Finding an experienced goat vet near you can be tricky. Many small-animal hospitals won’t work with goats or don’t have much experience caring for farm animals. For this reason, a great place to take your goat for care is a large animal hospital. Large animal vets have more experience treating farm animals such as cows, pigs, sheep, and goats.
Searching online for a vet that sees goats can be difficult and troublesome, so we’ve created a directory containing nearly 700 farm animal veterinarians across the United States.
Select your state below to find a goat veterinarian in your state!
DISCLAIMER: The content contained in this article should not be considered professional medical advice. Always talk with a local veterinarian before making assumptions and decisions related to your goat’s health.
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7 Common Signs of Illness in Goats
Just like any other animal, goats can become sick or diseased for many reasons. Spotting signs of illness in your goat as early as possible is very important to effectively treat and care for your goat.
Look for these common signs of illness in your goat:
1. Lack of movement
Lack of movement in your goat, including standing still, lying down for long periods, and isolation from a herd can be a sign of a serious illness.
If your goat is not moving, you may also find other signs of sickness, such as high temperature, irregular consumption of food or water, and more.
Call a local veterinarian immediately and discuss your goat’s condition with them.
2. High/low temperature
A goat’s temperature should be between 102 and 103 degrees Fahrenheit.
A high temperature in your goat could be a sign of infection or dehydration (Source), while a low temperature is often serious and could have many different causes.
3. Irregular consumption of food or water
Lack of interest in food or water is a common symptom of many different diseases. If your goat is not consuming food and water, or is consuming less than normal, it may be time to schedule a visit to a goat vet near you.
4. Limping or lack of balance
Changes in your goat’s gait or stance can be a sign of many different health issues. This may be difficult to determine on your own, but one common illness that is responsible for limping in goats is “Foot Rot” and “Foot Scald.” Read more about foot rot and scald here.
Limping can also be a sign of injury to a part of the goat’s body, such as the foot or shoulder. Look closely for indications of bodily injury.
Always check with a local goat veterinarian if you’re unsure how to care for an injured goat.
5. Lethargy
Lethargy (a lack of energy) can be connected to many different illnesses in goats. It is an easy-to-spot warning sign of health issues.
If your goat is lethargic, you should discuss it with a local veterinarian immediately.
6. Irregular breathing
Irregular breathing in your goat can be a sign of respiratory disease. There can be several different causes and diseases associated with irregular goat breathing.
Read all about respiratory diseases in goats here.
7. Blisters in/around the mouth and nose
A sore mouth and blisters in and around your goat’s mouth and nose can be a sign of orf. Orf is a contagious disease that can be spread to humans.
Read more about orf virus here and contact a local veterinarian if you believe your goat may be infected with orf.
What is toxic to goats?
Although goats enjoy a lot of different types of foods, there are a few things that you should avoid feeding your goat.
Here’s a short list of some common food and plants that you should avoid letting your goat eat:
- Avocado
- Chocolate
- Dog/cat food
- Holly trees/bushes
- Lilac
- Wild cherries
For a full list of plants poisonous to goats, check out this resource.