THE GOAT FARM

SYMPTOMS:

Bloat is air trapped in the rumen causing it to expand. One major tell tale sign of bloat is an expanded rumen. You will notice a large bulge on the left side where the rumen is located. It can sometimes look as though the goat has swallowed a soccer ball. The goat might also kick at their belly and grind their teeth. In my experience one of the first signs of bloat is the loss of appetite.

CAUSES:

There are 2 main causes of bloat in goats. The first is an obstruction or blockage in the goats esophagus. They might have swallowed something large they cannot get down. You should be able to feel the obstruction in the throat if that’s the case.

The second major cause for bloat in goats is consumption of inappropriate food or diet change. Usually this can happen if your goat gets into soluble carbohydrates, grain being the biggest culprit. Early spring clover and other weeds can also cause an overload in the rumen leading to bloat. Also changing a goat’s diet, specifically grain, can shift the pH levels in the rumen, killing off microbes used to break down the food, leaving only “bad” microbes. Foam can also form blocking the esophagus and keeping gas from escaping causing bloat.

TREATMENT:

For an obstruction in the goats esophagus, the best thing to do is to see if you can work the object down the throat. If the object is hard, don’t attempt this, you could end up causing more damage.

Mineral oil is a popular treatment, it can help deal with some of the foam so that the goat can belch to get the gas out themselves. Keep the goat away from grain and slowly reintroduce it. Another treatment and one I have used before is baking soda. Mixing baking soda with some water and drenching the goat can help break up some of the gases building up. I keep baking soda in a mineral feeder in the barn for this exact reason. Goats that have an upset stomach will naturally lick at the baking soda if it is there. Call the vet if the bloat continues, they have other options to help ease bloat in goats.