The Goat Owner’s Guide to Dodging Drama: Diseases and Parasites Edition

Owning goats is like parenting toddlers: they’re endlessly entertaining, they’ll eat just about anything (including your favorite shirt, or your hair if you aren't careful), and somehow, they always find new and creative ways to stress you out. If you’ve got Nubians, Boers, or Nigerian Dwarfs, you already know they’re equal parts adorable and dramatic. When it comes to diseases and parasites, though, it’s your turn to bring the drama level down. Here’s how to keep your herd happy, healthy, and, most importantly, out of the vet’s office.

Diseases: The "What Now?!" Moments

1. Enterotoxemia: The “Oops, I Overate” Disease

Goats don’t just love food—they inhale it. Give them a buffet of grains, leave the lid off a feed bucket, or simply let them see where you store it, and they’ll devour it like they’re at a Vegas all-you-can-eat buffet. This overeating habit can lead to enterotoxemia, where bacteria in their gut decide to throw a toxic party.

• Symptoms: Sudden death (worst-case scenario), bloating, or looking uncomfortably full like they regret their life choices.
• Prevention: Vaccinate them with CDT, if you are into vaccinations (think of it as their “don’t overdo it” shot). Also, don’t let them go wild on grain. It’s like letting kids loose in a candy store—nothing good comes of it.
• Treatment: There’s no easy fix if it’s severe, so prevention is your BFF here.

2. Pneumonia: When Goats Hate the Weather as Much as You Do

Goats love consistency. Sudden rainstorm? Cold snap? They’ll act like the world is ending, and boom—pneumonia. And if you’re in Southeast Texas, where the weather has a flair for unpredictability and it rains like Mother Nature is trying to outdo Noah’s flood, your goats are practically begging for a cozy, dry spot.

• Symptoms: Coughing, runny noses, and standing around with that “I didn’t sign up for this” look. Bonus points if they glare at you every time it rains (which is all the time).
• Prevention: Give them a shelter that could rival a tiny Airbnb—dry, warm, and roomy enough that no one’s sharing personal space. Trust me, in Southeast Texas, a leaky roof or swampy ground can turn into a goat’s worst nightmare real quick.
• Treatment: Antibiotics prescribed by your vet and some TLC. Maybe even play some rain sounds to lull them to sleep—oh wait, they already have that, thanks to Texas weather. Also, you might need a boat, just in case.

3. Mastitis: Udder Chaos

If you’re a mom who’s ever had to deal with mastitis, you already know this struggle is real—and your dairy goats feel the same way. Mastitis is the ultimate “mom problem,” turning milk production into an excruciating ordeal. Imagine trying to nurse a hungry baby (or, in this case, a demanding goat kid) with what feels like a red-hot brick attached to your chest. Yep, now you’re in goat mom territory.

• Symptoms: Swollen, painful udders, milk that looks like cottage cheese (gross, but accurate), and a doe that’s giving you the don’t even think about touching me side-eye. It’s basically the goat version of, “I’ve been up all night with a crying baby—don’t mess with me.”
• Prevention: Just like moms sanitize everything within reach, you need to keep your milking routine squeaky clean. Fresh bedding, clean hands, and sanitized equipment are must-haves. No goat (or mom) wants bacteria messing with their personal space.
• Treatment: Warm compresses to soothe the udder (yes, it’s like a goat spa day). Plus, antibiotics prescribed by your vet to tackle the infection. And just like when you were nursing, gentle massages can help, though your goat might not appreciate the effort as much as your baby did.

Pro tip: If you’ve ever cried over spilled breastmilk, you’ll totally understand the heartbreak of dumping a bucket of unusable goat milk. Solidarity with your dairy goat moms, because mastitis is no joke!

Parasites: The Tiny Villains in Goatland

1. Barber Pole Worm: The Vampire Worms

These little bloodsuckers set up shop in your goat’s stomach and start draining their life force like a bad Netflix villain.

• Symptoms: Pale eyelids, swelling under the jaw (bottle jaw), and goats that look like they’d rather be anywhere else.
• Prevention: Use FAMACHA scoring (a fancy way of saying “check their eyelids for color”), rotate pastures, and don’t skimp on copper boluses—these worms hate copper.
• Treatment: Dewormers like ivermectin, but don’t overdo it, or these parasites will evolve into supervillains resistant to treatment.

2. Coccidia: The Diarrhea Disaster

Coccidia is like the stomach flu for goats—messy, miserable, and a pain to clean up.

• Symptoms: Diarrhea that’ll make you question your life choices, stunted growth in kids, and overall grumpiness.
• Prevention: Keep pens clean and dry because parasites love wet messes (gross).
• Treatment: Medications like Corid or sulfa drugs. Pro tip: invest in good rubber boots for the cleanup phase.

3. Lice: The Itchy Invaders

If your goats are itching and scratching like they just discovered poison ivy, it’s probably lice. Don’t panic—it’s not the end of the world (or your social life).

• Symptoms: Hair loss, excessive grooming, and goats rubbing themselves on every surface like they’re auditioning for a scratch pad commercial.
• Prevention: Quarantine new goats and keep your herd clean and comfy.
• Treatment: Dust or spray with permethrin, then repeat in two weeks because lice are annoyingly persistent.

Small Farm Prevention 101: Keeping Drama at Bay

1. Clean Living = Happy Goats
   Goats don’t want to live in a mess any more than you do. Clean pens, fresh bedding, and sanitized water troughs are non-negotiables.

2. Pasture Rotation: The Goat Road Trip
   Parasites love overgrazed pastures, so move your goats around like it’s their personal road trip. Bonus: it keeps the grass fresh and tasty.

3. Health Checks = Love Checks
   Get up close and personal with your goats (they’ll love the attention). Check their eyelids, poop (gross but necessary), and general behavior. If something feels off, trust your gut—and theirs.

4. Vaccinate Like a Pro
   Goats don’t love shots, but they’ll thank you later. CDT vaccines, coccidiostats in feed, and strategic deworming keep the bad stuff away.

Final Thoughts: Goats Are Worth It