⚠️ Not veterinary advice. This guide is for education on minor issues only. If you are unsure, or your animal is in pain, call your veterinarian. In an emergency, call immediately.
Diarrhea (scours) in goats and cows
Should I call the vet?
Typical signs: Loose manure, soiled tail; animal still bright and drinking.
Call your vet now if you see
- Kid/calf weak, cold or not nursing
- Blood in manure
- Sunken eyes, dehydrated
- Fever or rapid decline
What you can do
- Separate and keep warm, dry.
- Oral electrolytes between milk feedings (young) or free-choice (adults).
- Remove recent feed changes; offer good hay.
- Fecal test for coccidia/worms.
When to call the vet
Same day for kids/calves or any call-now sign; else if not better in 24–48 h.
Normal adult vital signs (at rest)
Goat
| Vital | Normal | Concerning |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 101.5–103.5 °F | Over 104 °F or under 100 °F |
| Heart rate | 70–90 /min | Over 110 at rest |
| Respiration | 12–20 /min (higher in heat) | Open-mouth breathing |
| Rumen | 1–2 contractions/min (left side) | None, or left side tight like a drum |
| FAMACHA (eyelid) | Red–pink (score 1–2) | Pale pink/white (4–5) = anemia |
| Manure | Firm pellets | Diarrhea, clumps, none |
Cow
| Vital | Normal | Concerning |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 100.4–102.8 °F | Over 103.5 °F or under 100 °F |
| Heart rate | 48–84 /min (calves 100–120) | Over 100 at rest (adult) |
| Respiration | 26–50 /min | Labored, open-mouth, grunting |
| Rumen | 1–2 contractions/min | None, or left side swollen |
| Cud chewing | Chews cud ~8 h/day | Stopped chewing cud |
| Hydration | Skin tent < 2 s; eyes not sunken | Sunken eyes, skin tents > 4 s |
Young animals differ. Learn each animal's healthy baseline and record it.
More from Should I Call the Vet?
All 51 topics · Goat records · Cattle records · Parasites & toxic plants by state
Other goat topics
- Minor cuts & scrapes
- Rain rot / rain scald
- Eye irritation
- Bloat
- Parasites (worms / anemia)
- Foot rot / foot scald / overgrown hooves
- Enterotoxemia (overeating) warning signs
- Urinary stones (male goats/steers)
- Sore mouth (orf)
- Lice / mange / skin irritation
- Polio (thiamine deficiency) warning signs
- Mild mastitis
- Pinkeye
- Mild cough / respiratory (calves, kids)
- Milk fever / ketosis around calving/kidding
- Heat stress
Keep every record in one place
Herd Papers keeps vaccines, Coggins, vet and farrier visits, weight and body condition for each animal, and reminds you before things come due.
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