AboutGoatlady Expertise Specializing in New Goat Owner understanding of goat physiology, goat anatomy, goat care and herd management. *I am not a veterinarian, any advice and information should be verified by your veterinarian before administering to your goats.
(! During times of severe weather in the Midwest, I may experience a delay in internet service due to the interference of the satellite reception - but will answer your questions as soon as service is restored. !)
Note: Keep in mind, the goat expert is volunteering her time to help other goat owners, she also runs her farm with her own herd of 100 goats and may not be at her computer at all hours. Questions are answered as soon as she can possibly read and answer them, usually within 24 hours.
Experience 18 years experience of raising goats and herd management. Active hands on experience with goat herd and research with various Caprine University Research and Extension Centers nationwide. 15 years dedicated to helping other goat breeders/owners with goat anatomy, goat disease and goat health care issues via phone, published goat care articles and internet interaction. The information I have to offer is not only from personal experience and years of research updated often as new information is made available to me, but supported by many Veterinary Research colleges and all medications and information I have to offer on how the medications work and what dosages "I" use, is information I have acquired by discussing directly with the company's veterinarians and staff research experts.
Organizations 5 year active member of International Veterinary Information Service
Publications United Caprine News, Homesteaders Magazine, Columnist for Goat Magazine, Owner and Author of GoatPedia™
Education/Credentials Graduate Programs in Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University
Question I have recently been given two pygmy does, age 2 years. I previous owner says she has never wormed or vaccinated them. They seem healthy...maybe sneezing a lot? I don't know what is normal.
We have grass hay and access to alfalfa. We are feeding goat chow. They have fresh water and good shelter (12x12 stall) with a goat hut inside. A small pasture (12x24) with a climbing spindle. I was going to give them a trace mineral block (the brown horse one) but seem to find conflicting advice about that. Can you help us?
Answer HI Nadine,
If the goats are sneezing this could be a simple allergy to something dusty there- or if they have a fever (You should always take a rectal temperature for goats suspected of not feeling well) Normal is 101.5 to 103.5. If they have a nasal discharge and are acting sluggish, don't want to eat much and hanging head, this is more than likely pneumonia-
My article on treating goat pneumonia: http://goat-link.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=100&Itemid=91
Make sure your hay is not dusty or moldy- some hay dealers will tell you that you can feed goats any hay- including moldy hay and this is not true, mold will make your goats very sick. Make sure not to over do the goat chow, a cup a day for pygmy goats along with their hay is just fine.
Also any newly purchased goats should be dewormed directly after purchase: The stress form moving from one living condition to another no matter how small can and will spark a hormonal signal to any existing wormload the goats have to multiply like crazy - Read my article on deworming: http://goat-link.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58&Itemid=46
