Goat Respiratory Signs

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Signs of respiratory diseases include increased respiratory rate, labored breathing, rapid tiring, abnormal sounds associated with breathing, nasal discharge, coughing or fever.  If respiratory disease is suspected, additional herd history will be helpful in directing the diagnostic efforts. You should always consider recent purchases or boarding of animals or attendance at shows where possible introduction of infectious diseases may have occurred.  

The normal respiratory rate at rest is approximately 10 to 30 breaths per minute or 20 to 40 for kids. Many seriously ill goats have an increased respiratory rate because of metabolic disturbances or pain.

Possible problems with respiratory problems

• Difficulty in breathing
  • Anemia
  • Pregnancy toxemia, ketosis
  • Rumen acidosis
  • Bloat
  • Heatstroke
  • Nasal obstruction such as tumor or foreign body
  • Tuberculosis
  • Lungworms
  • Inhalation pneumonia
• Coughing
  • Dusty or moldy hay
  • Ammonia and other fumes
  • Chronic progressive pneumonia
  • Abscessed retropharyngeal lymph node
  • Pasteurellosis
  • Lungworms
  • Cryptococcosis
• Nasal discharge
  • Nose bots
  • Powdery feeds
  • Irritant fumes
  • Nasal adenoma
  • Respiratory syncytial virus
  • Pulmonary adenomatosis
  • Mycoplasma infections
  • Pasteurellosis
  • Melioidosis
  • Cryptococcosis