Goat Physical & Skin Signs

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Physical signs will normally be the first indication of a sick goat. However, in order to be able to recognize the physical signs of a sick goatl, you must first closely observe your goats when they are healthy. Physical signs of sickness are the first indication of something wrong which should direct you to look for additional signs to help pinpoint the most likely problems. The more symptoms you can identify, the less likelihood you will mistreat it. Physical signs of a healthy goat are:

• Attitude -   Alert and inquisitive
• Appetite -   Shows interest in food. Chews cud after feeding
• Weight - Normal weight and gain as other animals
• Reproductive Organs - Normal
• Eyes -   Bright and not running
• Nose -   Cool and dry
• Coat/Skin -   Clean,  glossy and no lumps
• Droppings - Firm and pelleted
• Urine -   Light brown and no blood
• Breathing -   Regular and unlabored
• Gait -   Steady and no limping
• Vocal - Normal

Below are some of the physical symptoms associated with certain disease or conditions. After identifying the symptoms of your animal, compare them to the Disease and Conditions table for possible illness and treatment.

Attitude - Depressed, hangs its head, misery, collapsed,  restless, dull, weak

Appetite - Off food, loss of appetite

Body - Muscle twitching, bloated, swelling in flank, knees enlarged,  abscesses   of lymph gland, head-shaking,  swollen red navel,

Breathing - Chronic cough, sweet smell of breath, breathing rapidly,

Coat/Skin - Pimples, watery blisters, encrusted scabs, foul smell, loss of condition, irritation, rubbing, bald patches, itching, small lumps or bag of fluid, raised and red, grey-white crusty appearance, thickened, hair thin or absent, coat tussled and standing on end,

Droppings - Diarrhea, watery, scouring with bubbles of gas, tapeworm segments, loose, straining  to pass feces,

Eyes - Watery, cornea cloudy, white spots in cornea, reddened, pupils narrowed to slits, excess tears spilling over on skin, sensitive to the light,

Gait -  Drunken behavior, stands with its back arched or with hind feet placed well back, unable to stand, lies on side making paddling movements, lameness, reluctant to walk,

Nose - runny, snotty, stopped

Reproductive Organs - Hard udder, hot udder, udder very tender,

Urine - Bloody, unable to urinate, strains to urinate

Vocal - Crying out, grinding teeth (sign of pain)

Weight - Wasting, rapid weight loss, dehydration,