Johnes Disease - A "fatal gastrointestinal disease of goats and other ruminants (including cattle, sheep, elk, deer, and bison) that is caused by a bacterium Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP). Also known as paratuberculosis, this infection is contagious, which means it can spread in your herd." (Paratuberculosis in Ruminants - Digestive System - Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com))

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Abomasum - The term for the 4th stomach in a ruminant animal (goats, sheep, camels, bison, gazelles, etc.).

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Anemia - The whiteness of the inner eyelid and gums, which is usually in tandem with lethargy and loss of appetite, due to the lack of red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body. This condition can be caused by an overload of internal or external parasites that suck blood from the goat. Also, deficiency nutritionally and in copper, iron, and cobalt can cause anemia. However, an overload of copper can also cause anemia.

FAMACHA should be checked regularly so that anemia can be detected early on, allowing for the cause to then be determined if its 1) internal or external via fecal analysis or 2) nutritionally or copper overload via blood panels, then followed by the appropriate treatment. 

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Banding - When an intact male goat (usually around 10-12 weeks old) has a castrating band placed via an elastrator, right above the testes on the scrotum. This band restricts the flow of blood to the testes which causes the levels of testosterone produced to fall, and over the period of a few weeks, the testes will slowly shrivel up, harden, and eventually fall off. This male is then called a wether as he has been castrated. 

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Biosecurity Testing - When blood is drawn and sent to an animal lab for testing, to determine if the goats are positive or negative for disease(s).

 

Blind Teat - A teat that has no orifice. This can be an extra teat or one of the two normal teats. This is a genetic defect.

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Bloat - When gas cannot be belched out and builds up in the rumen. This causes their left side (where the rumen is located) to become enlarged, extremely tight, and hard. A cause of bloat can be a drastic and quick change in the goat's diet, consuming large quantities of other feed/foodstuffs (chicken feed, people's food scrapes, etc.). Always make sure to make feed changes slowly and over the course of a few weeks to avoid causing bloat. This condition be fatal if not treated immediately.

 

Burdizzo - A device that is designed to crush the blood vessels which supply blood to the testes of an intact male goat. This causes the testes to shrivel up somewhat, but not fall off, and thus result in the male not being able to breed any does.

 

CAE (Caprine arthritis and encephalitis) - A "persistent lentiviral infection of goats. There are multiple clinical presentations: 1) leukoencephalomyelitis, affecting 2- to 6-month-old kids, 2) chronic, hyperplastic polysynovitis, 3) indurative mastitis, and 4) interstitial pneumonia. Presence of caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) can be confirmed in a goat herd by means of serologic testing; however, a positive result does not guarantee an individual animal will develop clinical signs of disease. A presumptive diagnosis is based on clinical signs. There is no vaccine or specific treatment for CAEV, supportive care is indicated, with euthanasia necessary in severe cases." (Caprine Arthritis and Encephalitis - Generalized Conditions - Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com))

 

CDT Vaccination - A vaccination that is given to goats to protect against Clostridium Perfringens Type D and Tetanus.

 

CL (Caseous lymphadenitis) -  A "chronic, contagious bacterial disease that manifests clinically as abscesses of peripheral and/or internal lymph nodes and organs. The characteristic purulent material is very thick and non-odorous. Whereas the peripheral form presents as abscesses of single or multiple peripheral palpable lymph nodes, internal CL typically manifests as chronic weight loss and ill thrift. Culture of active lesions for Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is diagnostically definitive. When eliminating animals from the herd/flock is undesirable, treatment consists of consistent, sustained antimicrobial therapy to reduce the numbers of active draining lesions and isolation from other herd mates until lesions are dry and/or resolved." (Caseous Lymphadenitis of Sheep and Goats - Circulatory System - Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com))

 

Closed Herd - A goat herd that has not had goats from other farms introduced to the herd, as well as no contact with goats from other farms. There has been some controversy concerning if this term can be applied to herds that participate in sanctioned dairy goat shows (as other goats from other farms are there also participating) even though they have not introduced new goats to the existing herd.

 

Coccidia/Coccidiosis - Mostly affects young livestock up to 6-8 months in age, and is caused by the parasite eimeria which, when the animal is infected, will reside in the intestinal tracts.

 

Colostrum - A substance that is full of antibodies and crucial nutrients for newborns, that is begins to be produced prior to the time of kidding until about 2-3 weeks after.

 

Copper - An important mineral that is essential for bone, hair, and muscle health/growth as well as aiding barberpole worm resistance.

 

Copper Bolus - A capsule filled with copper wire oxide particles which, when ingested, will imbed in the rumen of the goat where it will slowly release copper over a period of 6 months (duration/effectiveness of release will vary depending on the level of copper antagonists being ingested via water, feed, forage, etc.).

 

Cryptorchid - A genetic condition which causes both or only one of the testes of a buckling to not lower into the scrotum. Instead, the testes (either both or only one) remain inside the abdomen of the buckling. This is considered a genetic defect.

 

CVI (Certificate of Veterinary Inspection) - When a vet performs a health exam on a goat(s), and upon completion gives the owner a certificate, signed by the vet, stating that the goat(s) were examined and determined to be healthy. These are required when participating in dairy goat shows.

 

Deworming - When a substance that kills worms is administered to a goat that has a high parasite (worm) load. Both chemical or herbal wormers are used in the dairy goat community.

 

Double Orifices - When either one or both teats have a second orifice (hole that milk would come out of, if the doe is in milk). This is considered a genetic defect.

 

Drenching - When medications, dewormers, etc. are administered to the goat orally using a drenching gun/syringe. This tool has a longer syringe tip with a rounded end, where the substance is squirted out.

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Enterotoxemia - Caused by clostridium perfringens type D, a bacteria that can be found in the ground as well as in the 

 

FAMACHA - The process of checking a goat's inner eyelid color and comparing it to a FAMACHA scorecard. This is used as an aid in determining parasitic worm loads in the goats, in tandem with fecal worm counts.

 

Fecal Egg Count (FEC) - The process of using a special microscope slide that has a grid imprinted on it, called a McMasters, to easily count parasite worm eggs in a prepared fecal solution sample. The higher the number of eggs found in the sample, the higher the worm load in the goat.

 

Fecal Flotation -  A widely used method which consists of preparing fresh animal feces with a certain lab solution, causing the parasite eggs to float to the top of the mixture. This allows the eggs to be counted via a microscope, to determine how high a parasite load the animal has.

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Fishtail Teat - When two teats are fused together. This type of teat is usually flater and wider than normal teats. This is a genetic defect.

 

Free Choice - This term usually applies to leaving out a mineral 24/7 for goats when they want, and self regulate their intake.

 

Goat Lice - An external parasite that can be classified into two types: Biting or Sucking lice. The biting lice have a small head and very long body, and live off of the hair of the goat completely. The sucking lice have a tiny head and a shorter rounder body. These two types of parasites live in the coat hair of goats, but especially in breeds that have longer and thicker hair. This parasite is more prolific during the winter months, when goats have grown cashmere under their longer and thicker coats. The par 

 

Goat Mites -

 

Hermaphrodite - A genetic condition which can be spilt into two categories: True hermaphrodites and Pseudohermaphrodites. A true hermaphrodite is a goat that has female reproductive organs as well as and male reproductive organs. While a pseudohermaphrodite can look/act female or male, but it has internal female reproductive organs and only has external male parts (testes, etc). Both categories described above are considered a genetic defect.

 

Hoof Trimming - Goat hooves are always growing and need to be trimmed regularly (about every 4 weeks). By trimming, you remove excess hoof overgrowth and any dirt, small stones, and other debris that became caught in the goat's hooves, which can cause bacteria to grow and infect the hooves.

 

Intramuscular (IM) - When a shot is given directly into the muscles.

 

Ketone - Made up of 

 

Ketosis - 

 

Lactation - The period when a doe has kidded and is now producing milk. The average length of this period is usually 8-10 months, then the doe is dried off for two months, before kidding again and restarting the lactation period. However, some does have been known to have extended lactations.

 

Lungworms - A parasitic worm that imbeds itself in the lungs of the goat, causing nasal discharge, reduced appetite, severe regular coughing, higher respiratory rate, and loss of weight. This type of parasite can be contracted from inhaling the larvae or grazing on infected areas.

 

Mange - 

 

Mastitis -

 

Milk Fever (Hypocalcemia) - When a doe is not able to activate her calcium stores in her bones for milk production, causing 

 

Omasum - The third stomach of a ruminant (goats, sheep, deer, etc.).

 

Reticulum - The second stomach of a ruminant (goats, sheep, deer, etc.).

 

Roundworms - 

 

Rumen - The largest of the four stomachs of ruminants (goats, sheep, deer, etc.).

 

Scours - When goats have diarrhea, and not the usual pelleted separated feces.

 

Scrapie - 

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Scurs - Horn regrowths which can occur anytime after a goat is disbudded. Males, both intact and wethers, are more prone to developing them due to their testosterone.

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Selenium - An important mineral that usually has to be supplemented regularly (in the form of paste,

gel, or liquid injection) due to a large majority of pastures/land being deficient. This then results in selenium deficient forage/hay, that the goats are consuming. Being deficient in this mineral can result in White Muscle Disease. However, before supplementing, one must verify that their land/pasture is truly selenium deficient, as well as consult with a goat/large animal veterinarian. Here is a helpful website that shows selenium soil levels in the USA: Selenium in Counties of the Conterminous States (usgs.gov)

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Subcutaneous (SQ) - When a shot is given in the fatty area of the skin, and not directly into the muscles. The skin is pinched and pulled gently to make a 'tent', then the needle is inserted in the 'tent' and its contents injected.

 

Tapeworms - A type of parasitic internal segmented worm which attaches to the intestines of the goat, and releases segments of itself which are seen in the feces of the goat resembling 'rice'.

 

TB (Tuberculosis) - Caused by the 

 

Tetanus - Caused by the bacteria Clostridium Tetani that is commonly found in soil, dust, and feces, the symptoms include muscle spasms, locked jaw, and difficulty swallowing. 

 

Udder - The mammary system of a female goat, where milk is produced. The udder is grown and produces, first, colostrum for about 2-3 weeks, then milk, only after the female goat is bred and has given birth.

 

Urinary Calculi (UC) - More common in male goats, both intact and wethers, this is caused by an imbalanced calcium phosphorus ratio which results in the build up of  'stones' in the goat's urethra. These stones can then hinder or completely block the goat's ability to urinate. Urine will then build up and, not only cause extreme pain, but can result in the bladder of the goat to burst, from the ever-increasing urine pressure.

 

Wattle - Similar to skin tag in humans, however they are covered in hair and hang off of the neck of the goat, which do not have a known purpose. Wattles have been found on both female and male goats.

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** Terms are still being added **