Staph Infections in Goats: How to Treat and Are They Contagious?

My goats did it again! Well, one of them anyway.

I mentioned in this article: Lice in Goats that my goats LOVE being the star of the show and love to help me help you learn about all kinds of goat stuff.

So here we are. My goat, Fiona, has a staph infection. And if you’re here reading this…your goat probably also has a staph infection.

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This is the first time in 11 years that I’ve ever had this problem. But as I said, they are so helpful and just want to help.

So let’s dive into what you need to know about staph infections in goats and what you need to do about the staph infection your goat has.

Staph Infections in Goats

How Common are Staph Infections in Goats?

First of all, know that this is very common. You don’t need to beat yourself up over it happening to your goat. But it is something that you’ll want to get under control pretty quickly or it can get out of control.

It usually isn’t a huge health concern. But it’s important to note that it can be contagious to yourself and to other goats. And like I just said if it gets out of control it then will affect their health.

This is something that you’ll have to be patient about. It can take weeks to clear up.

It’s also important to note that it can be hard to distinguish between some of the skin issues a goat may have. There are quite of few of them that can range from mites to fungus, bacterial, parasitic, and viral and it may be wise to check with your vet to get a confirmed diagnosis of what your goat is dealing with and how to treat it quickly and effectively.

A Treatment Plan for Staph Infections

This treatment plan is all laid out as a bonus in My Goat Binder, along with a pneumonia, anemia, CL, bloat, poisoning. Get it now!

So, does your goat have a staph infection? Let’s look at some pictures of staph infections in goats

Many times a staph infection can be found under the tail.

If left untreated staph infections came become open wounds.

Many times, staph looks like little white pimples on the goats udder and teets.

It’s best to get staph treated quickly. It can spread to on the goat, to other goats and to yourself.

More examples of what staph can look like under a goat’s tail.

Find out below how you can stop this issue in your goat herd! It’s fairly simple to take care of!

Sores, Bumps, and Pimples on Goat’s Udder: Goat Udder Problems

As you can see, there are usually a lot of little sores, almost like a pimple on your goat’s udder. These little bumps can have pus in them that will need to be removed. They can hinder milking and kids from sucking if they get too bad. And it can just look downright ugly on your goat’s backside.

These bumps can appear on the udder, teats, under the tail as little white dots, and can have sores around the vulva or anus of your goat. It can also spread to other areas of your goat as well on their underside and even on their neck.

But let’s answer the question: Why Did My Goat Get a Staph Infection?

Well, usually a staph infection will come upon your goat when the conditions are really wet. Did you have a wet spring this year? That may be the culprit.

Is the area outside of your barn where they lay down or inside your barn, really wet from rain or urine? That can cause this problem as well.

And if your goat recently had kids, then her immune system is weakened as well so it’s harder for her to fight off worms and other ailments, fungus, and bacteria that may be presented to her body.

You may also have brought home a goat and that goat transferred this to your goats. That’s one more reason it’s really important to quarantine any new goat that you bring home.

How to Treat Staph Infections in Goats

If you are certain that you are dealing with a staph infection, then this is what you need to do.

When my goat had staph this is what I did to get it all treated and cleared up…

1. Trim/clip the hair on the udder

2. Clean the udder and affected area really well (wear gloves). Use Chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) to clean the area.You can find it at most drug stores. Remove scabs and open puss areas to drain. Follow the missing instructions on the bottle.

3. Use an antibiotic cream after cleaning. (Contact vet for best option)

4. Clean the area with Chlorhexidine 1 to 2 times a day

5. If the infected goat is in milk, milk that goat last so that the infection isn’t passed onto other goats.

6. Use a post teat dip, to prevent any infection entering into the udder and causing mastitis issues.

7. And always have good milking procedures! This will keep your goats clean, your milk clean and everyone who drinks it, much happier!

8. Consider giving long-lasting Benzathine Penicilin for 5 consecutive days if it doesn’t seem to be getting better (5 cc’s per 100 pounds body weight sub-cutaneously over the ribs with an 18 gauge needle.) Thankfully, my goat didn’t require this.

9. After antibiotics are finished give her probios to replenish her gut flora and support her immune system during this time.

10. Clean the bedding and barn areas and let them dry out well and often

11. Work towards improving your goat’s immune system all through the year. The healthier they are, the better able they are to fight and keep infections at bay!

Are Staph Infections in Goat’s Contagious?

Remember, this is contagious to your other goats and to yourself. So be careful as you clean up and watch your other goats too for any signs of infection.

Conclusion

Staph infections in goats is common and it’s not a death sentence. You can quickly and easily treat it! Always pay attention to your goats. Keep an eye on the web of their tail, teets, udder and face. Have these ingredients on hand and take care of your goats!