Taking a Goat's Temperature:How and Why

Temperature. It is a good idea to take your goat’s temperature when they are well and keep it written down somewhere. This is because each goat, just like people, may not have a classic textbook ‘normal’ baseline temperature. Two of my children are like me, and run at 98.6. But, my middle child takes after my husband and runs a degree below…his normal temperature is 97.6. So…if I take their temperature and they are 98.6…they are probably running a fever. And while a fever of 101 in me or my other two children is uncomfortable and warrants watching…I am not too hyper about it. In my middle child or husband though, I know they are really unwell at 101! They feel terrible.

To take a goat’s temperature, you will need a medical thermometer. I personally like digital thermometers, as they are inexpensive and give a quick, accurate reading that is easy to see on the LCD display. It is easiest to put the goat on a milk stand with some feed to occupy one end while you are at the other end. Goat temperatures are taken rectally. If a milk stand is not available, you can tie the goat to something sturdy or have another person hold their head. Apply K-Y jelly or petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to the tip of the thermometer. Grasp the goat's tail gently but firmly to get it out of the way, and then gently push the tip of the thermometer into the goat’s rectum about ½ to ¾ of an inch. Hold it in place until the digital thermometer beeps, and then remove the thermometer. You can tell the goat what their temperature is, but you will still not be on their favorite person list for a little while! Clean the thermometer before using an another goat or putting it away. And…write down the temperature, soon, in a place you can find easily, like a folder devoted to that goat’s care and treatments. Knowing their normal baseline temperature will help diagnose illnesses that may crop up in the future, as some illnesses cause their temperature to drop, while others cause their temperature to rise. Having the baseline could be a valuable piece of information, but you can only get it when your goat is well.