Caring for Elderly Goats

Tamsin Cooper highlights the changes needed to housing and healthcare

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Healthy goats may live for 12-18 years (or even longer). If we recognise the changing needs of older goats, we can avoid or alleviate age-related conditions.

KEEPING HEALTHY

Goats pass their prime once they reach eight or nine years old. Fertility will drop and females should not risk pregnancy beyond ten years old. From now on, their immune system will be less effective, and they become more susceptible to disease and parasite overload.

To keep healthy, they need more regular check-ups to catch early signs of illness or parasitism. Hooves need more regular trimming as the goat becomes less active, and wear may become uneven. Lateonset chronic diseases may already show signs during younger years and will become more pronounced in later years. Although rare, malignant tumours have been found in aged goats.

OSTEOARTHRITIS AND POOR MOBILITY

Osteoarthritis is common in goats over ten years of age (younger for goats who have suffered bone trauma, malformation, or have CAE). The ‘knee’ clicking we frequently hear in adult goats’ carpal joints may not necessarily lead to osteoarthritis. It is simply air bubbles popping and is totally normal. Arthritic joints are enlarged and normally affect gait and activity level. If one limb is affected, the goat may frequently raise that limb. If all limbs or the spine are affected, you may only be aware of decreased activity and unwillingness to rise or walk. Fast or uneven growth of hoof and sole are also signs of pain when walking.