How to Help a Pygmy Goat Gain Weight

A goat can be underweight for many reasons, such as stress from moving, illness, or other goats in the herd who are aggressive and won't let the goat in question eat. The most common reason, however, is worms. Other symptoms of worms in goats include a rough coat, lethargy and anemia. If the underweight goat has any of these additional symptoms, you can reasonably suspect intestinal parasites. Worms are endemic, and it is practically impossible to avoid infestation of a herd. Luckily, there are many commercial anthelmintics, or deworming medications, that can be administered without the assistance of an expensive veterinarian.

Things You'll Need

  • Bathroom scale
  • Milking stand
  • Paste anti-worming medication
  • Towel
  • Another person to assist
  • Molasses
  • Corn oil
  • Corn syrup
  • Measuring cup
  • Turkey baster
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Instructions

    • 1
      A regular bathroom scale can be used to weigh your goat.

      Hold the goat in your arms, and step on the scale to record the weight. Subtract your own weight to obtain the weight of the goat. Figure the anti-worm medication dosage based on the goat's weight.

    • 2

      Dial the collar on the plunger of the medicine syringe to the correct dosage if using a paste, or prepare dosage of an alternative medicine. Secure the goat in a milking stand with your assistant holding the chin of the goat with her arm over its neck in front of the stand, and push the medicine to the back of the goat's throat at the corner of the mouth. Stroke the goat's neck while holding its mouth closed to encourage swallowing.

    • 3

      Mix 1 part molasses with 1 part corn oil and 2 parts corn syrup. This is a weight gain home remedy and is often given as a finisher before showing an animal at a fair.

    • 4

      Give the goat 1/4 cup of syrup with a turkey baster. Goats usually like the flavor, so there is not as much struggle. Repeat three times a week until weight is improved.