Things You'll Need
- Plastic sandwich bags
- Rubber gloves
Instructions
Monitor your goats' eating habits on a daily basis. Look for goats that hang back from the feeding trough or appear listless, as well as ones that seem weak and disinterested or don't want to get up and greet you, all possible signs of a potentially serious internal parasite infection. Run your hands across their backs to assess their coat quality; a healthy goat typically has shining, sleek hair, while a parasite-infected one often possesses a rough, dull hair coat. (see reference 1)
Check the consistency of your goats' stool, which in a healthy goat, typically consists of a collection of berry-like pellets. Look for loose, watery or blood-tinged diarrhea in kids under the age of six months, a key indicator of coccidiosis, according to Dr. Christine Navarre, associate professor at Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine and coauthor of "Sheep and Goat Medicine." (see reference 2) Diarrhea in adult goats often points to a serious stomach worm infection.
Inspect the insides of your goats' eyelids once weekly to identify anemia, a common symptom of stomach worms, according to Dr. Maria Leite-Browning, extension animal scientist at Alabama A&M University. (see reference 3) Gently pull down your goat's lower eyelid and note the color of the conjunctiva. Look for the pale pink or gray color that characterizes the conjunctiva of a stomach worm-infested goat, a sign that a heavy load of stomach worms has attached to the lining of your goat's intestines to suck its blood.
Collect a stool sample from goats that demonstrate any signs of internal parasite infestation. Gather the feces sample in a plastic sandwich bag, using rubber gloves to maintain sanitary conditions. Take the stool samples to your veterinarian, who will examine them under a microscope to identify the exact internal parasite causing the symptoms.