Goat Lice... A Common Problem!

Goat Lice

Lice are a common parasite found on goats, usually (but not necessarily!) in winter. Look along the goat's back, ruffling the hair backwards while looking for the insect or the nits. The lice themselves are easiest seen on a light-colored goat, while the nits can be easily seen on dark-haired goats. I think goats with a fluffy undercoat seem to harbor more lice than those with without. These lice are not going to infest humans, but will happily infest other goats! We have dealt with them on our goats occasionally, and to treat them we simply dust them liberally with Sevin dust. A few lice are no big deal, but severe long-term cases can result in anemia, or even death, usually because the goat is already in a weakened state and if anything else goes wrong, they don’t have much in the way of strength to fight.

If you have a goat that scratches a lot, whose hair looks ‘off’…not laying down flat ,wispy-looking, broke hairs shafts, or patchy…or a goat that is just not doing well…always check for lice. Also, if you get a new goat…it may be a good idea to treat them to be on the safe side, unless you absolutely know the breeders and their farming practices. And…if you loan your buck out to breed, or transport your does out to be bred…consider treating them. As I said, I use Sevin Dust, but there are other methods of killing goat lice, some more natural, some more toxic. Sevin Dust is definitely toxic, but breaks down quickly. You can talk to your vet, breeders, and even your local health food store to find the option that is right for you.

Goat lice are very common, but sometimes overlooked. It’s a good idea to get in the habit of checking for them even if you don’t think you have a problem. I try to check my goats when I trim their hooves or do other maintenance on them, and I have a habit of checking other people’s goats as well when I come in contact with them. That isn’t one of my hobbies listed on Facebook though! :)