Introduction
Goats suffer from many kinds of diseases. These diseases may be caused by bacteria, parasites or viruses. It is not easy to diagnose diseases goat from the symptoms that we see. But the symptoms do help in allowing the owners or the farmers to, at least, spot out the sick goats at the initial stages.
Goats commonly suffer from several diseases. You have to be aware of them so that you can prevent them or treat these goat diseases. If you can’t keep your goats alive, it is a waste of money and time for you. There are many diseases but the main ones are few. They are the back leg, the Bottle Jaw, Coccidiosis and Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Foot and Mouth Disease and Johne’s disease.
History
Goats have been domesticated from around 7500 BC. They were always valued for their extra ordinary ability to exploit areas of low productivity that could not be used by people. Goats have descended from the Greek Ibex. The Old Testament in the Bible mentions goat more than one hundred and fifty times.
Goats have been usually quite healthy. They have suffered with digestive problems all across the ages. Major symptoms of diseases goat have been listlessness, lack of appetite, diarrhoea, scours, bloat, coughing and inflamed eyes. The Foot and Mouth Disease and CAE have been relatively dangerous epidemics that have wiped many goats out. The last outbreak of the foot and mouth disease among goats was reported in the nineteen thirties. It resulted because of feeding infected animal products like milk and live feed. The other sources of goat diseases were contaminated medication, artificial insemination and hormone preparations.
Features
There is an endless list of goat diseases. Goats may suffer from abortion, anaemia, anorexia, arthritis, anthrax, coccidiosis, back leg problems, bottle jaw, foot and mouth disease, pink eye, Johne’s disease, entero toxaemia, goat pox, mastitis and warts. It is not possible to cover all these diseases in detail. Hence, main diseases and their symptoms can be covered.
• Back Leg – It is caused by bacteria, Clostridium Chauvei, found in the soil. Goats will get sick very fast and can die if not treated in time. The symptoms are fever and loss of appetite with a swelling of the hind legs. Treatment is generally penicillin and antibiotics.
• Bottle Jaw – This is caused by blood sucking worms. The symptoms are that the blood vessels will leak into the lower half of the body, making the jaw to swell and the gums to change color. The goats will have to be de-wormed and given iron with antibiotics.
• CAE (Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis) – The symptoms are swelling in the knees and weight loss accompanied by coughing. The affected goat has to be isolated and treated through foot trimming and anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Coccidiosis – It is caused by parasites. The symptom is diarrhoea with blood and dehydration. Biosol drug is given to cure this disease.
• Foot and Mouth disease – This is viral. The symptoms are blisters on the tongue, hooves and teats. This is highly incurable but alternative treatment exists through homeopathy and herbs.
• Johne’s disease (Paratuberculosis) – It is a mycobacterial infection which affects the lower small intestine. The symptoms are weight loss and diarrhoea. A soft swelling may appear under the jaw. No cure exists for this disease.
Tips and comments
In order to manage and protect your herd, it is always advisable to keep your new flock of goats away from the others for at least a month. You have to vaccinate the goat against common goat diseases prevalent in your area. Purchase new goats from well known healthy lots and buy the livestock feed from trustworthy sources.
There have been good results in treating goat diseases when they have been dealt with clinically and in time. Pasture management has been an important area for controlling internal parasites. The control strategies for diseases goat are the use of clean pastures and pasture rotation.
