be from a few weeks to a few years depending on the disease. It is best to quarantine any new animals or animals returning home from a show away from the rest of the herd to prevent possible transmition of illnesses or diseases. Blood tests should be done whenever possible to check for illnesses with long term incubation periods. 

 Disease or Condition  Symptoms  Possible Treatments
 Abscess  Lump or knot generally filled with infection or watery fluid. Can be found anywhere on the body. Generally caused by briars, splinters, injections, or other foreign objects that get lodged below the skins surface.  Lump can be lanced or will usually burst on its own. Keep infected area clean. Spray with Iodine or Furall once or twice daily until area is healed.
 Acidosis  Occurs as a result of injesting large amounts of food. Will hang head or have a drunken behavior, muscle twitching, or bloated. May grind teeth.  Stop access to food. Drench with bloat release, baking soda mixed with water, or bicarbonate of soda. A drench of 2-3 oz. will help neutralize acid.
 Anaphylactic Shock  Glassy eyes, increased salivation, grinding of teeth, rapid breathing, muscular tremors, staggering gait, seizure like symptoms, and collapse with death following. Symptoms will occur within a very short period of time, generaaly minutes after injection of bacterin, vaccine, or antibiotic. This is an allergic reaction to whatever vaccine was administered.  Inject SQ or IM immediately with 1cc per 100 pounds of body weight with Epinephrine. ***It is always recommended that you carry Epinephrine whenever giving any kind of vaccine. You will not have time to get it if you need it.
 Blackleg (Clostridial Myositis)  High fever, lack of appetite, depression, lameness, swelled head or swelled muscles on various parts of the body. In later stages of this disease, muscles will become mushy, producing a crackling sound when pressed with the hand.  May respond to immediate treatment with penicillin or other antibiotics in large doses. If head is swollen, have a vet drain the affected area.
 Bloat  Occurs when animal gorges on wet grass, fresh pasture, or injests large amounts of grain or other feed. Rumen area will be swollen tight, swelling is generally obvious by sight and one side of the rumen may be swollen worse than the other side. Animal generally will foam at the mouth. Misery, laying around or possible collapse. Goat will die within hours if left untreated.  Administer Bloat Release immediately. Or if bloat release is not available, drench with vegetable oil (6-8 oz for an adult) (2+ oz. for kids) or, mix baking soda with water and use as a drench.
 Bottle Jaw  Lower face and jaw will swell especially during evening hours. Gums may not have normal coloring due to being anemic. Caused by animal being infected with blood-sucking worms.  Administer a heavy dose of dewormer. It may be necessary to repeat dose of dewormer until parasites are destroyed. If animal is severly anemic, treat with iron and vitamins.

 Brucella Melitensis Also Known As: The Abortion Disease (Malta Fever)

 Organism is passed through milk, urine, and feces. Placenta becomes infected due to bacteria. Abortions will occur in the last 2 months of pregnancy or possibly earlier.  Generally the entire herd is slaughtered. There are vaccines available to prevent it.
 Caprine Arthritis (CAE)  Knees become enlarged, lameness, weight wasting, inflamed warm and hard udder. Pneumonia, chronic cough. Can be transmitted to offspring through milk or blood to blood contact. Several year incubation period until symptoms become obvious.  Isolate and remove animal from herd. Blood tests can be done to confirm this condition.
 CL (Caseous Lymphadenitis)  Abscess of the lymph glands. Characterized by thick cottage cheese like greenish pus. Animals are infected by contact with the pus or sufaces where the pus has come in contact with. Not all abscess are CL. Animals have to be tested to confirm the presence of this disease.    Isolate and remove animal from herd. Many breeders will get rid of animals with CL. Some breeders treat and manage CL by lancing and removing discharge and treating with iodine for several days, or injecting CL knot when it is appearent with Formalin 10% Buffered. Wear gloves and goggles and destroy all discharge. There are sheep vaccines such as Case-Bac or Caseous D-T, available that some goat producers will use as a preventative measure. There is a goat vaccine available through PHL Laboratories but it is costly (around $1 per shot) and results are only proven to be about 70% effective to prevent new infections. Colorado Serum is also working on a goat vaccine that is expected to be released in 2007. There is no cure for infected animals.
 Coccidiosis  Diarrhea that is black and has a very strong offensive odor. Black color is due to blood being present in the diarrhea. Nursing kids may have brown, yellowish, or greenish colored diarrhea without the offensive odor. Rapid weight loss, dehydration, fever. Fecal tests can be done to confirm this condition. Usually occurs in kids under 6 months of age.  Can be treated with Biosol/Neomycin, Sulmet (Sulfamethazine Sodium 12.5%), Corid, Albon or other therapy. Depending on weight, give Biosol/Neomycin 2-5cc to kids, and 7-10 cc to adults orally twice a day for 5 days. Sulmet can be used in small herds and is less expensive than other treatments because it is sold in smaller quantities (about $7/pint). Administer Sulmet  as a drench, once a day for 5 days undiluted at the rate of 1cc / 5 pounds body weight. Corid can be mixed half Corid with half water and given as a drench with 1cc per 4 pounds for 5 days. Albon can be given orally as a drench 3-8cc depending on body weight for 5 days. Do not dilute Albon or give in drinking water. Often times the animal that is infected does not drink enough to cure itself. Ground Cloves can also be used as a preventative measure against Coccidiosis. Mix one tin of ground cloves like you buy in your local super market with 10 pounds of free choice minerals. Di-Methox Injection 40% can also be used as a preventative when given orally at three weeks of age at the rate of 1/2 cc twice daily, mixed with milk or water for one week, then 1/2 cc once weekly after that until weaned.
 Colic  Affects young kids when dietary changes are made. Kid is restless, cries out and tends to stand either with its back arched or with its hind feet placed well back.  In mild cases, pain quickly passes and returns to normal within hours. If not, 1/2 pint of vegetable oil for adults and less for kids followed by 1 glass of spirits in 2 glasses of water, repeat hourly until pain stops.
 Floppy Kid Syndrome  Newborn kids seem to do well for a few days after birth then start to show weakness of limbs that progress to paralysis. No signs of diarrhea or elevated temperature. Is associated with too much rich milk.  Remove kid from milk source immediately. Dissolve a teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate in water. With a syringe, administer 20-50 cc of the solution orally. Do it slowly and allow kid to swallow. Repeat treatment at 1,3,6, and 12 hours from initial treatment. Feed electrolytes as an alternative to milk. Or, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, mixed with electrolytes and 1/2 teaspoon Pepto-Bismol can be used as an alternative. Repeat in 6 and 12 hours, do not remove kid from mother if using this solution.
 Foot & Mouth Disease  Blisters or vesicles form in any of the following places: lips, tongue, teats, or the coronary band of the hoof. Tend to become lame and possibly salivate excessively.  Must be prevented from occurring. Animals exposed to this disease should be destroyed.
 Foot Rot  Infection enters the hoof and causes inflammation. Often occurs in the outer wall of the hoof eating away at the hoof. Lameness, mild to severe. There is a very offensive odor when the infected area is cleaned out. Animals walk with a slight limp or when standing will not put pressure on certain feet.  Clean hoof with a pick. Trim hoof to remove any overgrowth. Apply Hoof 'N Heel until condition clears up.
 Gastro-Intestinal Worms  Infest stomach and intestines causing diarrhea and weight loss, and often anemia.  Drench with dewormer such as Ivomec, Safeguard, or Cydectin.
 Indigestion  Refusal to eat.  Administer 5 grams of Probios or Probiotics to restore proper rumen function.
 John's Disease  Loss of condition, occasional scouring, becoming more frequent with bubbles of gas in droppings. Weakness. Thirst may increase.  Slaughter animal to prevent the spread of this disease to healthy stock.
 Ketosis  Lactating doe is unable to obtain energy needed from feed. Goes off feed, is sluggish or lays around with no energy to stand or get up.  A glucose drench may be given. Molasses can be added to water to prevent or treat this condition. Can also be prevented or treated by mixing light corn syrup with water.
 Lice  Intense irritation, rubbing, bald patches and itching. Goats will often have lick marks in their hair where they have been biting. Usually becomes a problem during the winter months or sudden changes from hot to cold weather.  Deworming with Ivomec will kill parasites but will need to be repeated in 2-3 weeks when new eggs hatch. Delice powder or synergized insecticide sprays can also be effective but will need to be repeated. May result in hair loss or bald spots when treated with powders or sprays.
 Laminitis  Lameness and warm feet. Goats will graze on their knees or avoid standing upright on their feet. Can be caused by consuming large amounts of grain, or other high protein feed over a period of time.  Immediately place on a low or very limited protein diet. Hoof trim to reduce pain caused by standing or walking. (See article on "Helpful Hints" page).
 Listeriosis  Depression, decreased appetite, fever, leaning or stumbling. Facial paralysis on one side, slack jaw, and drooling, abortions.  Administer Procaine Penicillin every six hours for three to five days. Then daily for an additional week.
 Lungworms  Chronic cough, runny nose. Cough during eating. Sudden and rapid weight loss. Symptoms of Pneumonia  Drench with dewormer such as Ivomec or other wormer for treatment of Lungworms.
 Mange  Itchiness resulting in hair loss, terrible scratching or biting. Hair loss on ears, around eyes, around nose, or around feet. Generally this condition occurs during winter months.  Treat with synergized insecticide or permethrin as directed. For most effective results, entire herd must be treated.
 Mastitis  Udder will be hard, red, hot. Loss of appetite, laying down, or standing with head pressed to the wall. Milk will be chunky or discolored.  Milk doe as much as possible to remove infection and continue to milk daily. Treat with long lasting penicillin daily for 5-7 days.
 Mycotoxin  Poisoning of an animal due to old or moldy hay or feed. Excessive salavation, depression, anorexia, convulsions, arched back.  Remove bad feed immediately. Administer activated charcoal immediately to remove poison from the system.
 Navel Ill  Young kid with swollen, red, painful navel caused by dirty environment.  Antibiotic injections. Area around the navel should be cleaned and sprayed with iodine. As a preventative measure it is recommended to spray all newborn kids navels with iodine.
 Overeating Disease (enterotoxemia)  Sudden loss of appetite. Depression and dehydration. As it progresses animal will become unable to stand. Very watery diarrhea. Foodstuff becomes toxic in the rumen due to large consumption of feed or sudden changes in feed.  Treat immediately with type C & D antitoxin. In early stages of this disease if  type C & D antitoxin is unavailable, treat with types C & D Tetanus Toxoid (CD/T). As a preventative measure vaccinate with CD/T for long lasting protection.
 Pinkeye  Eye becomes watery, matted, red, or clouded over. Sensitive to light. Can be caused by flies, dusty hay or feed, dusty barns or bedding. Isolate animal if pinkeye is suspected to be of the contagious variety, however, most cases are not and are a result of the environment.  Treat with 1cc of penicillin applied directly on the eye twice a day for 7 days. Or, apply Terramycin Eye Ointment twice a day for 7 days.
 Pneumonia  Coughing, congestion, refuses food, stands with head hanging, elevated temperature, wheezes in chest when breathing especially after running. Rattling noise in the lung area. Generally becomes a problem during cold months or when bedding area is damp and cold.  Inject with antibiotics such as long lasting Penicillian until lungs become clear. LA 200 can also be used but only on adult animals that are not pregnant.
 Poisoning  Frothing at the mouth, choking or coughing, bloated rumen area, animal will become ill and die suddenly without treatment. Poisoning can be a result of a plant that was ingested during grazing.  Treat with activated charcoal immediately. Animal will die quickly without treatment. (See article on "Helpful Hints" page).
 Polioencephalomalcia (Goat Polio)  Thiamin (Vitamin B1) deficiency. A result of improper feeding or feeding too much grain and not enough hay. Stargazing, muscle rigidity, uncoordinated staggering or drunken appearance, diarrhea, tremors, head against wall, apparent blindness. Convulsions and high fever may occur. If left untreated animal will die within 24-72 hours.  Thiamine is the only effective therapy and with treatment, improvement may be seen in as little as a couple of hours.
 Pregnancy Toxemia  Occurs late in pregnancy. Loss of appetite, weakness, limping or swollen feet, laying around not wanting to stand, moaning. Generally occurs with does carrying large kids or triplets. Most of the nutrition is going to the kids and doe is deprived of nutrients.  Give alfalfa hay. Force doe to stand and walk. Add molasses to water. Give nutridrench or other glycol solution to boost energy. Condition will subside once doe has kidded and pressure is releaved from the feet.
 Ringworm  Caused by fungus generally found in the ground. Grey-white crusty scabs. Hair thins or falls out in the shape of a circle. Generally no itching or irritation is observed.  Treating area directly with synergized insecticide will generally clear up the fungus. Can also be treated with monistat or other yeast infection treatments. Or, area can be treated with iodine or betadine, however this treatment will take longer to cure(up to one month).
 Scrapie  A fatal degenerative disease of the nervous system. Is caused by a member of the family of the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies also known as "Mad Cow Disease" or "Cronic Wasting Disease" in elk and deer. Symptoms develope slowly. Good appetite accompanied by weight loss, rubbing against fences and other fixed objects, and biting of feet and legs, scrapes hair off of its hide. Currently the only diagnostic tool for goats is to necropsy the brain tissue of a dead goat.  No cure. Animals are destroyed.
 Soremouth (Contagious Pustular Dermatitis)  Onset of disease is pink or redish discoloration around the mouth. Then pimples or blisters develope around the mouth, in the mouth, around the nose. Can also be around the hoofs, anus, or udders. Very highly contagious disease, easily transmitted between animals to animals and animals to humans. Disease will run its course about 3 weeks and is caused by a variation of the virus "Chicken Pox" in humans. If kids are infected, they may die due to lack of ability to nurse.  Isolate infected animal. Destroy animal if possible. Infected animals will rapidly spread this disease to herd and possibly humans. Often animals that have been infected will always remain a carrier of this disease and could cause future outbreaks, eventhough, once an animal has had this disease and it has run its course, that animal will be immune. Refrain from handling animal, disinfect, shoes, clothing, barn, and pastures of where an infected animal inhabited. Use extreme caution to prevent the spread. There is a vaccine to prevent infection and may reduce the recovery time of the infected animal however, WE DO NOT RECOMMEND VACCINATING, the vaccine is a live virus and will often cause the person giving the vaccine to get soremouth. Or, animals vaccinated could transmit the disease to animals who are not vaccinated.
 Tapeworms  Examine the goat's droppings. There will be white flat looking segments of the tapeworms in the feces. Or, there could also be whole worms or pieces of the worms present around the anus and in the hair.  To kill tapeworms, treat with a very large dose of white wormer such as Safeguard goat wormer or Panacur. Give 3 to 4 times the recommended dose to destroy worms.
 Tetanus  Infection of open wounds. A general increase in muscle stiffness is seen. The sympoms get worse and convultions may occur until animal becomes unable to breathe and dies.  Goats can be treated with antibiotics such as penicillin, however response is poor. As a preventative measure, vaccinate with CD/T.
 Uncontrollable Bleeding  Caused by a major cut, trimming hoof too close. broken horn, etc.  Administer Epinephrine 1cc per 100 pounds of body weight either IM or SQ. Epinephrine will constrict the blood vessels to lessen the loss of blood. Also, flour can be applied directly to the open wound to accelerate clotting.
 Urinary Calculi (Kidney Stones)  Restlessness, straining to urinate and often forcing feces out while straining, moaning, crying out in pain. Laying down. Usually occurs in bucks and wethers. Can be caused by over feeding grain. Will result in death.  (See article on "Helpful Hints" page). Administer ammonium chloride immediately in the form of an oral drench.
White Muscle Disease  Deficiency of Vitamin E and Selenium. Stiffness, weakness, back legs become stiff and unable to be used. Can result in death. Generally occurs in young kids.  Administer selenium and Vitamin E. Symptoms will be reversed within a week.

 General Information:









Inject directly into the muscle of the hind leg. Before injecting the drug, always withdrawl the syringe plunger to make sure you didn't hit a blood vessel, if you did, blood will flow into the syringe. If this happens, remove needle and try again.

 Subcutaneous  (SQ)  Inject just under the skin. Generally in the brisket area in the front chest between the front legs or behind the front shoulder blade. Pick up the skin and insert needle at an angle.
 Intravenous  (IV)  Inject directly into a vein. Usually the neck or jugular vein. This takes some skill and should be practiced before attempting.
 Intramammary    Inject within the milk gland at the end of the teat in its natural opening. Always wash teat and sterilize before injecting.
 1 ml =  1 cc =  15 drops
 1 TSP =  5 cc's =  1 gram
 1 TBSP =  15 cc's =  1/2 ounce
 2 TBSP =  30 cc's =  1 ounce
 1 Pint =  480 cc's =  16 ounces


*****Always carry Epinephrine when giving any type of medication to treat anaphylactic shock should it occur.

*****When using an oral drench, allow time for the goat to swallow the medication. Only give a few cc's at a time and then allow them to swallow to insure that the fluid does not enter the lungs.