My Daily Health Checks

I believe that the most important part of maintaining the health of the herd is carefully watching each
goat every day.  Most problems can be kept from becoming big problems if they are caught on time.  
When I'm watching my goats daily I'm not only looking for the ones that may be showing signs of illness,
but I'm also looking for the ones that are the healthiest and strongest.  Which ones are the first ones to
the feeders?  Which ones are maintaining condition at the top of the list?  I do this because I believe the
best defense against health problems is good genetics.  

I want to make something clear first:  I do not believe in maintaining a herd with bad genetics.  I feel very
strongly that a goat should be able to remain healthy and strong if all of its needs are met.  If any of my
goats do have problems, though, I will not allow it to suffer.  I treat my goats and communicate with my
vet as often as needed for the welfare of the animals on my farm.  I will not, however, keep a goat that is
not "making the grade".  The goats at the bottom of the list regarding health, vigor, or condition and the
goats that seem to succumb to parasites first or most often will soon be headed down the road.

I'll keep a close eye on everyone while I'm feeding.  Sometimes, when the weather is bad (very hot or
very cold) I'll do another quick check or two.  If there are any goats that have problems you'll see it most
during times of rough weather.

Here are a few of the things I'm looking for while I'm hanging out with the crew:

* Smell:  When I first go into the barn I think about the smell.  There is a very distinct smell to goats that
have diarrhea.  I also want to make sure the urine smell isn't getting too strong.  If I can smell it, how
much more can they that close to the ground?  I don't like a dirty smelling barn, but sometimes it can't be
helped (especially during the wet muddy springs we have around here).  But if the smell is getting bad I
know I've got to do something quick.

* Poo:  When I go in to say hello to the gals I look first at the floor.  If I'm seeing "dog poo" I'm looking at
butts!  Who's poopy, how many, and can I figure out why?

* Behavior:  You've got to know your goats on this one.  Is anyone acting differently than normal?  Is one
of them more sleepy or lethargic?  If a goat is standing by itself that's a bad sign.  If a goat doesn't come
to the feeder that's a very bad sign.  I also take note if one of the gals are acting crabbier than normal
(bullying the others more).  Are any of the goats acting spookier than normal?  (If you really know your
goats you can even tell if a predator was hanging around the barn the night before).

* Pain:  Some signs of pain are limping, jumpy, grinding their teeth, bonking their bellies with their chins,
or the skin twitches when you pet them near a painful spot.

* Injury:  I look for any owies that they may have, any puncture wounds, scratches or scrapes, and
abscesses or swollen areas.  I work very diligently to keep the goat areas clear of debris and sharp
objects, so thankfully these kinds of injuries are few and far between.

* Viral Symptoms:  I watch for excessive coughing, eye and nasal drainage, and labored or rapid
breathing.

* General Condition:  I will watch for sudden changes in weight and coat condition.  How do they hold
their tails, how alert are they, do any appear to be bloated, and how do their eyes look (glazed over,
staring)?

Have a game plan for what you will do whenever a concern arises.  Get your hands on some good goat
books.  Make sure you have a local veterinarian that knows goats.  Most small animal vets work mostly
with pets, most large animal vets work with cattle and horses.  Finding a good goat vet may be harder
than it seems.  So do your homework.  Make sure you have a good medical kit and always keep it well
stocked.  Memorize goat stats.  I can't stress that enough!  Know the temperature of a goat, the
gestation, the normal heart rate and respiration rate of adults and kids.  And finally:  take a lot of notes;
good, detailed notes on every concern - no matter how small.  Before you call your vet about a problem,
be prepared to give him/her the goat's complete symptoms, weight, current temperature, heart rate,
respiration rate, and have your history of notes on that goat in front of you.  

I hope that this has been helpful.  I know of a saying that states "a penny saved is a penny earned" and
to me prevention is as good as a penny saved.  Happy goat shepherding!
Daily Health Checks
Sleepy Z Goat Farm

Hastings, Michigan
Call:  (269) 945-6247
email:  sleepyz@mei.net