Here’s a list of common health diseases in goats along with their symptoms and treatments:
- Internal Parasites (Worms)
Symptoms: Weight loss, anemia (pale gums/eyelids), diarrhea, bottle jaw (swelling under the jaw)
Treatment:
Dewormers like albendazole, ivermectin, or fenbendazole
FAMACHA scoring to monitor anemia
Rotate pastures and use good sanitation
- External Parasites (Lice, Mites, Ticks)
Symptoms: Itching, hair loss, skin irritation, restlessness
Treatment:
Insecticidal sprays/dips (e.g., pyrethrin, permethrin)
Injectable ivermectin for mites/lice
Keep bedding clean and dry
- Coccidiosis
Symptoms: Diarrhea (sometimes bloody), weight loss, dehydration, rough coat
Treatment:
Sulfadimethoxine or amprolium (Corid)
Prevent with good sanitation and medicated feed for young kids
- Pneumonia
Symptoms: Coughing, nasal discharge, fever, labored breathing, lethargy
Treatment:
Broad-spectrum antibiotics like oxytetracycline, penicillin, or Nuflor
Keep housing dry and draft-free
- Mastitis (Udder Infection)
Symptoms: Swollen/hard udder, abnormal milk, fever
Treatment:
Intramammary antibiotics (e.g., Today or Tomorrow)
Anti-inflammatories for pain (vet guidance)
Proper milking hygiene
- Foot Rot / Foot Scald
Symptoms: Lameness, swelling between toes, foul-smelling discharge
Treatment:
Trim hooves
Soak in zinc sulfate or copper sulfate solution
Keep feet dry and clean
- Enterotoxemia (Overeating Disease)
Symptoms: Sudden death, diarrhea, bloating, neurological signs
Treatment:
Antitoxin (CD antitoxin) if caught early
Prevention: Vaccinate with CD/T annually
- Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL)
Symptoms: Abscesses in lymph nodes, especially around neck and jaw
Treatment:
Isolate infected goats
Lance or surgically remove abscesses under vet guidance
Vaccine available in some areas
- Urinary Calculi (Kidney Stones – in males)
Symptoms: Straining to urinate, dribbling urine, restlessness, bloating
Treatment:
Emergency! Call a vet immediately
Prevent with proper calcium-to-phosphorus ratio in feed and ammonium chloride
Click here to buy Goat farming book