How to use this tool

How to use this tool

Disclaimer

At the time this guide was drafted, the information it contained was considered representative of the goat health situation in Quebec. Certain diseases were excluded from this guide. The reader is entirely responsible for the use of this tool. Because certain information may have significantly evolved since this tool was drafted, we invite readers to verify the information’s exact nature with their veterinarian before using and applying it. Moreover, certain diagnoses may be more or less frequent from one operation to the next. As such, this guide should be used after consulting with the veterinarian in charge of the herd. If one or more disorders are observed in several subjects within the same herd, we recommend consulting the veterinarian in charge of the herd.

Where to start

Good observation of the animal’s clinical signs is required to select the proper decision tree. These signs will allow you to orient yourself well through the trees and quickly and easily answer their various questions. The animal’s temperature should always be taken before consulting a tree.

First step: Taking the animal’s temperature

The first thing to do to evaluate a goat’s health is taking its rectal temperature. A goat’s temperature is said to be normal between 38°C and 40°C. If the temperature of a goat or kid is above 40°C, there is fever. The animal’s temperature can however vary based on the temperature outdoors, for example when it’s hot out. That’s why body temperature on its own cannot lead to a diagnosis.

Which tree to use?

Once a visual examination is performed and the animal’s temperature has been taken, you must determine which tree can help in establishing a diagnosis. To do so, select the system (nutritional and metabolic, neurological, respiratory, digestive, mammary, reproductive, ocular, locomotor, or cutaneous) that best corresponds to the goat’s clinical signs. More than one tree may be necessary depending on the animal’s clinical signs. Answer the tree’s questions. If you believe another decision tree is required, use it as well. This will allow you to have another diagnosis in case of treatment failure or should the disease evolve.

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When a box contains several questions, one “yes” answer to any of these questions suffices to proceed to the “yes” option.

To help you pick the right decision tree, you can also refer to the index of symptoms on the following pages. Several terms are also listed and defined in the glossary at the end of the guide.

Finally, it’s important to remember that this guide is only intended to help establish a differential diagnosis. The final diagnosis should be validated by a veterinarian. Your veterinarian will then be able to provide informed advice adapted to your operation to establish a disease-treatment protocol or provide complementary diagnostic tests. Later on, if need be, your veterinarian can also draft and implement a disease-prevention protocol.

Legend of symbols used

Consult your veterinarian

Zoonosis (risk of transmission to humans)

Review the list of observed symptoms

Reportable disease in Canada

Immediately notifiable disease in Canada

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