Goat diseases and their symptoms, treatment

The goat, nicknamed the “poor cow” for its unpretentiousness in maintenance and food, in addition, has another remarkable feature: the goat is subject to a relatively small number of infectious diseases, although it is not completely free from diseases.

Infectious diseases in goats are the same as in sheep, but sheep suffer from more infectious diseases than goats.

Goats are susceptible to infectious diseases common to all mammals. These diseases are also dangerous for humans, so veterinary services systematically check goats for diseases such as leptospirosis, salmonellosis, tuberculosis, and brucellosis.

Brucellosis in goats and sheep

bacterial disease. Brucella bacteria are divided into six types, of which the causative agent of brucellosis in goats and sheep is especially dangerous for humans. Brucella are unstable in the external environment. In water, soil or manure, they remain viable for 4 months. Direct sunlight kills the pathogen in 4 hours. Heating to a temperature of 90-100°C kills brucella instantly.

Infection in goats and sheep most often occurs through the digestive tract, when eating feed sown with brucella, as well as through “bloody” injuries (scratches, small wounds), which open a direct path for infection to the bloodstream. A person usually becomes infected through milk or meat.

Symptoms of brucellosis

The main problem of brucellosis is precisely that in goats and sheep, in most cases, the disease is asymptomatic, making itself felt only during pregnancy by abortion at 4-5 months. Up to 70% of goats or sheep in a herd can abort. Rarely, paresis of the hind legs may develop.

The diagnosis of the disease can only be made in the laboratory. Responsible goat owners periodically test milk from their goats, although if brucellosis is detected, they will lose all their goats, since there is no cure for the disease.

Prevention of brucellosis in goats and sheep

Strict adherence to veterinary rules for the prevention of disease and control of the movement of goats and sheep. If a case of brucellosis is found in a previously prosperous area, all animals, without exception, are sent for slaughter. In disease-prone areas, young animals are raised in isolation, forming a dairy herd from it. Vaccination against brucellosis is carried out only in agreement with the veterinary service.

Such goat diseases common to all productive animals as leptospirosis, foot-and-mouth disease, tuberculosis are usually strictly controlled by veterinary services and are relatively rare. In addition to leptospirosis, which is spread by rodents. But the risk of leptospirosis can be reduced by storing feed in containers where rats cannot reach. Leptospira are excreted in the urine of rats and persist for a long time in a humid environment: in water for up to 200 days. In a dry environment, leptospira die in a maximum of 2,5 hours.

In goats and sheep, leptospirosis is asymptomatic, so veterinary services monitor the presence of the disease through a blood test. There is no point in worrying about leptospirosis for private owners. In the absence of symptoms of leptospirosis “by eye”, the presence of the disease in a goat or sheep cannot be determined.

Contagious ecthyma of sheep and goats (contagious pustular dermatitis and stomatitis)

Viral disease of goats and sheep that affects the skin. With ecthyma, nodules, pustules and crusts form on the mucous membrane of the mouth, lips, limbs, genitals, udder and other parts of the body.

The disease is caused by a DNA-containing smallpox-like virus, which is very resistant to wool when dried. In a dry state, the virus can remain pathogenic for up to 15 years. In a humid environment, at high temperatures or under direct sunlight, it dies relatively quickly. Sensitive to chloroform, phenol, formalin, alkalis and other disinfectants.

The disease is transmitted through contact with a sick animal.

Symptoms of the disease

The incubation period of the disease is 3-10 days. There are stomatitis, labial, genital and ungulate forms of the disease. From the names it is clear in which place, with each form of the disease, specific skin lesions occur.

With the development of the disease, redness and swelling of the skin first appears in the lesion, therefore vesicles, pustules and scabs appear, which fall off after 2 to 3 weeks. Disease of the hooves causes lameness. With ecthyma, the course of the disease is often complicated by a secondary infection of necrobacteriosis, which delays the course of the disease up to 40 days. In queens, inflammation on the skin of the udder and teats is possible.

Treatment of the disease

With this disease, only symptomatic treatment is possible. The mucosa is treated daily with glycerin or 5% iodine. The skin is lubricated with semptomycin emulsion.

Instead of iodine, experienced owners of goats and sheep recommend using a solution of potassium permanganate.

In case of complications of the disease with necrobacteriosis, antibiotics of the tetracycline group are indicated.

There are, so to speak, conditionally infectious diseases of goats. That is, diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms, but it is impossible to get infected with this disease by direct contact with a sick animal. You need either a carrier of the disease in the form of ticks or fleas, or a direct channel into the blood in the form of damage to the skin, or a weakening of the immune system in a particular animal.

Conditionally infectious diseases of goats and methods of their treatment

Of the infectious diseases of goats and sheep, these are practically the only diseases that goats living on personal farmsteads are susceptible to.

Necrobacteriosis in goats

The second name of the disease is fusobacteriosis. The disease is caused by an anaerobic microbe that is widespread in the environment and lives permanently in the gastrointestinal tract of goats, sheep and other animals. For the development of the disease, a deep wound channel or a weakening of immunity in a sheep or goat is necessary.

With the development of the disease in goats and sheep, purulent-necrotic areas appear mainly on the lower parts of the limbs. Sometimes there may be lesions in the mouth, on the udder, genitals. It is also possible the development of necrobacillosis in the internal organs and muscles.

Symptoms of the disease

The incubation period of the disease is 1-3 days. Clinical signs and the course of the disease depend on the degree of pathogenicity of the microorganism, the level of immunity of the goat and its age, and the localization of the disease process.

Symptoms of the disease depend on the location of the initial infection and the type of animal. In goats and sheep, the disease most often begins with lameness. When the causative agent of the disease penetrates the skin of the extremities, redness and swelling first form, which often pass by the attention of the owner. Further, at the site of the lesion by the causative agent of the disease, serous discharge appears and an ulcer forms. The animal is depressed, the body temperature is raised to 40°C. The affected limb is painful and hot.

Treatment and prevention of the disease

Treatment of the disease is complex. Along with antibiotics and sulfonamides prescribed by a veterinarian, local treatment of diseased areas is used. Necrotic areas are treated with disinfectant solutions: potassium permanganate, chlorhexidine, iodoglycerin, copper sulphate. After washing the diseased area, antimicrobials or ointments with antibiotics of the tetracycline group are applied to it.

Hydrogen peroxide provokes the growth of “wild meat” on open sores. Although it is also recommended to be used to disinfect necrosis in disease, it is best used with caution.

To prevent the disease, they observe sanitary standards, systematically cleaning sheep and goat pens from dirty bedding, do not allow animals to graze in wetlands. Conduct injury prevention.

The hooves of sheep and goats are inspected and cleared at least once every 2 months. 2 times a year the hooves are treated with formaldehyde.

How to trim a goat’s hooves

When a goat becomes ill with necrobacteriosis, the milk from it is destroyed.

Pseudotuberculosis

The causative agent of the disease is little studied. It is known that the bacterium is sensitive to desiccation, but remains for a long time in a humid environment at a temperature of +18 – 20 ° C and is even able to multiply under such conditions. The causative agent of the disease also remains viable in food products stored in the cold. Sensitive to antibiotics of the penicillin and tetracycline groups, as well as to sulfonamides. Quickly dies when treated with carbolic acid or formaldehyde.

Symptoms of the disease

Incubation of the virus lasts from 9 days to 2 weeks. In goats, the main signs of the disease are pneumonia, abortions and mastitis. It often runs chronically without symptoms.

Treatment of the disease

To begin with, pseudotuberculosis in the laboratory is differentiated from real tuberculosis and other similar diseases.

Treatment of the disease is effective only with inflammation of the superficial lymph nodes. Ripening abscesses are lubricated with ichthyol ointment and, after maturation, are opened, washing with antiseptic solutions. Antibiotics of the penicillin group are administered intramuscularly. Orally – sulfonamides.

disease prevention

With pseudotuberculosis, treatment and vaccinations are ineffective, so the focus is on preventing the disease. The set of measures to prevent the disease includes regular deratization and disinfection of places where goats and sheep are kept. Sick animals are isolated and either treated or immediately slaughtered. When cases of pseudotuberculosis appear, the herd is examined 2 times a month, palpating the lymph nodes.

Tetanus

The causative agent is an anaerobic microorganism. Stability in the external environment is extremely high. Without direct sunlight on contaminated surfaces, the causative agent of the disease is able to remain viable for up to 10 years. Very resistant to disinfectants. In addition to bleach, which kills the causative agent of tetanus in 10 minutes, other disinfectants take 8 to 24 hours to act on the microorganism.

Symptoms of the disease in sheep and goats

Symptoms of tetanus appear 3 to 21 days after infection. In fact, infection occurs at the time of receiving a deep narrow wound, where oxygen does not penetrate well. Most often this is a puncture with a nail.

The course of the disease is acute. The first signs of the disease are manifested in difficulty eating due to tense masticatory muscles. With the further development of the disease in sheep and goats, opisthotonus is observed – arching of the back with tilting the head back. In the photo above, the classic goat pose for tetanus. In the absence of complications, body temperature is normal almost until death. Shortly before death, the temperature rises to 42°C. Death occurs within 3-10 days from the onset of signs of the disease.

Treatment of the disease

Tetanus goats are carefully examined and treated for existing wounds. Abscesses are opened, cleaned, dead tissue removed and disinfected. Animals are placed in a dark, preferably soundproof room.

To relieve convulsions during the disease, sedatives and narcotic drugs are administered, antitetanus serum is injected. Perform a massage of the rectum and bladder. Diet food.

disease prevention

The best way to prevent the disease is tetanus toxoid. Keeping the area clean and keeping the sheep and goats free of dirty boards with rusty nails will not hurt either.

botulism

In fact, this is not a disease, but poisoning with toxins of an anaerobic microbe. A goat can get poisoned by eating poor-quality silage. The development of a microorganism in a silo is possible when soil, corpses of small animals or bird droppings get into the pit. Quality silage should smell like sauerkraut. It is better not to feed silage with a sharp unpleasant odor to animals.

In goats, when poisoned with a toxin, a violation of coordination of movements predominates, sometimes paralysis of the chewing and swallowing muscles occurs, but the latter does not always occur.

Treatment of the disease

The same as with any other poisoning: gastric lavage with a solution of baking soda; the use of laxatives and warm enemas. In severe cases of the disease, a dropper with saline is placed. Antitetanic antitoxic serum is administered intravenously.

Bradzot sheep and goats

An acute bacterial disease caused by an anaerobic microorganism. Bacterial spores are able to remain viable in the external environment for a long time.

When ingested by a sheep or goat, anaerobe causes hemorrhagic inflammation of the mucosa of the abomasum and duodenum, as well as degeneration of internal organs.

Symptoms of the disease

Bradzot flows at lightning speed and sharply. With a lightning-fast course of the disease, sheep and goats often die at night or at the time of pasture. At the same time, convulsions, tympania, foam from the mouth, hyperemia of the mucous membranes are noted. Death occurs within 30 minutes.

In the acute course of the disease, severe shortness of breath and weakness are observed. Death within 8 – 14 hours. In the acute course of the disease, you can have time to see:

• excitation, replaced by oppression;
• elevated body temperature – 41 ° C;
• wobbly gait;
• grinding of teeth;
• involuntary movements;
• rapid breathing;
• bloody fluid from the mouth and nose;
• swelling in the submandibular space, neck and chest;
• timpania;
• sometimes bloody diarrhea.

Ultimately, the goat or sheep dies with its head thrown back and its legs stretched out.

Treatment of the disease

With a lightning-fast course of the disease, treatment is late. In the acute course of the disease, antibiotics can be urgently used: biomycin, terramycin, synthomycin. In the acute course of the disease, antitoxic, cardiac and sedative drugs are also needed.

Goat breeder’s first aid kit

Although infectious diseases in sheep and goats can be quite scary, the main scourge of both goats and goat breeders is non-communicable diseases.

Often it is non-contagious diseases of goats and sheep that greatly complicate the life of goat breeders.

One of the most common non-communicable diseases is rumen tympania.

Tympania in goats and sheep

Tympania is a swelling of the rumen as a result of fermentation of food masses accumulated in the rumen.

The swelling is usually uneven. On the left, the scar sticks out more.

Causes of the disease

The causes of the disease may be eating fermented foods, blockage of the gastrointestinal tract, or dysbacteriosis against the backdrop of a recent course of antibiotics.

Treatment of the disease

As a treatment for the disease, sometimes it is enough just to drive a goat or pour cold water on it. The essence of the procedure is to force the abdominal muscles to contract sharply and compress the scar, as a result of which gases usually come out with an eructation. The scar is also massaged, positioning the goat so that the front legs are higher than the hind legs. And some owners “dance” with the goat, taking it by the front legs.

In especially severe cases of the disease, the drug “Tympanol” is pierced, which should be in the goat breeder’s first aid kit.

If nothing helped at all, but the veterinarian managed to get to a still live goat, they make a puncture of the scar.

It is not known how much this procedure can really help to cope with the disease against the background of the Tympanol injection, but it will not make it worse.

Mastitis

The disease is caused by inflammation of the udder due to the accumulation of milk in it. The udder swells, becomes hard and sore.

Especially often, mastitis suffers from first-timers, because after lambing with a fright they do not let a goat kid near them. The goat tries to avoid pain. If the mastitis is not contagious, udder massage and milking helps. After the goat can be caught and securely fixed. Sometimes it is enough to force the goat to feed the kid several times, so that the pain begins to subside and the goat begins to feed the kid calmly.

To avoid the disease, regardless of whether the kid is left under the goat or immediately removed, it is necessary to milk colostrum within the first hour after lambing or let the kid suck it out. To prevent the recurrence of the disease, the goat must be milked regularly.

Infectious mastitis occurs as a result of damage to the nipples, which form cracks. Through the cracks, an infection enters the udder, causing inflammation. Infectious mastitis is treated with antibiotics, putting an ointment through a special tube inside the nipple. In severe cases, antibiotics are given.

Cracks often result from rough handling of the goat’s teats during milking. Also, the nipples can damage the kid, since he has teeth from birth. In milk given for infectious mastitis, white flakes often float. Neither goats nor humans can drink such milk.

Vaginal prolapse

Not as rare a disease in goats as it might seem. The upper fornix of the vagina protrudes beyond the vulva during the disease. Most often, the disease occurs in connection with sucrose and lambing. Predisposing factors for the development of the disease may be a lack of vitamins or trace elements, essential amino acids, a large slope of the floor in the stalls, lack of exercise. Experienced goat breeders name another cause of the disease: early mating.

The immediate causes of the disease: increased internal pressure, trauma or dryness of the birth canal, strong attempts during lambing.

When the vagina prolapses, the mucous membrane dries up and is injured, which leads to sepsis and vaginitis.

Treatment of the disease

Attempts are removed, the mucous membrane is treated and disinfected. The fallen part is set back and the vulva is sutured. After a week and a half, the fixation is removed. Treat vaginitis.

In the case of frequent recurrences of the disease, if the goat is especially valuable and you don’t want to lose it, it is recommended to sew up the vulva immediately after mating and remove the fixation just a couple of hours before the goat decides to lamb. But it is better to get rid of such goats, and as a measure to prevent the disease, goats should not occur earlier than 1,5 years.

Milk goiter in goats

Sometimes kids are born with such, as in the photo, tumor-like formations under ganaches. Goat goiter in goats was previously considered a disease of the thymus gland in a goat that required treatment.

Today, Americans believe that such a goiter in a kid is a norm that contributes to the formation of strong immunity. Treatment of goiter in goats does not require, after 7 months it will pass by itself.

Veterinarians from the CIS who practice the treatment of goiter in goats with iodine preparations still do not agree with them. The goiter in goats really decreases, since the goat’s gland is sensitive to iodine-containing drugs. But there is an opinion that the immunity of treated kids is lower than that of kids who got rid of goiter in a natural way.

How to give a goat an injection

Conclusion

Goats are even less whimsical in keeping and feeding animals than sheep, which, moreover, are rarely milked anywhere in Our Country. The taste and smell of goat milk depends on the feed that the goat consumes, therefore, with a high-quality and well-composed goat diet, goat milk will have an excellent taste and a completely absent unpleasant smell.