Goat Diseases and Infections

Vaccination of goats is vital to prevent common diseases including Rift Valley Fever (RVF), a viral disease; Foot and Mouth, which is an infectious viral disease that is fatal; Goat Pox (Variola caprina), which is a contagious viral disease caused by a pox virus that affects goats and black quarter (Gangraena emphysematosa), which is an infectious bacterial disease of caused by the Clostridium chauvoei bacteria.

Goats also need to be dewormed (known as 'Drenching') regularly and humidity and location influence the prevalence. Anti-parasitic drugs should always be administered to goats orally and the appropriate drug families should be rotated on an annual basis, to slow the rate of drug resistance. Anti-parasitic drugs, called "anthelmintics" should be used wisely and sparingly to control internal parasites.

Tics, mites and fleas (ectoparasites) also need to be treated. A study found that lice preferred the head, back, ears and belly, while ticks were found in the hooves and inter-digital spaces as well as at the sites listed for lice¹.

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease that can result in abortion and is caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. Cats transmit toxoplasmosis to Goats by being in contact the Goat's feed.

Diseases of the Goat 

Schmallenberg Virus in Goats: An Emerging Threat

Common Diseases of the Meat Goat Video

¹ Prevalence of ectoparasites in goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) brought for slaughter in the Gwagwalada area, Abuja, Nigeria H. S. IDRIS, H. UMAR Article first published online: 21 MAR 2007  DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-5967.2007.00048.x

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Updated 1 March 2022 ©

How to identify Goat diseases?