⚠️ 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.
Lice / mange / skin irritation in goats, cows, horses and donkeys
Should I call the vet?
Typical signs: Itching, rubbing, hair loss, rough coat, often in winter.
Call your vet now if you see
- Severe hair loss or open sores
- Anemia (pale gums/eyelids)
- Weight loss
What you can do
- Part hair and look with a magnifier/flashlight.
- Treat the whole group with a labeled product; repeat per label for hatching eggs.
- Clean bedding; improve nutrition.
When to call the vet
If severe, anemic, or not responding.
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 |
Horse
| Vital | Normal | Concerning |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 99.0–101.5 °F | Over 102 °F or under 98 °F |
| Heart rate | 28–44 /min | Over 60 at rest |
| Respiration | 10–24 /min | Over 30 or labored |
| Gums / CRT | Moist pink, refill < 2 s | Pale, white, dark red, purple, tacky |
| Gut sounds | Gurgles both sides | Silent |
| Hydration | Skin pinch back in 1–2 s | Tents > 2–3 s |
Donkey
| Vital | Normal | Concerning |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 98.0–100.5 °F (37–38 °C) | Over 101.5 °F |
| Heart rate | 36–68 /min | Over 70 at rest |
| Respiration | 12–28 /min | Over 30 or labored |
| Gums / CRT | Moist pink, refill < 2 s | Pale, dark, tacky |
| Gut sounds | Present both sides | Silent |
| Behavior | Alert, eating | Dull or not eating = urgent (hyperlipemia risk) |
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 · Horse records · Donkey records · Parasites & toxic plants by state
Other goat topics
- Minor cuts & scrapes
- Rain rot / rain scald
- Eye irritation
- Bloat
- Parasites (worms / anemia)
- Diarrhea (scours)
- Foot rot / foot scald / overgrown hooves
- Enterotoxemia (overeating) warning signs
- Urinary stones (male goats/steers)
- Sore mouth (orf)
- 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.
Free to start. No card needed.