Common Goat Diseases in Australia

Keeping your goats healthy is both a welfare obligation and a financial imperative. Disease losses — whether from deaths, reduced production, veterinary costs, or poor growth — can quickly erode the profitability of any goat enterprise. The good news is that the most common diseases of Australian goats are preventable with sound management, vaccination, and early detection.

This guide covers the diseases you're most likely to encounter as a goat keeper in Australia, their causes, signs, prevention, and treatment.

Understanding Goat Health: Key Principles

Before diving into specific diseases, it's worth establishing some foundational principles:

1. Prevention is always cheaper than treatment. Vaccination, parasite control, and good nutrition prevent the most common killers. 2. Goats hide illness. As prey animals, goats instinctively conceal weakness. By the time a goat looks sick to an inexperienced observer, it has often been sick for some time. 3. Learn your animals' normals. Know what a healthy goat looks like, acts like, and feels like — so you notice deviations early. 4. Have a vet relationship before you need it. Find an agricultural vet experienced with goats before you have an emergency. 5. Normal goat vital signs: - Temperature: 38.5–40.5°C (rectal) - Heart rate: 70–90 beats per minute - Respiratory rate: 12–20 breaths per minute - Rumen sounds: 1–2 contractions per minute, heard on the left flank

Part 1: Internal Parasites

Internal parasites (worms) are the single biggest health threat to goats in most parts of Australia. They cause significant production losses and death, particularly in young animals and those in poor condition.

Haemonchus contortus (Barber's Pole Worm)

The most important worm of goats in Australia, particularly in high-rainfall areas and in Queensland, NSW coastal regions, and tropical areas.

What it does: Lives in the abomasum (true stomach) and sucks blood. Heavy infestations cause rapid blood loss, severe anaemia, and death.

Signs: - Pale gums, tongue, and inner lower eyelid (FAMACHA score 3–5) - Bottle jaw (fluid swelling under the jaw — late stage, serious sign) - Weakness, reluctance to move - Death in acute cases (especially young animals) - Reduced growth rate and poor body condition in chronic cases

Diagnosis: FAMACHA scoring (visual eye colour assessment) + Worm Egg Count (WEC, faecal test)

Treatment and Prevention: - Targeted selective treatment (TST): Only treat animals that need it (FAMACHA score 3+, WEC above threshold) — this preserves refugia and slows drench resistance development - Drench products: Three major active groups are used — macrocyclic lactones (e.g., moxidectin, ivermectin), benzimidazoles (e.g., albendazole, fenbendazole), and levamisole. Combination drenches using two or three actives are increasingly necessary due to resistance - Rotational grazing: Larvae on pasture die off during paddock rest; reduces worm burden without chemicals - Genetic resistance: Some breeds (Kalahari Reds, St Croix) show better natural resistance to barber's pole worm than Boers or dairy breeds

Trichostrongylus and Teladorsagia (Small Intestinal Worms)

More prevalent in cooler, southern Australian climates. Cause loss of appetite, weight loss, diarrhoea (scouring), and poor growth but rarely the dramatic anaemia seen with barber's pole worm.

Signs: Scouring, bottle jaw (less common), weight loss, poor condition, reduced production

Treatment: As for barber's pole worm — WEC-guided drenching with appropriate actives

Tapeworms (Moniezia species)

Commonly seen in faeces as white segments. Generally a less significant pathogen in adults but can cause digestive upset in weaners.

Treatment: Benzimidazole drenches (albendazole) are effective against tapeworms

Drench Resistance

One of the most serious issues in Australian goat parasite management. Resistance to all three major drench groups has been confirmed in Australian goat populations, and some properties now have multi-resistant populations where no single drench is effective.

Prevention strategies: - Never drench the whole mob routinely — use WEC and FAMACHA to identify animals that need treatment - Conduct DrenchCheck (post-drench WEC test) annually to assess drench efficacy on your property - Avoid under-dosing — dose by weight (use scales) - Quarantine drench all incoming animals before releasing onto your pastures - Avoid over-reliance on any single drench family - Work with an agricultural vet or parasitologist to design a resistance management program

Part 2: Clostridial Diseases

Clostridial diseases are caused by toxins produced by Clostridium bacteria. They kill rapidly — often before clinical signs are noticed — but are almost entirely preventable with vaccination.

Enterotoxaemia (Pulpy Kidney)

Cause: Clostridium perfringens Type D; toxin produced when bacteria multiply rapidly in the gut, usually triggered by a sudden change to a rich diet

Most at risk: Well-fed weaners and lambs; animals suddenly exposed to lush pasture or grain

Signs: Often sudden death; survivors may show neurological signs (circling, seizures), rapid breathing, and recumbency

Prevention: Vaccination with Glanvac 6B or equivalent (standard in all Australian goat programs)

Tetanus

Cause: Clostridium tetani; enters through wounds — castration, disbudding, tagging, or any skin puncture

Signs: Progressive muscle stiffness starting with difficulty swallowing (lockjaw), progressing to rigid spasms, inability to walk, death

Prevention: Vaccination (Glanvac 6B covers tetanus); use aseptic technique when castrating, disbudding, or tagging

Blackleg and Black Disease

Cause: Clostridium chauvoei (blackleg) and Clostridium novyi (black disease); enter through wounds or liver damage (from liver fluke migration in the case of black disease)

Signs: Sudden death; survivors may show lameness, hot swollen muscle masses (blackleg), or jaundice (black disease)

Prevention: Glanvac 6B vaccination covers both

Cheesy Gland (Caseous Lymphadenitis, CLA)

Cause: Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis; a chronic, contagious bacterial infection

Signs: Abscesses in lymph nodes — most commonly the parotid (jaw), prescapular (shoulder), and prefemoral (flank) nodes; occasionally internal abscesses in lungs and abdominal organs (may only appear at slaughter)

Transmission: Through skin wounds (shearing, tagging, disbudding) and contact with broken abscesses

Impact: Reduces carcase value (condemned lymph nodes at slaughter); reduces productivity; spreads through herds for years

Prevention and Control: - A CLA vaccine (Glanvac 6B includes CLA protection in some formulations; specific CLA vaccines available) - Cull or quarantine animals with abscesses; never burst abscesses in the paddock - Dispose of any discharge hygienically

Treatment: No effective treatment; culling of heavily affected animals is the management approach

Part 3: Respiratory Diseases

Pneumonia

One of the most common conditions in Australian goats, particularly weaners after transport, in dusty conditions, and during weather stress.

Causes: - Bacterial: Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Mycoplasma spp. — often secondary to viral or stress-induced immune suppression - Viral: Caprine respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus 3 - Mycoplasmal: Mycoplasma capricolum, M. ovipneumoniae — particularly problematic in young animals

Signs: - Nasal discharge (clear → yellow/green as infection progresses) - Cough - Rapid or laboured breathing - Fever (above 40.5°C) - Depression, reduced appetite - Sudden deaths (peracute bacterial pneumonia)

Risk factors: - Weaning stress - Transport - Dusty, dry conditions - Mixing of unfamiliar animals - Overcrowding and poor ventilation

Treatment: Antibiotics (oxytetracycline, tulathromycin, florfenicol) — prescription from a vet; anti-inflammatory drugs (meloxicam) for supportive care. Early treatment is essential.

Prevention: - Avoid unnecessary stress and transport in extremes of temperature - Good ventilation in shed housing (no ammonia buildup) - Minimise dust exposure; wet down dusty yards before handling - Proper nutrition — adequate selenium and vitamin E for immune function

Contagious Agalactia

Cause: Mycoplasma agalactiae

Signs: Mastitis, eye inflammation (conjunctivitis/keratoconjunctivitis), joint swelling/arthritis — the "triad" of signs

Impact: Severe reduction in milk production in dairy herds; significant welfare issue

Control: Biosecurity, testing of purchased animals, culling of confirmed cases

Part 4: Reproductive Diseases

Brucellosis (Malta Fever, Undulant Fever)

Cause: Brucella melitensis — a notifiable disease in Australia

Important: Australia is officially free of Brucella melitensis, but it can be introduced through illegal importation of animals or animal products. Report any suspected cases immediately to your state veterinary authority.

Signs in goats: Abortions (particularly in the last trimester), stillbirths, infertility, orchitis (testicular inflammation in bucks)

Public health significance: B. melitensis is a significant zoonotic disease (can infect humans), causing serious illness. Any abortions with unknown cause should be handled with gloves and reported to a vet.

Toxoplasmosis

Cause: Toxoplasma gondii — spread through cat faeces contaminating feed or pasture

Signs: Abortion, stillbirth, mummified fetuses, weak kids. Adults are generally resistant after initial exposure.

Prevention: Control cats on the property; protect hay and grain from cat access; don't feed contaminated feed

Q Fever (Query Fever)

Cause: Coxiella burnetii

Signs in goats: Often asymptomatic or mild; occasional abortions; birth fluids and placenta can be highly infectious

Public health significance: A serious zoonotic disease causing flu-like illness in humans, with potential for severe chronic forms. Goat farmers and people attending kidding are at increased risk. Vaccination is available for humans at risk.

Management: Handle birth products hygienically; pregnant women should avoid contact with kidding does

Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE)

Cause: Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus (CAEV) — a lentivirus closely related to Maedi-Visna in sheep

Signs: - Kids: Encephalitis (neurological signs — weakness, incoordination, paralysis of hindlimbs) - Adults: Progressive arthritis, particularly of the carpal (knee) joints; mastitis ("hard udder"); weight loss; respiratory disease

Transmission: Primarily through colostrum and milk from infected does to kids; also through close contact

Impact: Reduces productivity, causes welfare issues, and has no cure

Control: - Test all breeding animals before purchase; buy from CAE-accredited herds - Separate kids at birth; feed heat-treated colostrum or commercial colostrum replacer - Segregate positive and negative animals - CAE accreditation programs exist through the Australian Dairy Goat Society

Part 5: Metabolic Diseases

Pregnancy Toxaemia (Twin Lamb Disease)

Cause: Negative energy balance in late pregnancy, particularly in does carrying twins or triplets

Most at risk: Fat or thin does in late pregnancy on insufficient nutrition

Signs: - Dullness, depression, unwillingness to move - Separation from the mob - Nervous signs (circling, pressing head against objects, blindness) in severe cases - Death in 3–5 days if untreated

Treatment: Propylene glycol (100mL twice daily), glucose IV if very advanced; Vitamin B1 (thiamine) injection; induction of kidding in cases near term

Prevention: Body condition score does at joining and throughout pregnancy; provide adequate supplementary energy in the last 6 weeks of pregnancy (particularly for does carrying multiple fetuses)

Hypocalcaemia (Milk Fever)

Cause: Low blood calcium — usually at or around kidding due to high calcium demand for colostrum and milk production; or excessive calcium intake in late pregnancy

Signs: - Sudden weakness, recumbency, cold extremities - Bloat (loss of rumen motility) - Loss of consciousness in severe cases

Treatment: Calcium borogluconate subcutaneous or IV injection (follow vet directions carefully — too fast IV can cause cardiac arrest)

Prevention: Feed adequate calcium throughout lactation; avoid very high calcium diets in the last 3 weeks of pregnancy (DCAD diet management)

Urinary Calculi (Urinary Blockage)

Cause: Mineral crystals (usually struvite or calcium oxalate) block the urethra in males (wethers, bucks, male kids)

Why males only? The female urethra is short and wide; males have a long, narrow urethra and a urethral process (pizzle) that is easily blocked

Risk factors: - Grain-heavy diets with inadequate roughage - Imbalanced calcium:phosphorus ratio (excess phosphorus) - Insufficient water intake - Lucerne hay-only diets (high calcium, low phosphorus — can cause calcium oxalate calculi)

Signs: - Straining to urinate with little or no urine produced - Kicking at the belly - Hunched posture, vocalising - Distended abdomen in severe/late cases (bladder rupture)

Treatment: Veterinary procedure; may involve amputation of the urethral process, catheterisation, or surgery. Outcome depends on how long the blockage has been present.

Prevention: - Always feed roughage alongside grain (minimum 60% roughage by DM) - Maintain Ca:P ratio of 2:1 in total diet - Ensure plentiful clean water at all times - Add ammonium chloride to rations for at-risk animals (acidifies urine, prevents struvite crystallisation)

Part 6: Skin and Feet Conditions

Footrot

Cause: Dichelobacter nodosus (requires the synergistic presence of Fusobacterium necrophorum)

Signs: - Severe lameness; animals may walk on their knees to avoid weight bearing - Foul-smelling, moist lesion between the toes progressing to underrunning of the hoof horn - Contagious between animals on wet ground

Treatment: - Footbathing in 10% zinc sulphate solution (5–15 minutes; repeat weekly while outbreak continues) - Parenteral antibiotics (oxytetracycline, penicillin) in severe cases — vet prescription - Hoof trimming to remove underrun horn - Culling of chronically affected animals

Prevention: - Quarantine new animals before introducing to herd - Dry conditions significantly reduce risk - Vaccination is available (Footvax) but provides partial immunity; reduces severity, doesn't eliminate disease

Foot Scald

Cause: Fusobacterium necrophorum alone (without D. nodosus)

Signs: Mild lameness, reddening and moistness between the toes; less severe than footrot; no underrunning of hoof horn

Treatment: Zinc sulphate footbath; resolves without antibiotics in most cases

Lice

Cause: Bovicola caprae (biting louse) and Linognathus stenopsis (sucking louse)

Signs: - Rubbing, scratching, biting at skin - Rough, dull coat; fibre damage in Angoras - Visible lice or eggs (nits) on skin and hair when examined closely

Treatment: - Pour-on or spray with registered insecticide (permethrin-based products; macrocyclic lactone pour-ons for sucking lice) - Treat all animals in the mob simultaneously - Repeat treatment after 14–21 days to kill hatching eggs

Orf (Contagious Ecthyma, Scabby Mouth)

Cause: Parapoxvirus; extremely common in Australian goats

Signs: - Crusty, scabby lesions on the lips, muzzle, nostrils, and occasionally the teats, feet, and vulva - Lesions are painful; affected kids may be reluctant to suckle - Usually resolves in 3–6 weeks without treatment

Public health: Orf can infect humans — causes a painful nodular lesion on hands. Wear gloves when handling affected animals.

Treatment: Usually not required; soft, palatable feeds for affected animals; antiseptic cream on lesions to prevent secondary infection

Prevention: Orf vaccines are available and used in some high-risk situations; however, vaccination introduces live virus so is not recommended unless disease pressure is significant

Part 7: Eye Diseases

Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

Cause: Mycoplasma conjunctivae, Moraxella spp., or Chlamydophila pecorum — often occurs in combination

Signs: - Weeping, squinting, and redness of the eye - Cloudiness of the cornea - Can cause corneal ulceration and blindness (usually temporary)

Risk factors: - Dust, flies, grass seeds, face contact in confined areas - Stress

Treatment: - Oxytetracycline eye ointment or spray - Long-acting oxytetracycline injection (LA-200) in severe cases - Isolate affected animals from bright sunlight and flies

A Practical Preventive Health Calendar

When to Call the Vet

Call immediately: - Suspected plant or chemical poisoning - Straining without producing urine (urinary blockage) - Neurological signs (circling, seizures, blindness) - Multiple sudden deaths - Abortion storm (multiple abortions in quick succession) - Difficult kidding not resolving within 30–45 minutes

Call within 24 hours: - High temperature (above 41°C) not responding to simple supportive care - Signs of severe pneumonia - Bottle jaw that appeared suddenly - Eye cloudiness or ulceration - Any sign you don't recognise and can't explain

Conclusion

Most goat diseases in Australia can be prevented or successfully managed with a sound program of vaccination, targeted parasite control, good nutrition, and biosecurity. The biggest mistake goat farmers make is waiting too long to act — by the time a goat is obviously sick, you've already lost valuable treatment time.

Build a relationship with an agricultural vet experienced in small ruminants. Invest in basic diagnostic tools (a thermometer, FAMACHA guide, supply of drench, vaccination equipment). Learn what healthy looks like so you can identify unhealthy early.

A healthy herd is a profitable herd.

This guide is for general information purposes. Always consult a registered veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment of specific disease conditions in your animals. Notifiable diseases (brucellosis, foot-and-mouth disease, scrapie, etc.) must be reported to your state's chief veterinary officer immediately.