Small Ruminant Veterinary Care: Complete Health Guide for Goat & Sheep Owners

Goats and sheep are among the most rewarding — and most demanding — livestock species a US farmer can keep. They are curious, intelligent, and productive, giving milk, meat, fiber, and landscape management in return for attentive husbandry. But small ruminants are also notorious for hiding illness until it is advanced, for their sensitivity to internal parasites, and for a constellation of infectious diseases that can sweep through a flock with devastating speed. This guide is written for goat and sheep owners who want to build a solid veterinary health program: proactive, science-based, and grounded in the realities of American farm life.

Whether you keep three Boer does on a backyard lot or five hundred Rambouillet ewes on pasture in the Rockies, the principles here apply. Work through this guide with your veterinarian to build a customized health calendar for your operation.

Understanding Small Ruminant Health: The Big Picture

Small ruminants differ from cattle in several important ways that affect their veterinary care:

• Dose sensitivity: Goats metabolize many drugs faster than sheep or cattle. Drug doses that are correct for sheep may be inadequate for goats. Never assume interchangeable dosing without checking species-specific guidelines.
• Parasite burden: Gastrointestinal nematodes — particularly Haemonchus contortus (barber pole worm) — are the number one cause of illness and death in small ruminants across most of the US. A robust parasite control program is non-negotiable.
• Stoicism: Sheep especially mask illness until they are severely compromised. Daily observation and hands-on body condition scoring are essential.
• Herd dynamics: Disease spreads rapidly in a flock. Biosecurity — quarantining new animals — is one of the most valuable management tools you have.

Vaccinations: Core and Optional Protocols

Vaccination is the most cost-effective disease prevention tool available to small ruminant producers. The foundation of every US goat and sheep vaccination program is the CD&T vaccine — protection against Clostridium perfringens types C and D (enterotoxemia, or overeating disease) and Clostridium tetani (tetanus).

Core Vaccine: CD&T (Clostridium perfringens C&D + Tetanus)

This trivalent vaccine is recommended by AASRP (American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners) for all goats and sheep in the US. It protects against two of the most common and devastating causes of sudden death in small ruminants.

Category	Initial Series	Booster Schedule	Notes
Adults, previously unvaccinated	Two doses, 4 weeks apart	Annually	Give booster 4–6 weeks pre-kidding/lambing for passive immunity transfer
Kids/Lambs (dam vaccinated)	First dose at 6–8 weeks	Booster 3–4 weeks later, then annual	Maternal antibodies may interfere before 6 weeks
Kids/Lambs (dam not vaccinated)	First dose at 1–2 weeks	Booster at 4 weeks, then annual	These animals have no passive protection
Pregnant Does/Ewes	Booster 4–6 weeks before parturition	Annual at pre-parturition timing	Maximizes colostral antibody levels in offspring

Optional Vaccines Based on Risk

Beyond CD&T, several additional vaccines may be appropriate depending on your geographic region, production system, and disease history. Discuss these with your veterinarian:

• Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL) vaccine (Colorado Serum): Available in the US for goats. Reduces but does not eliminate CL. Useful in flocks with known CL prevalence. Note: vaccinated animals may test positive on blood tests — record vaccination status carefully.
• Rabies: Recommended in areas with high wildlife rabies prevalence (raccoon rabies corridor in the eastern US; fox and skunk rabies in the south and west). Consult your vet for a currently licensed product for small ruminants.
• Soremouth (Contagious Ecthyma / Orf): A live virus vaccine used only on farms where orf is confirmed or a serious risk. Do not use unless orf is present on your farm — the virus is shed in scabs from vaccinated animals and can establish the disease on a naive farm. It is also zoonotic.
• Footrot vaccine (Footvax): Available in the US; can reduce severity and prevalence of virulent footrot. Most effective combined with culling, hoof trimming, and zinc sulfate footbath protocols.
• Mannheimia haemolytica (Pasteurella) bacterin: For pneumonia prevention in high-risk situations — weaned kids in confinement, show animals, animals with a history of respiratory disease outbreaks.

Vaccination Best Practices

• Check expiration dates and cold-chain storage (most vaccines require 35–45°F refrigeration).
• Never freeze modified-live vaccines.
• Use a clean, properly sized needle for each animal (18g–20g, 3/4 to 1 inch for SQ; 18g for IM).
• Record: vaccine name, lot number, expiration date, date given, animal ID, and who administered it.
• Have epinephrine available at all vaccination events — anaphylaxis, while rare, can occur within minutes.

Parasite Control: The FAMACHA System and Targeted Selective Treatment

No aspect of small ruminant health is more important — or more misunderstood — than internal parasite management. Gastrointestinal nematodes, led by Haemonchus contortus (the barber pole worm), are the single leading cause of production loss and death in goats and sheep across the southern, southeastern, and mid-Atlantic US, and they are increasingly problematic in the north and west. The challenge is compounded by widespread anthelmintic (dewormer) resistance — in many flocks, one or more drug classes have lost effectiveness entirely.

The Crisis of Anthelmintic Resistance

For decades, the standard approach was to worm all animals on a calendar schedule. This practice decimated the refugia population (susceptible worms on pasture) and selected intensively for resistant worms. Today, multi-drug resistance is documented in small ruminant operations across the US. Drug classes affected include:

• Benzimidazoles (white dewormers — fenbendazole, albendazole): High-level resistance in many flocks
• Macrocyclic lactones (clear dewormers — ivermectin, doramectin, moxidectin): Resistance widespread
• Imidazothiazoles (levamisole): Some resistance developing
• Amino-acetonitrile derivatives (monepantel/Zolvix): Not licensed in the US
• Derquantel/abamectin (Startect): Licensed in limited US markets

The answer is Targeted Selective Treatment (TST) — treating only animals that need it, based on clinical indicators. This preserves a refugia of drug-susceptible worms on pasture and extends the life of available drug classes.

The FAMACHA System

FAMACHA is a clinical scoring method developed in South Africa and validated extensively in the US for assessing anemia caused by H. contortus blood-sucking. It requires certification training (available through your state Cooperative Extension or AASRP) and a laminated color eye card showing five categories of conjunctival (inner eyelid) color:

FAMACHA Score	Color	PCV/Hct Estimate	Deworm?
1	Red/pink	>28%	No
2	Pink/red	23–28%	No
3	Pink	18–23%	Treat if other FICA indicators positive
4	Pale pink/white	13–18%	Yes
5	White	<13%	Yes — and support/vet evaluation

FAMACHA scoring is typically done every 2–4 weeks during peak parasite season (hot, wet months), or more frequently during high-risk periods (late pregnancy, peak lactation, post-weaning). Animals that repeatedly score 4–5 should be considered for culling — they are "wormy" genetics that perpetuate resistance.

FICA — Five-Point Check

FAMACHA assesses anemia, but H. contortus is not the only parasite or the only cause of weight loss. The FICA system adds four additional indicators to the anemia score for a full TST decision:

• F — FAMACHA score (anemia)
• I — Inguinal/inner thigh fat score (body condition)
• C — Coat score (rough, dull, or scruffy coat)
• A — Atrophy of the gluteal muscles (muscle wasting over the rump)
• Dag score: Fecal soiling under the tail (indicates diarrhea from Teladorsagia or Trichostrongylus)

Fecal Egg Count (FEC) Monitoring

Fecal egg counts (McMaster or modified McMaster method) are the gold standard for assessing parasite burden and evaluating dewormer efficacy. Work with your veterinarian or state diagnostic lab to:

• Run baseline FECs at the start of breeding season and during lactation
• Run Fecal Egg Count Reduction Tests (FECRT) 10–14 days after deworming to evaluate whether your current dewormer is still working
• Track which animals consistently have high egg counts (genetic "refugia destroyers" to cull)

Pasture Management to Reduce Parasite Burden

• Rotational grazing: Move animals off pasture before the infective larvae migrate up grass stems (approximately 2–3 weeks after fecal deposition in warm, wet weather). Rest pastures for at least 60 days.
• Cross-grazing with cattle or horses: Cattle and horses are poor hosts for H. contortus. Rotating them through small ruminant pastures reduces larval load.
• Sacrifice paddocks: Confine animals to a dry lot during wet, warm weather when larval translation is highest.
• Avoid overgrazing: Never graze below 3 inches — larvae concentrate at the soil surface.
• Browse and brambles: Taller browse (shrubs, tree leaves) carries far fewer larvae than grazed grass. Access to browse naturally reduces burdens.

Nutritional Support for Parasite Resistance

Adequate protein nutrition (especially bypass protein from soybean meal) significantly improves an animal's ability to mount an immune response to parasites. Thin animals and animals in heavy lactation are at highest risk. Copper adequacy is also important — many goat producers under-supplement copper. Work with your vet and a nutritionist to ensure your ration meets NRC recommendations for your species and production stage.

Common Diseases of Small Ruminants

Enterotoxemia (Overeating Disease)

Caused by Clostridium perfringens types C and D, enterotoxemia is one of the most common causes of sudden death in well-conditioned goats and lambs. Type D ("pulpy kidney" disease) affects well-fed lambs and kids whose rapid grain or milk consumption leads to carbohydrate overflow into the large intestine, where Cl. perfringens type D proliferates and produces epsilon toxin — a potent neurotoxin.

Signs: Sudden death in the best-conditioned animals. Pre-mortem signs (if observed): bloat, abdominal pain, incoordination, paddling convulsions, bloody diarrhea.

Prevention: CD&T vaccination (both types), gradual dietary transitions — especially when introducing grain, transitioning to spring grass, or increasing milk through an accelerated lamb growth program. Limit-feed concentrate.

Treatment: Often futile once clinical — the toxin is produced rapidly. Antitoxin (type C&D antitoxin) can be used in animals showing early signs; penicillin and supportive care may help. Prevention is everything here.

Pneumonia

Respiratory disease is the second leading cause of death in US small ruminants. It is rarely caused by a single organism; rather, it is a multifactorial disease where stress and management failures allow bacterial opportunists (most commonly Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida) to colonize a lung already damaged by viral pathogens (OvHV-2, BRSV, PI-3) or Mycoplasma spp.

Risk factors: Weaning stress, overcrowding, poor ventilation (ammonia and moisture accumulation), temperature fluctuations, introduction of new animals without quarantine, nutritional deficiency (especially selenium and vitamins A and E).

Signs: Fever, nasal discharge, cough, increased respiratory rate, reduced appetite, depression, mouth breathing in severe cases. In peracute M. haemolytica pneumonia, animals may be found dead with no prior signs.

Treatment: Antibiotic treatment is most effective early. Tulathromycin (Draxxin), florfenicol (Nuflor), or oxytetracycline are commonly used. NSAIDs (flunixin, meloxicam) reduce fever and inflammation. All require VCPR for prescription. Work with your vet to establish treatment protocols and post-treatment withdrawal times for meat and milk.

Prevention: Ventilation that removes moisture and ammonia without drafts. Avoid overcrowding — follow space guidelines (minimum 15 sq ft/animal in housing). Segregate new animals for 30 days. Minimize weaning stress with gradual transitions. Selenium/vitamin E supplementation in deficient areas. Consider Mannheimia bacterin in high-risk groups.

Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL)

Caseous lymphadenitis — caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis — is one of the most prevalent and economically important diseases of goats and sheep in the US. It causes firm, encapsulated abscesses in the lymph nodes — most visibly in the superficial lymph nodes of the head, neck, and flank, though internal abscesses in the lungs, liver, kidneys, and spinal cord are common and may cause "thin ewe syndrome" or sudden death.

Transmission: The bacteria are shed when abscesses rupture, contaminating soil, equipment, and other animals for years. It enters through skin wounds, shearing cuts, drenching wounds, and mucous membranes. The organism can survive in soil for months.

Diagnosis: Lumpy, non-painful abscess in typical lymph node locations. Culture or PCR of abscess contents is definitive. Serology (AGID, ELISA) can detect infected animals before abscesses form, though sensitivity varies.

Management:

• Do not open abscesses yourself without containment — the pus is highly infectious to other animals and zoonotic to humans. Wear gloves, double-bag and burn contents, disinfect all equipment and the area.
• Identify and segregate animals with active, draining abscesses.
• CL vaccine (Colorado Serum) can reduce new lesion formation but does not clear existing infection.
• A "test and cull" program using serology is appropriate for high-value CL-negative flocks trying to establish clean status.
• Penicillin can suppress the infection but does not cure it — the bacteria survive intracellularly in a lipid capsule that resists most antibiotics.

There is no cure for CL. Management is about reducing transmission and impact. Closed flocks with strict biosecurity have the best outcomes.

CAE (Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis) and OPP (Ovine Progressive Pneumonia)

CAE virus (CAEV) in goats and Maedi-Visna virus (OPP/MVV) in sheep are closely related lentiviruses — slow, progressive retroviruses in the same family as HIV. They cause lifelong infection, progressive disease, and significant production losses. There is no vaccine and no treatment. Infection is lifelong.

CAE in goats — Clinical Forms:

• Arthritis (adults): The most common form. Chronic, progressive joint swelling — most visible in the carpus (knee). Affected does have hard, bony swollen joints, difficulty rising, progressive weight loss. Milking does may have hard udder (indurative mastitis).
• Encephalitis (kids, 1–6 months): Progressive neurological signs — hind limb weakness, paralysis, head tilt, blindness. Almost always fatal.
• Pneumonia: Interstitial pneumonia with chronic weight loss and exercise intolerance.

OPP in sheep — Clinical Forms:

• Progressive pneumonia ("Maedi"): Chronic weight loss, increasing respiratory effort. May take years to develop clinically.
• Neurological form ("Visna"): Progressive rear limb weakness and paralysis — rare.
• Mastitis: Hard udder — similar to CAE in goats.

Transmission: Primarily through colostrum and milk from infected dams to kids/lambs. Also through close respiratory contact over time.

Control strategies:

• Test annually (AGID or ELISA). Remove positive animals or segregate in a separate management group.
• CAE-prevention program (kids): Remove kids immediately at birth before nursing. Feed heat-treated colostrum (56°C / 133°F for 60 minutes, which inactivates CAEV without destroying all antibodies) or CAE-negative colostrum. Bottle-raise on pasteurized milk or milk replacer. This protocol can eradicate CAE in a kid crop over time.
• Establish a CAE/OPP-negative herd designation through systematic annual testing and segregation.
• Never purchase animals without documented negative test status.

Listeriosis ("Circling Disease")

Listeriosis is caused by Listeria monocytogenes, a soil bacterium that multiplies in improperly fermented or spoiled silage, particularly silage with a pH above 4.5, damaged faces, or contaminated feed. It causes a severe encephalitis characterized by distinctive circling behavior, facial nerve paralysis (drooping ear, drooping lip, inability to close one eye), and death within 24–48 hours if untreated.

Signs: Depression, fever, head tilt, circling in one direction, leaning against fences, inability to eat or swallow properly, facial nerve paralysis (unilateral). Septicemic form causes abortion in pregnant does/ewes without neurological signs.

Treatment: Requires aggressive, early antibiotic therapy — high-dose penicillin G (22,000 IU/kg IV four times daily) combined with supportive care. Treatment must begin within hours of signs to have any chance of success. Many animals die or are left with permanent neurological deficits despite treatment. Call your vet immediately at the first sign of circling.

Prevention: Avoid feeding spoiled or poorly fermented silage. Inspect silage faces daily and discard any visibly spoiled material. Feed fresh silage within 24 hours of exposure. Ensure adequate silo packing and plastic seal integrity. Do not feed hay bales that have been punctured, waterlogged, or stored directly on soil.

Scrapie

Scrapie is a prion disease of sheep and goats in the US, related to BSE (mad cow disease) in cattle and CJD in humans. It causes a progressive, fatal neurological disease — and it is a federally regulated disease. The USDA Scrapie Eradication Program requires flock registration, tagging, and reporting. Buy only animals with USDA scrapie tags from enrolled flocks. Classic and Nor98 (atypical) scrapie are both present in the US. There is no treatment and no cure.

Foot Rot and Foot Scald

Foot scald is caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum alone and produces interdigital skin inflammation — pink, wet, and tender tissue between the claws. It is less severe and more easily treated than foot rot.

Virulent foot rot is caused by the synergistic combination of F. necrophorum and Dichelobacter nodosus. It causes severe underrunning of the hoof wall — the horn separates from the sensitive laminae and becomes packed with gray, foul-smelling necrotic material. Severely affected animals become non-weight-bearing and can lose significant body condition from inability to graze.

Treatment:

• Trim hooves to expose all affected tissue to air and antiseptic.
• Stand animals in 10% zinc sulfate footbath for 15 minutes. Repeat in 5 days.
• For severe cases: systemic oxytetracycline or penicillin (consult your vet for dose and duration).
• Isolate affected animals from the flock — D. nodosus spreads through contaminated soil.
• Consider zinc sulfate footbath for the entire flock as a preventive measure during wet seasons.
• Cull chronically affected animals — they are the main reservoir for spreading virulent foot rot.

Urinary Calculi (Urolithiasis) in Wethers and Bucks

Urinary calculi — mineral deposits that obstruct the urethra — are among the most common and life-threatening emergencies in male small ruminants, particularly castrated males (wethers) fed high-grain diets. The sigmoid flexure of the male small ruminant urethra is narrow and easily blocked by even small stones.

Signs: Straining to urinate (tenesmus), wagging tail, vocalization, kicking at belly, extended penis, dripping blood-tinged urine or no urine production at all. Complete obstruction leads to bladder rupture within 24–36 hours — a painful death.

Risk factors: High-grain diet, calcium:phosphorus ratio below 2:1, insufficient water consumption, high-concentrate show diets.

Prevention:

• Maintain dietary Ca:P ratio at 2:1 or above (grain-only diets are often 1:1 or worse).
• Ensure free-choice water is always available and palatable — salt supplementation encourages drinking.
• Ammonium chloride in the diet (acidifies urine and dissolves struvite crystals) — use at label rates.
• Do not castrate bucklings too early — delay until at least 3 months to allow urethral development.

Treatment: This is a veterinary emergency. Call immediately at the first sign of straining. Your vet may attempt catheterization, ammonium chloride IV or oral, smooth muscle relaxants (acepromazine), or surgical intervention (tube cystotomy or penile amputation). Prognosis worsens dramatically with time — a one-hour delay can mean the difference between a salvageable and an unsalvageable case.

Nutrition for Small Ruminants: Seasonal and Production-Stage Management

Nutrition is the foundation of small ruminant health. Nutrient deficiencies lead to immune suppression, reproductive failure, poor parasite resistance, metabolic disease, and increased susceptibility to every infectious agent listed above.

Copper: The Goat Exception

Goats have a much higher dietary copper requirement than sheep (10–80 ppm in goats vs. 7–11 ppm in sheep). Many producers use "goat minerals" and "sheep minerals" interchangeably — a dangerous mistake. Sheep are extremely sensitive to copper toxicosis; goats are frequently copper-deficient on sheep or all-purpose mineral blocks. Signs of copper deficiency in goats: rough, faded coat ("fishhook" tail hair), poor growth, reproductive failure, increased susceptibility to parasites. Have your water and forage tested for copper, molybdenum, sulfur, and iron — antagonists that reduce copper absorption. Copper boluses (e.g., Copasure) are often the most reliable delivery method for goats.

Selenium: A Geographically Critical Nutrient

Most of the Pacific Northwest, upper Midwest, and Northeast are selenium-deficient. Selenium deficiency causes white muscle disease (nutritional muscular dystrophy) in lambs and kids — they are born weak or die in the first weeks of life with stiff muscles and difficulty nursing. Selenium toxicity (selenosis) occurs in parts of the Great Plains and western states where soil levels are high. Have your forage selenium tested before supplementing. Injectable selenium/vitamin E (Bo-Se) given to does/ewes 3–4 weeks pre-partum is standard practice in deficient areas.

Vitamin D

Animals with limited sun exposure (housed livestock, heavily pigmented animals, winter in northern latitudes) can develop vitamin D deficiency. Supplementation is straightforward with vitamin AD&E injections or loose mineral that includes vitamin D3.

Body Condition Scoring (BCS)

Body condition scoring is the most practical nutritional monitoring tool available to small ruminant producers. Score your animals on a 1–5 scale (1 = emaciated, 5 = obese). Optimal BCS varies by production stage:

Production Stage	Target BCS (Goats)	Target BCS (Sheep)
Early pregnancy (first half)	2.5 – 3.0	2.5 – 3.0
Late pregnancy (last 6 weeks)	3.0 – 3.5	3.0 – 3.5
Peak lactation	2.5 – 3.0	2.5 – 3.0
Breeding (pre-flush)	2.75 – 3.25	3.0 – 3.5
Dry period	3.0 – 3.5	3.0 – 3.5

Score monthly, or every two weeks during late pregnancy. Catching a thin animal early allows nutritional intervention before metabolic disease sets in.

Pregnancy Toxemia (Ketosis)

Pregnancy toxemia — also called "twin lamb disease" or "pregnancy ketosis" — occurs in the last 2–3 weeks of gestation when fetal glucose demand exceeds maternal supply, particularly in does or ewes carrying multiple fetuses. Thin animals and overly fat animals are both at risk. Signs: depression, grinding teeth, star-gazing (neck extension), muscle tremors, blindness, inability to rise, coma, death.

Prevention is nutritional management: increase energy-dense feed (grain, corn) gradually over the last 6 weeks of pregnancy. Treat early cases with oral propylene glycol (60 mL for goats, 90 mL for sheep twice daily) plus B vitamins. Advanced cases require IV dextrose and intensive veterinary care. Delivery of the fetuses (induced or C-section) is sometimes the only way to save a severely affected animal.

Dental Health in Small Ruminants

Small ruminants have a dental pad (no upper front incisors) and four pairs of lower incisors. Their molar and premolar teeth (cheek teeth) are used for grinding fibrous feed and are prone to uneven wear, points, and wave mouth — particularly as animals age.

Age Determination by Teeth

Lower incisor teeth are the primary aging tool in small ruminants. Kids and lambs are born with temporary (baby) incisors. Permanent teeth erupt on a predictable schedule, allowing age estimation:

• Under 1 year: All 8 temporary incisors (small, narrow)
• 1–1.5 years: First pair of permanent central incisors (large, square)
• 1.5–2 years: Two pairs permanent
• 2.5–3 years: Three pairs permanent
• 3.5–4 years: Full mouth — all 4 pairs permanent
• 5+ years: Spreading, wearing, breaking — "broken mouth" after 6–8 years

Dental Problems and Management

"Broken mouth" ewes and does — animals with missing or broken incisors — have difficulty prehending and selecting feed, especially on dry summer pasture. They require preferential access to easier-to-eat feeds (short grass, hay, pellets) or early culling. Have your vet assess cheek teeth on animals losing weight despite adequate nutrition — molar points and wave mouth are easily corrected with a float and can significantly improve feed utilization in older animals.

Hoof Care: Trimming, Footbaths, and Common Problems

Regular hoof trimming is a cornerstone of small ruminant welfare and productivity. Overgrown hooves curl and trap moisture, debris, and manure, creating ideal conditions for foot rot and foot abscess. Lame animals cannot travel to forage efficiently, lose body condition, and have reduced reproductive success.

How Often to Trim

• Inspect hooves at least every 8–12 weeks
• Trim as needed — animals on soft, wet pasture and housed animals need more frequent trimming than animals on rocky, dry ground
• Always trim before breeding, before kidding/lambing season, and when purchasing or selling animals

Trimming Technique

1. Use sharp, clean hoof shears — dull shears crush rather than cut and cause stress injuries.
2. Trim the overgrown hoof wall back parallel to the coronary band, exposing the sole.
3. Pare the sole to a flat, slightly concave surface. The goal is a hoof that makes full, flat contact with the ground.
4. Do not trim into the pink "quick" — this causes pain and bleeding.
5. If you expose soft, discolored, or foul-smelling tissue, treat immediately with zinc sulfate footbath or consult your vet for antibiotic treatment.
6. Disinfect your shears between animals (10% bleach or zinc sulfate solution) to prevent spread of foot rot organisms.

Preventive Footbath Protocol

Zinc sulfate (10%) footbath — approximately 2 lb zinc sulfate per gallon of water — is the most effective and least environmentally problematic preventive footbath for small ruminants. Walk animals through a bath (deep enough to cover hooves) once or twice weekly during wet seasons, or every 4–6 weeks during dry conditions. Formaldehyde footbaths are effective but present worker safety and environmental concerns — many producers have moved away from them.

Hoof Abscess

A hoof abscess causes sudden, severe lameness — often complete non-weight-bearing on one leg with no obvious wound. The horse owner equivalent of "stone bruise." Palpate carefully for heat and pain localization. Your vet or experienced hoof trimmer can use a hoof knife to establish drainage, which provides immediate relief. Pack with gauze soaked in iodine and bandage. Most resolve within 3–5 days with drainage. Failure to improve suggests a deeper infection requiring veterinary antibiotic treatment.

Annual Health Calendar

A predictable, written health calendar prevents missed vaccinations, ensures consistent parasite monitoring, and aligns nutritional interventions with production stages. Below is a template for a spring-kidding/lambing operation — adjust timing to match your breeding and parturition dates.

Month(s)	Action	Notes
January – February	Pre-kidding/lambing prep: CD&T booster for all pregnant does/ewes (4–6 weeks before due date)	Maximizes passive immunity in colostrum
January – February	Selenium/vitamin E injection for does/ewes (if in deficient region)	3–4 weeks pre-partum
February – March	Kidding/lambing season: navel dip all newborns immediately; ensure colostrum intake within 30 min	7% iodine navel dip at birth; record birth weights and dam ID
February – March	Kid/lamb CD&T first dose at 6–8 weeks (if dam vaccinated), 2–3 weeks if dam not vaccinated	Record lot number and expiration
March – April	Kid/lamb CD&T booster (3–4 weeks after first dose)	Also: disbudding, castration, ear tags
April – May	Begin FAMACHA/FICA monitoring (every 2–4 weeks through October); first FEC of season	Peak parasite transmission begins as weather warms and moistens
May – June	Hoof trimming for entire herd/flock; foot rot treatment for any affected animals	Before turnout to summer pasture
June – July	FAMACHA/FICA monitoring continues; treat only animals scoring 4–5 or meeting FICA criteria	Peak barber pole worm season; hottest, wettest months are highest risk
August – September	Pre-breeding BCS assessment; "flushing" — increase plane of nutrition 2–3 weeks before breeding	Flushing increases ovulation rate and twinning percentage
September – October	Annual CD&T booster for does and ewes; buck/ram breeding soundness exam (BSE)	Breeding season; last heavy parasite monitoring
October – November	Annual CAE/OPP testing (if running a clean program); CL serology if applicable	Quarantine and test any new additions before integration
November – December	Hoof trimming second round; begin winter feeding transition to increased energy	Increase dietary energy in late pregnancy; prevent ketosis
Year-round	Fresh water daily; check mineral feeders weekly; monthly BCS; record all treatments and deaths	Maintain accurate flock health records for VCPR and production tracking

Biosecurity: Protecting Your Flock from New Disease Introduction

The single most effective biosecurity measure is a 30-day quarantine for all new animals, regardless of source. During quarantine:

• House animals completely separate — different airspace if possible, certainly different pasture and no shared fence contact
• Use separate feeding and watering equipment
• Test for CAE/OPP, CL serology, Johne's disease (MAP), and tuberculosis (in some regions)
• Treat for internal parasites with two classes of dewormer (if indicated by FEC) and allow a 24-hour post-treatment hold in a dry lot before introducing to pasture — this allows parasite eggs to pass before contaminating your land
• Hoof trim and treat for foot rot if indicated
• Vaccinate per your flock protocol

Johne's disease (Paratuberculosis) deserves special mention. Caused by Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP), it causes chronic, incurable diarrhea and wasting, primarily in cattle but also small ruminants. Once introduced to a farm, it is extremely difficult to eradicate. Test all purchased adults. Do not buy from flocks without a Johne's testing program.

Neonatal Care: The Critical First 24 Hours

More small ruminant mortality occurs in the first 24 hours of life than at any other time. The causes are primarily hypothermia, failure of passive transfer (inadequate colostrum), and dystocia-related trauma. A focused protocol reduces these losses dramatically.

Immediate Post-Birth Protocol

1. Ensure the dam is licking the kid/lamb — stimulates circulation and helps the neonate stand. If the dam is not interested, rub the neonate vigorously with a rough towel.
2. Dip the navel immediately in 7% iodine. Do not spray — dip into a small cup to ensure full coverage. Repeat in 6 hours. This prevents navel ill (omphalophlebitis), a common and serious cause of joint ill and death in neonates.
3. Ensure the neonate nurses within the first 30–60 minutes. Observe for a vigorous, productive suckle. If the kid or lamb has not nursed on its own within 2 hours, assist it to the teat or tube-feed colostrum.
4. Colostrum target: 10% of body weight within the first 24 hours — split into at least 3–4 feedings. A 6 lb (2.7 kg) kid needs approximately 270 mL of colostrum per feeding, four times in the first 24 hours.
5. Take birth weight — this is your baseline. Kids or lambs that lose more than 10% of birth weight in the first 48 hours are not receiving adequate nutrition.
6. Check for obvious defects: underbite, cleft palate (a kid that blows bubbles from the nose while nursing has a cleft palate), extra teats, angular limb deformities.

Failure of Passive Transfer

Immunoglobulins (IgG) from colostrum are absorbed through the gut wall only during the first 24 hours of life — the "window of absorption" closes as the intestinal epithelium matures. Kids and lambs that don't receive adequate colostrum are immunologically naive and susceptible to every pathogen in their environment: enterotoxemia, septicemia, joint ill, meningitis.

If colostrum is unavailable (first-freshener dam with no milk, dam that dies, or rejection), use:

• Frozen colostrum from a known-negative doe or ewe on the same farm (pooled frozen colostrum bank)
• Commercial colostrum replacement products — note the difference between "colostrum replacers" (contain IgG) and "colostrum supplements" (add IgG to insufficient colostrum, not adequate alone)
• Colostrum from a healthy cow — bovine colostrum provides some passive protection for small ruminants, though species-specific IgG is more effective

Record Keeping: The Foundation of a Well-Managed Flock

Comprehensive health and production records allow you to identify problem animals, track breeding performance, monitor parasite trends, comply with food safety regulations, and provide your veterinarian with the information they need to give you good advice. Minimum records for each animal should include:

• Unique ID (ear tag, tattoo, or microchip)
• Birth date, dam, sire, birth weight
• Vaccination dates, products, lot numbers, and who administered
• Deworming dates, product, dose, FAMACHA score at treatment, and FEC if done
• Illness events and treatments (product, dose, route, duration, withdrawal time)
• Kidding/lambing history: dates, number born, birth weights, survival
• BCS scores at key production stages
• CAE/OPP and CL test dates and results

Many producers use simple spreadsheets or low-cost apps (Farmbrite, Herd Manager, or even a laminated clipboard in the barn) to manage records. The most important thing is consistency — records only help if they are filled in real-time, not reconstructed from memory.

Find a Large Animal Vet Near You

Everything in this guide depends on having a veterinarian who knows your animals, your operation, and your local disease landscape. A large animal vet can build a customized vaccination and parasite control protocol for your flock, perform Johne's and CAE testing, respond to emergencies at all hours, and be the most valuable partner on your farm.

FarmVetGuide is the most comprehensive directory of large animal veterinarians in the United States. Search by county to find vets who treat goats, sheep, and other livestock, with filters for mobile/farm-call service, emergency availability, USDA accreditation, and more. Don't wait for an emergency — find your vet today and establish a VCPR before you need it most.

• Find goat vets near you
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• Find emergency large animal vets
• Find USDA accredited veterinarians

Frequently Asked Questions

How often do I need to deworm my goats and sheep?

Under the current Targeted Selective Treatment (TST) approach, you should deworm animals only when individual clinical indicators — particularly FAMACHA anemia score, body condition, coat quality, and fecal soiling — suggest a significant parasite burden. Calendar-based "deworm the whole flock" approaches have led to widespread anthelmintic resistance and should be abandoned. In practice, some animals in a well-managed flock may not need deworming for an entire season; others may need it multiple times. Get FAMACHA-certified and run periodic fecal egg counts to guide treatment decisions.

What is the difference between CAE and OPP?

Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE) virus and Ovine Progressive Pneumonia (OPP, also called Maedi-Visna) are caused by closely related lentiviruses — CAE in goats and OPP in sheep. Both cause lifelong infection, progressive multi-system disease, no vaccine, and no cure. Both are transmitted primarily through colostrum and milk. Control requires annual testing, segregation of positive animals, and in premium herds, a kid/lamb-separation program using heat-treated colostrum. Do not introduce animals from untested sources.

Is caseous lymphadenitis (CL) contagious to humans?

Yes — CL is zoonotic. Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis can cause ulcerative lymphadenitis in humans through skin wounds or mucous membrane exposure. Always wear gloves when handling CL abscesses. Never open an abscess without containment. Double-bag and burn or bury all abscess contents. Disinfect tools and the area with 10% bleach. If you develop an unexplained skin infection or tender swollen lymph node after handling a CL abscess, see your physician.

How do I prevent pregnancy toxemia in my does and ewes?

Prevention is entirely nutritional. In the last 6 weeks of pregnancy, the metabolic energy demand from developing fetuses — especially multiples — rises dramatically. Increase the plane of nutrition gradually: add 0.25 lb grain per head per day per week, reaching 0.5–0.75 lb per head daily by parturition. Provide unlimited high-quality hay and monitor body condition weekly. Animals carrying triplets or quadruplets are at highest risk and may need individual supplementation. Avoid sudden dietary changes. Do not allow animals to become thin before the last trimester — weight gain at that stage cannot compensate for a thin body going into late pregnancy.

My wether goat is straining but won't urinate — what should I do?

This is a urinary obstruction emergency. Call your vet immediately — do not wait. Urinary calculi (stones) blocking the urethra are common in male wethers on grain-heavy diets. Complete obstruction leads to bladder rupture within 24–36 hours. The sooner your vet can intervene, the better the prognosis. While you wait: keep the animal calm and quiet to reduce straining; do not give additional water or food; note when you first observed the straining. Time is critical.

What vaccines do my goats absolutely need every year?

The CD&T vaccine — protecting against Clostridium perfringens types C and D (enterotoxemia) and Clostridium tetani (tetanus) — is the only vaccine considered universally essential for all goats and sheep in the US by AASRP. All other vaccines (CL, rabies, soremouth, footrot, Pasteurella) are optional based on risk. Does and ewes should receive their annual CD&T booster 4–6 weeks before parturition to maximize colostral antibody protection for offspring. Kids from vaccinated dams should receive their first dose at 6–8 weeks of age, followed by a booster 3–4 weeks later.

How do I build a CAE-negative herd from a CAE-positive one?

It requires patience and consistency over 2–4 years. The foundational strategy: remove kids immediately at birth before nursing, feed them heat-treated colostrum (56°C / 133°F for 60 minutes) or CAE-negative colostrum, and bottle-raise them on pasteurized goat milk or milk replacer. Test all kids at 6 months and annually thereafter. Segregate positive adults completely — different pasture, no shared water, different feeding equipment. Over successive kid crops, with rigorous testing and no new positive introductions, you will achieve a negative herd. Maintain clean status by purchasing only tested-negative animals and quarantining all additions.

Related Articles & Resources

📖 Related Guides

• Sheep Lambing Guide
• Goat Kidding Problems & Solutions
• Goat Parasite Control: FAMACHA & Dewormers
• Sheep Vaccination Schedule

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