Bath time is a pretty daunting task for any animal owner that you “goat” to do. Does bathing apply to goats though?
It is important to bathe your goat, as it improves the animal’s overall health and well-being. It will take a lot a lot of added effort on your part, but through shampoo, water, and an extra hand you can get the job done.
We will talk more in-depth about the advantages of washing your goat and how to best prepare for doing so effectively. We will then give a simple method to washing your goat.
Why You Should Give Your Goat A Bath
Bathing goats can help by:
- Removing parasites, lice, or any other harmful creatures off their skin
- Make clipping the goat an easier process.
- Keeping the goats’ blades sharp for show and personal purposes Source
- Make grooming the goat easier in the future. Source
Finding The Right Shampoo For Your Goats
People seem to struggle with finding the right shampoo for their goats. Most types of shampoos or household cleaning supplies can work for cleaning your goat, just be sure that the cleaner doesn’t have any harmful chemicals (such as bleach and ammonia) and that the cleaner is meant for “gentle” purposes. Source
Here are the most popular shampoo options that others have found effective:
- Goat Shampoo- Yes, there is such a thing. This is ideal for goats who have sensitivities or underlying health conditions. You can find this for about $20 in most pet stores or online retailers.
- Use a pinch of Dawn Dish Soap and Water! Be sure the material is gentle, with a sturdy utensil mix the soap in it thoroughly (as you would with kool-aid), and you’ll be good to go! Source
- Pet Shampoo-Many have found flea and tick shampoo to be effective to get their goats to be a lot more resistant towards pests such as fleas or ticks. You can find pet shampoo for around $5-90, depending on the quality or size you are looking to find.
- Castille Soap- Castille is a powerful and resilient soap that can get parasites off easily. Use the tea tree and eucalyptus oil for the best results. Source
- Livestock Shampoo- Livestock Shampoo is a lot rougher than other types of shampoo. Because of this, be sure to just pour the shampoo for a few seconds and have the shampoo/water ratio be predominately water. You can buy the best livestock shampoo for about $30 on average at your local vet or online retailers.
Tips When Washing Goats
- Overtime, goats grow to not like being washed and will need a lot more work. For young goat kids (or any goat under 75 pounds), it is very possible to just throw it in the bathtub and clean the goat as you would a dog.
- It is best to wash goats in neutral, warm water. Any other temperature will startle them too much and make the job harder.
- Avoid getting a lot of water/shampoo on the goat’s face or ears. Source
- The best way to keep a goat clean and avoid having to wash goats often is by making sure that their pen and environment are relatively clean. This will also improve the goat’s health as well. Source
- If you find that the goat is just a little bit dusty, just use a horse brush to get the dirt out of their coats as opposed to washing them.
How To Bathe Goats
You will need:
- Clothing that you can get wet in
- A bucket
- A hose (if more convenient)
- Scrub brushes
- Squeezed out rag or sponge
- Shampoo of choice
- A friend
- Prepare to wash your goat by trimming any excess fur and by clipping the goat to avoid any injuries (in case the goat gets started). Come in an outfit that you are willing to get wet in (most just wear a swimsuit).
- Find a surface or a deck that cannot get muddy and can be easy to clean up (as you will be dealing with a lot of soap). It is best to find a spot with a drain to get rid of the dirt and soapy water. People have also found that the goat reacts a lot better on a warm, dry day with shade and without wind.
- Prepare for the washing by filling a large bucket with warm water and tying up the goat to anything that will keep the goat steady. Be sure to use a short rope so the goat has very little wiggle room as you are bathing it.
- Fill up a bucket with warm water. Pour the water across the goat and with a friend use scrub brushes to soak the water inside the goat’s fur.
- Once the water has set, evenly distribute the shampoo across the goat’s body meticulously with the scrub brush and your hands until all the dirt and grime is off the goat’s coat. A good rule of thumb is to wash the goat as if you are washing your own hair. Use your friend to stabilize the goat as it may get a little agitated.
- Let the shampoo sit for about 10-15 minutes for the best results, especially if you are using any type of medicated goat or livestock shampoo. This is necessary for those who use their goats as “show goats” to bring out the color of their coats the best. Source
- Use a squeezed out rag or sponge to wipe down the goat’s face.
- Wash the shampoo completely off the goat by rinsing the goat off lightly with a hose or by filling up the bucket you used for the warm water and dumping it on the left and right side of the buck (to avoid the face/ears). Make a special effort to be as gentle and careful as possible, especially with younger goats, to not startle or possibly harm them.
- Let the goat dry. You can either let the goat air dry, dry the goat using a blow dryer, or you can use a towel while the goat is still tied up. Goats love the feeling of towels the best and it helps them be more open to baths in the future.
