Sore Mouth in Goats
Years ago, I noticed a scab on a doe’s mouth when I was milking her, and I freaked out. At that point, we no longer attended goat shows and had already had a closed herd for several years, so how … Read More
goat health
Goat Polio and Thiamine Deficiency
Goat breeders usually use “goat polio” and “thiamine deficiency” interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. For years, the two terms were used interchangeably because goats with symptoms of polio responded to treatment with thiamine, leading people to believe … Read More
Cache Valley Virus: One Breeder’s Experience
Episode 72For the Love of Goats Until recently, most goat breeders had never heard of Cache Valley Virus. I heard about it two years ago when an animal scientist told me that they were having a horrible time with it … Read More
Hypocalcemia in Goats
Episode 66For the Love of Goats Hypocalcemia in goats, sometimes called milk fever, is one of the most misunderstood maladies in the goat world. This confusion stems from research done on cows, which does not apply to goats, but is … Read More
Pregnancy Toxemia in Goats
Episode 65For the Love of Goats During kidding season, lots of goat owners start to worry about ketosis and pregnancy toxemia in their does. In today’s episode, Dr. Robert VanSaun, professor of veterinary science and extension veterinarian at Pennsylvania State … Read More
Q-Fever and Coxiellosis in Goats
Episode 56For the Love of Goats Coxiella burnetii is the bacteria that causes coxiellosis in goats and Q-fever in humans, and although it is not super common, all goat owners need to be aware of it so that they can … Read More
Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Nigerian Dwarf Goats
Episode 53For the Love of Goats After writing about our experience when one of our does had squamous cell carcinoma, I’ve been contacted by quite a few other goat owners who have had a goat that also … Read More
Common But Unimportant Worms in Goats
Episode 48For the Love of Goats Because barber pole worm (haemonchus contortus) causes so many deaths among goats, we don’t talk about other worms much. Barber pole is the worm that sucks blood and causes goats to … Read More
Scrapie in Goats and Sheep
Episode 45For the Love of Goats If you ever wanted to sell your goats or sheep to someone in another country, then you are already familiar with the US’s problem with scrapie. It’s not a huge problem, … Read More
Should You Keep Pet Goats in The House?
Goats are adorable companions that easily steal our hearts. But should they steal our homes too? Because bringing a goat into the house is like signing over the deed. There’s a time and place to bring goats into our homes, … Read More
