Signs of Internal & External Parasites in Goats

Goats are a very common farm animal. Supplying milk for families as well as being natural lawnmowers make them a very popular pet to have on a farm or any rural area. Since they are outside most of the time, it is not uncommon for them to have parasites, both internal and external. Quick treatment is key to making sure they do not suffer long-term harm.

  1. Visible Parasites

    • Parasites such as lice and mites are very easy to detect. They are usually visible to the eye. A brush across the goat's back will send some lice hopping and jumping off your animal. External parasites such as lice can cause a goat to have dull hair, a matted coat and to be scratching consistently. If you notice that they are rubbing against objects and have worn down the fur to the skin, they are probably experiencing an infestation of parasites.

    Manure Samples

    • The best test of internal parasites is to take the goat to the vet for a manure sample. Manure will tell the vet exactly what is hiding in your goat and how to treat it.

    Anemia

    • You can also detect parasites by checking the goat's gums and eyes. If their gums are bright to hot pink, that is a healthy color. If the gums or eyes become light pink or even gray, the goat has anemia, which can be an indication of worms. Take your goat to the vet for deworming.

    Detecting Nose Bot Fly

    • Goats suffer from a specific parasite called the nose bot fly. The fly invades the goat's nostrils and can be very aggravating. You can detect that your goat is having a fly problem if he starts grating teeth, loses appetite and shakes his head frequently for seemingly no reason.