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| Emergencies - What You Can Do© 2004 Debbie Harris While most accidents or health problems are minor. Occasionally something disastrous happens, and we are faced with real emergency. Most of us know a little first aid, but it's reassuring to have a short guide to follow when disaster hits. Here a few suggestions for accidents that may occur. For cuts/lacerations on legs: If there is a large amount of bleeding present to the point of weakness (in the animal, not youth, panting or even coma, FORGET about cleaning up the wound at this point! You need to stop or control the bleeding first. A kitchen towel soaked in ice water will make a good temporary bandage. Either hold it on manually, applying moderate pressure, or if you need to leave the animal for a moment, wrap the bandage securely with vetwrap, duct tape, rope, etc., anything that will keep pressure on the wound. Seek veterinary assistance immediately. Keep the animal warm and quiet until help arrives. You might keep an old quilt or blanket handy for just such an emergency. |
| Goat Health Facts: Goat temperature? 102' - 103'F A goats normal temperature is 102'F to 103'F. If you have a sick goat, the first thing you should do is take its temperature. If the temperature is above normal, there's probably an infection. Antibiotics might help. Below normal temperatures could mean a critically ill animal. If the temperature is normal, that's important information too. "Off Feed" and grinding teeth Eating should be the primary interest in any goat's life. If the goat stops eating normally, the animal is probably sick. Going "Off feed" is one of the few ways a goat can tell you it does not feel well. Grinding teeth is also a sign of illness in goats. You can easily hear this unpleasant noise and can tell that the goat is uncomfortable and needs attention. Worms are common Worms cause many problems in goat herds. Regular worming is usually necessary. A veterinarian can check fecal samples to tell you exactly what kinds of worms your goats have and what wormers you should be using. You may need to use a different wormer each time you worm to find out if your goats have "cocci." Causes of Abortion Abortions are common in some goat herds. They are usually caused by infectious organism such as chlamydia that causes many first-freshening does to abort or give birth prematurely, while older does are immune. Salmonella, toxoplasmosis, vibrosis, and other organisms have also been suspected in goat abortions. Severe butting, which may happen when a new doe is introduced into a herd, can also cause abortions Soremouth This highly contagious disease causes ugly sores on the mouth area of goats. Make sure goats keep eating. When they recover, they will have lifetime immunity. Vaccination is not recommended unless you actually have the disease in your heard because the vaccine is "live"(It will infect your premises). Vaccination program(when followed rigorously) has helped clean up herds with soremouth. If the virus gets into a cut on your hand, you too will probably get soremouth, so protect yourself. Also, don't let infected kids nurse does; the udders may get infected, with painful results. Pneumonia problems Goats are very susceptible to pneumonia and respiratory problems. They need shelter from rain and protection from drafts, but the wrong kind of shelter can be bad. Barns that are poorly ventilated with a strong ammonia odor in the air and damp bedding, are unhealthy for goats. The viruses that cause pneumonia spread rapidly in such a setting. |