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Animal Health Treatments
While Boer Goats are very hardy animals with minimal health issues, there are times when health related challenges require attention. This section on Animal Health offers brief answers and potential treatments to the most common matters. There are many excellent books and publications written by veterinarians that can be consulted for a wider range of more detailed advice. This section is not meant to replace those publications.
THE ADVICE OFFERED HERE IS AT OWN RISK AND WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CONSULT A QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED LIVESTOCK VETERINARIAN FOR EXPERT ADVICE.
If you don’t find what you are looking for here, please send an email – using the form at the bottom of this page – and the answer will be placed here to assist other producers who may have the same question.
Treating Chlamydial eye infection
Chlamydial eye infection is caused by Chlamydial virus and is aggravated by dust and flies.
The symptoms are a watering eye that becomes progressively milkier until if becomes totally opaque with a white centre if left untreated. The goat can become blind if the condition is not attended to.
Administer a tetracycline in a manner similar to eye drops, in the eye daily by using an eye dropper or syringe without a needle. Continue daily evening and morning until it clears up.
Dose all goats with a vitamin A supplement like Oral Dose A or similar. Remove them from dusty environments or damp down dust with water. The eye infection is contagious so separate infected goats from others. Flies spread the infection.
Using a very thin needle, a mixture of 1,5ml Pendistrep and 1,5ml Predef can be administered directly above and directly below the infected eye. This is a delicate procedure and the goat’s head must be held firmly to avoid puncturing the eyeball. If you are uncomfortable with the procedure, it may be better that a veterinarian perform the procedure.
Vaccinate annually against Chlamydial infections using vaccines like Enzovax or Chlamydia or Chlamysure to prevent infection. Also do vitamin A supplementation 2 – 3 times annually.
Consult your livestock veterinarian or animal health specialist for expert advice and product recommendations.
Prophylactic Heartwater treatment
Boer Goats born in a heartwater area are normally — but not always — resistant to this disease. Animals from a non-heartwater area can however be prophylactically treated over a period to assist in keeping them heartwater-free while they develop their own immunity. Immunity cannot be guaranteed, even in animals born in a heartwater area. A well planned and implemented dipping programme is essential in order to limit occurrence of the disease. Heartwater is a major cause of mortality among Boer Goats.
Boer Goats being moved from a non-heartwater area to a heartwater area need to have tetracycline administered (at a dosage of 1ml per 10kg body mass) every 20 days for 6 – 8 months. This procedure MUST be combined with a well managed and implemented and regular dipping program to minimise tick infestation.
Consult your livestock veterinarian or animal health specialist for expert advice and product recommendations.
Treating Orf (scabby mouth, Vuilbek)
Orf is a contagious infection caused by the orf virus. It causes wartlike lesions on the mouth, lips, eyelids, ears and between the hooves. Infected suckling kids kan transfer this to their dam’s teats.
Left untreated, it can severely negatively affect feeding and grazing to an extent that kids loose condition and can die.
The most effective treatment is preventative vaccination against the particular virus strains found on a specific farm.
Infections can be treated as follows:
Mix 1/3 tincture of iodine with 2/3 liquid paraffin. Then mix this with milking cream until it is the consistency of joghurt. Apply this 2x per day with a toothbrush until it clears up. You should also administer a long-acting broad spectrum antibiotic to prevent secondary infection. Inoculate annually against scabby mouth using Orf vaccine.
Alternative Treatment:
Mix milking cream with MUPS until it is the consistency of yogurt. Apply this with a coarse brush 2x daily. Administer 5ml of Duplocillan intramuscularly 1x per day for 3 days.
Consult your livestock veterinarian or animal health specialist for expert advice and product recommendations.
