6 Ways to Maintain Goat Health

1.Clean the goat droppings and bedding every day.

Pick up wet and smelly goat manure and bedding every day. This includes manure that is scattered in grazing areas and pens. Replace the bedding with new straw.

This can prevent disease in the goats because you have removed the parasites in the feces.

Once or twice a year, clean the goat pen thoroughly. Take the bedding and brush the entire surface of the cage. Next, replace the bedding with new straw.

2. Encourage the goat to be active.

Goats are active animals so you have to keep them active. Encourage the goats to climb by placing climbable objects in the grazing area, such as large rocks, wooden structures, and shrubs. You can also play and run with the goats.

If the grazing area is small, take the goats for a walk.

Goats also like things like seesaws that allow them to move up and down and balance their positions.

3. Ask the veterinarian for a "BoSe" injection.

BoSe injections contain selenium and vitamin E, which are very much needed to keep goats healthy. Selenium and vitamin E are essential for bone, muscle, and reproductive health. Many goats are deficient in this important mineral and must be given a BoSe injection once a year.

These injections can only be obtained through a veterinarian so you must have a prescription for them.

If you want to breed goats, it's a good idea to give this shot before breeding them. This can help the young goats to grow properly and prevent complications in the mother goat.

4. Vaccinate goats every year.

Goats should be vaccinated against tetanus and CDT (to protect against Clostridium perfringens types C and D). Over time, the effect of the vaccine will wear off so you will have to give it every year.

If goats are to be bred, the vaccine should be given about 30 days before the goats are mated, and the mother goat should be vaccinated 30 days before giving birth. Baby goats should also be vaccinated at 5-6 weeks of age for the first time, and vaccinated again about 3-4 weeks later.

You can also give your goat a rabies vaccine if advised by your veterinarian. Rabies vaccination is not common for goats.

5.Clean the worms from the goat's body after you consult
with the vet.

Goats can be attacked by parasites in their bodies (such as worms) so you have to get rid of them. Deworming medications specifically designed for goats are almost non-existent so you can use medications made for cattle, sheep, or horses. You will have to adjust the dosage based on the size of the goat. Therefore, you should first consult with a veterinarian.

If you want to breed goats, give the mother goat anti-worm medicine right after the animal gives birth to protect the mother and her baby. Anti-worm medicine will be consumed by the baby goats through the mother's milk.

Young goats should also receive anti-worm medicine for the first time at 6-8 weeks of age.

You can also use this chart to give an anthelmintic.

6. Beware of bloating.

 There are several things that can cause bloating in goats, such as overeating, eating an unbalanced diet, or eating toxic objects. Whatever the cause, this can be dangerous. If your goat's stomach looks enlarged, rounded, and firmer than before, call your veterinarian for a check-up.

If the stomach is swollen, or the goat has difficulty walking, this could indicate that the goat has a lot of gas in its stomach.

It's a good idea to consult your vet before trying to treat it yourself. One example of treatment is to put 500 ml of cooking oil or mineral oil into the goat's throat, then press and massage the goat until the gas comes out. After that, mix 1 tbsp. (15 ml) sodium bicarbonate with 240 ml water or molasses. Give this mixture to the goat.

Bloating can be very dangerous for goats. So you have to deal with it immediately.