Goats are really hardy animals, and will work day in and day out when they are in the right conditions. A sick goat won’t be noticeable until it gets sick enough to start showing symptoms like a lack of eating or a depressed expression. No matter the situation, sick or not sick, it may be time for you to check the temperature of your goat and understand its healthy and unhealthy temperature.
A healthy goats temperature is normally 102 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit (give or take a half a degree). Throughout the day, their temperature may fluctuate during hotter times of the year. A goats temperature is checked with a thermometer, and it is done rectally.
Once you know the average healthy goat temperature, we must jump on board to check the temperature of the goat. This doesn’t only have to be done when the goat is sick but can also be done when you determine its healthy temperature. Below we go through the steps of checking a goats temperature and then being able to come up with a diagnoses dependent upon the reading.
How to Check a Goats Temperature
In order to get the temperature of the goat, you will need the goat to be as still as possible, which is probably easier said then done. Use a milk stand or lay a baby goat across your lap to help support it while also keeping it still. Once you have found a means of keeping the goat still, you should ready the thermometer. A thermometer can be purchased at most animal health stores at little expense, there are glass and plastic ones. Plastic ones will not break as easily, while glass ones normally have a wrist strap, so either will work, but it may be helpful to look into the pros and cons of each option.
It may be helpful to lubricate the thermometer before inserting it to help it go in smoothly and to insure that the sensitive skin is not ripped or scratched. You can lubricate it using vegetable or olive oil or petroleum jelly. Then, you can insert thermometer into the anus. Insert the entirety of the metal tip, but no further and wait the needed time for the thermometer to read the temperature. This can take anywhere from one to three minutes depending on the thermometer. Then, slowly remove the thermometer and record the temperature of the goat.
Keeping a record of each goat and their regular temperature can be incredibly helpful when you notice a change in the goats actions. For example, your goat’s natural temperature may be slightly higher then the average goats temperature, and sits as a resting 104.5 degrees. Then when you think the goat is sick, and see its temperature you don’t assume the worst and rush to rash decisions because you didn’t know that the goat already ran high. Goats are notorious for having varying temperatures and so knowing each of your goats temperatures can be incredibly helpful in times of distress.
Causes of Temperature Change
Now that you have checked the temperature of your goat, you can take your reading either to the veterinarian or to the internet as you consider the possible problems and their solutions. A goat with a high temperature could be suffering from a fever or a number of other things, and the same is true for a lower temperature. As a matter of fact, “a goat with a very stressed system will not regulate their body temperature and can move into hypothermia.” Source. A lot of health problems within your goat will be manifest through a variety of symptoms, but ultimately it is manifest through a change in temperature.
High temperatures often come from bacterial or viral infections. An example of a very high fever is the fever caused by listeria which brings the goat to alarming temperatures of 107 or 108 degrees. While high temperatures can come from extreme cases like this, it can also come from heightened levels of stress or activity like a visit from the vet or being transported or other large movement. If they do have a high temperature and have been being very active, you can try taking there temperature again in 30 minutes to see if it has gone back to normal. The true concern should come when they are also demonstrating other symptoms.
Lower body temperatures, or the beginning of hypothermia can be caused by toxicities or when the goat ingests poisonous plants. Normally, lower body temperatures means the goat is dying, and it is important to try and keep it warm. When a goat has eaten poisonous plants or bugs, as the poison circulates in its system it will first cause an increase in temperature, and as the poison begins to take over the temperature will become low and the goat will begin to die.
Above we talked about a goat demonstrating symptoms which may lead you to taking its temperature. Some of those symptoms include a lack of appetite, goats main hobby is eating and if they are not doing that, then you are seeing the first indication that something is wrong. Often when they are hot to the touch they have a fever as well, and that is a symptom you can look for. They may also be sweating, panting excessively, lethargic, hunched over, or other things. If you know your goat well enough, you should be able to tell when it is acting irregularly.
How to Help
If your goat is too hot or too cold, you can definitely start taking action to help stabilize the goat and encourage its body to fight off the infection or other problem. There are different ways you can help.
If the goat is low in temperature, you can put blankets on them or carefully drench them in hot water (only if outside temperatures won’t immediately cool them back down). You can also move them to a place that is wind free and is covered with blankets or warm straw. You can also just have hot water bottles or jugs around the area to help maintain heat.
If the goat has a temperature that is really high, you can dose them with cold water by starting at there feet and legs and working your way up to help their body adjust and not shock them. Make sure that they have cold water readily available, and if needed bottle the cold water to them. They will very quickly move into hypothermia so check the temperature often!