Have you ever been around a goat and it suddenly fell over or collapsed?
Maybe you saw a video of a goat stiffening up and falling on the internet and you wanted to know to why this happened.
Fainting goats, technically called Myotonic goats, are actually more common than you would think and have recently gained a lot of popularity online as funny and quirky pets.
What exactly is it that causes them to faint, what age do they start to faint, should you be worried if your goat starts to faint, and is it harmful for goats to faint?
We are going to explore all of these questions and more in this article as we dive deeper into the topic of why goats faint.
Let’s get into it!
What causes goats to faint?
Fainting goats are also known as wooden-leg or stiff-leg goats, while their technical name is actually Myotonic goats.
The fact that these goats faint is actually a misconception as they technically don’t faint.
What is actually happening is that the goats are stiffening up and falling over sideways.
These goats stiffen up, or ‘faint’, when startled or shocked due to a hereditary/genetic condition known as myotonia congenita.
Myotonic congenita is a condition that affects the muscles that your goat uses for movement, and results in a delayed relaxation effect of the muscles which manifests as stiffness in the legs when your goat is startled or overexcited.
This condition affects not only goats but also affects other animals and sometimes humans as well.
At what age do goats start fainting?
Tennessee fainting goats can start fainting only a few months after being born.
Since the condition is hereditary/genetic it can start happening immediately and only requires the goats to become startled or overexcited to take effect.
Don’t be alarmed if your kid suddenly stiffens up and falls over, this is perfectly normal for this breed of goat.
Younger goats are more likely to fall over but as they get older, they become less prone to fainting and are even able to avoid falling over altogether.
This could be due to simply getting accustomed to the sensation over time or because, as they got older, they become more secure and confident in their surroundings and, as a result, startle less easily.
While their muscles still stiffen up and freeze, they are able to keep themselves upright and prevent themselves from falling until the event is over.
What breed of goat faints?
Not all breeds of goats are fainting goats. The breed of goat most known for ‘fainting’ is the Tennessee fainting goat and it has become famous on the internet due to various ‘fainting goat’ videos.
The Tennessee fainting goat is one of the few goats native to North America and is typically bred for its meat rather than milk (it can be milked, however, when lactating).
When these goats ‘faint’ they are practically helpless and are at the mercy of their surroundings until the stiffness in their muscles wears off.
Luckily, this condition doesn’t last very long, and your goats are able to recover very quickly.
Do pygmy goats faint?
No, Pygmy goats do not faint.
They do not possess the genetic condition that makes the Tennessee fainting goat fall over.
Furthermore, the gene that causes these goats to fall over is regressive.
This means that even if the goats are cross bred with other goats it is unlikely that this condition will manifest in the new breed.
Pygmy goats are still fun and interesting goats despite this though and make excellent pets nonetheless!
Do fainting goats make good pets?
Yes, fainting goats make excellent pets!
They are fun and exciting to be around and provide loads of entertainment.
They are also some of the smallest goats available, similar in size to Pygmy goats and Nigerian dwarf goats and are easy to keep in enclosures.
They are also able to be trained and, once you get accustomed to dealing with the fainting, are actually very easy to manage and care for.
They have a gentle, mild-mannered temperament and are quiet and docile making them excellent goats to keep as pets.
Should you be worried if your goat starts fainting?
The answer to this question is no, there is no need for you to be concerned if your goat faints.
Your goat is perfectly healthy clinically speaking.
All that is happening is your goat’s legs are stiffening up due to being startled or overexcited which gives the illusion of fainting.
They also recover very quickly from the event so there is no need to worry.
Is fainting harmful to fainting goats?
No, the ‘fainting’ is perfectly safe and doesn’t affect aversely the goat in any way.
Due to it being a genetic condition, your goat can’t help but fall over but rest assured this is perfectly normal and your goat isn’t harmed in any way.
Your goat is actually conscious during the event and is perfectly aware of what is going on the entire time.
How long do fainting goats faint for?
When fainting goats faint it usually lasts about five – twenty seconds.
After this time, they are able to get straight back up and continue on their day as if nothing had happened.
The length of time spent immobile varies between each goat and can also depend on how startled or excited they are. Either way, they are fine and there is nothing to worry about.
What is the best way to care for fainting goats?
Other than their particular quirk, fainting goats are no different than your typical goat.
They are similar to Pygmy goats and Nigerian dwarf goats and, whether you are keeping them as pets or for their meat, they can be taking care of in the same way.
They need to be provided with enough space to roam around in and as well as being provided with a balanced diet containing all of the vitamins and minerals they require.
These goats don’t tend to climb as much due to their personality, so they are easier to care for than most goats and their enclosures don’t need to be as high or heavy duty.
They are still goats, however, and are escape artists so proper care should still be taken!
How can you tell if your goat is a fainting goat?
It is pretty easy to determine whether your goat is a fainting goat or not.
If your goat is constantly fainting when startled but recovers quickly within a few seconds, then you can be confident that you goat suffers from myotonia congenita and is a fainting goat.
If however, your goat faints or falls over and doesn’t get up within ten to twenty seconds then you should get it checked as this may not be myotonia congenita and may be something more serious.
This condition isn’t deadly and is actually quite normal for certain breeds of goat. If, however, your goat doesn’t have a history of fainting or falling, and this suddenly occurs then there may be another issue taking place.
Can humans be affected by myotonia congenita?
The answer to this question is yes, humans can also be affected by this condition.
Myotonia congenita affects a whole host of animals and, while less common, can affect humans as well.
In humans it causes delayed muscle relaxation and is typically provoked/ caused by sudden movements after resting.
Myotonia congenita manifests itself in humans during early to late childhood and does not progress.
This means that someone who suffers from this condition is still able to live a long and fulfilled life and is even able to excel at sports where strength is more valuable or important than speed and agility.
There is also medicine to help treat this condition, however, and some people even do physical therapy in order to manage the symptoms of the condition.
Final thoughts
Fainting goats are an interesting breed of goat and have been gaining popularity online due to being a fun and quirky pet.
For those that aren’t aware of the reasons for their ‘fainting’ it can seem like a serious or dangerous condition, but the fact of the matter is that it is harmless to the goat and is simply a genetic disorder that causes them to become stiff and fall over when startled or over-excited.
These goats are gentle and mild-mannered and, as a result, make excellent pets. They are also bred for their meat as they have strong muscles. This means that, despite their condition, they are able to live regular lives and are essentially no different from other goats.