If you are a pet owner or you own livestock, then you already know all about fleas.
Many animals get fleas, and they can be very annoying to deal with.
Recently, I have been thinking about getting a goat and this topic came to mind as I thought about all the things I would have to deal with as a new goat owner.
But is it even possible for goats to get fleas?
Well, I have done the research and am excited to share it with you today.
So, without wasting any more time, let’s answer the question “can goats get fleas?”
But what exactly are fleas, what are some typical symptoms you should look out for, how exactly do you treat/get rid of them, and is it possible to prevent them from attacking your goats?
We are going to answer all of these questions and more as we dive deeper into the topic of can goats get fleas.
Let’s get into it!
What are fleas?
Fleas are wingless blood-sucking insects that can infest and affect goats and many other types of livestock.
They are found all over the world and exist in all types of climates.
They are, however, most active during the summer months.
Fleas, like other ectoparasites, can cause many negative and painful effects for your goats and can make life very uncomfortable and difficult for them.
Fleas can cause intense itching and scratching and, in severe cases, can result in wounds being formed that become infected.
Other impacts include weight loss and a reduction in milk production for female goats.
Can goats get fleas from dogs?
The answer to this question is yes, goats can get fleas from dogs.
Fleas affect many animals around the world including cats, dogs, and different forms of livestock.
Fleas can be easily transmitted from your dog to your goats especially if they are constantly in close contact, such as a herd dog for example.
How to tell if your goat has fleas
Fleas can make life very uncomfortable for your goats and their presence can result in a great deal of pain.
There are some tell-tale signs you can look out for to tell whether or not your goat is experiencing discomfort or is being affected by fleas or other ectoparasites.
These signs include:
Restlessness
Intense scratching or itching
Coat or skin damage
Patches on the skin
Excessive rubbing
The signs of a flea infestation vary and depend on the type of flea that is causing the symptoms as different fleas affect different locations on your goat’s body.
That being said, fleas can attach themselves to all parts of your goat’s body and there are a lot of similar symptoms across the various types of fleas.
Different types of fleas
There are over 2000 species of fleas that have been characterized around the world. In this section, we will look at the types of fleas that impact goats the most.
Ctenocephalides felis
This type of flea, also known as the cat flea, is one of the most common types of fleas and affects goats as well as pets and humans.
Female cat fleas are very good at reproducing and are able to lay 25 eggs per day per month.
This makes them very hard to get rid of and extremely contagious creating a very high density of fleas on your goat in a relatively short amount of time.
This large number of fleas can result in many negative results developing such as anemia.
Echidnophaga gallinacean
This type of flea, also known as the sticktight flea, is one of the more painful fleas your goat can get as it firmly attaches to your goat’s face and ears.
Sticktight fleas can remain attached to your goat for as long as two to three weeks and is able to reproduce at a high rate.
As the number and population of this flea continue to increase, they can cause the development of extremely painful ulcers on both the head and ears of your goat.
It is important to get this treated as early as possible.
How to get rid of fleas on your goat
If you suspect that one or more of your goats has fleas, or you notice any of the precursor symptoms begin to develop you should take action immediately and should contact your vet.
There are, however, some home remedies that you can use to help treat your goat.
The type of treatment that you ultimately choose to use, however, will depend on the intensity of the situation and the age of the goat. Always consult with your vet before starting any treatments.
The first way you can get rid of fleas on your goats is to remove them individually by hand or using tweezers.
Inspect your goat for fleas using a magnifying glass and searching in all of its crevices and under its fur.
Once you have identified the placements of the fleas, remove them carefully.
You can also use a flea comb to help you get rid of them.
It is important to not remove fleas that are in the process of feeding as this can result in you tearing the skin of your goat.
Another method that you can use to help rid your goat of fleas is to use shampoo and insecticides.
Consult with your vet to find out what insecticides they recommend and, once you have acquired the appropriate product, give your goat a wash applying the shampoo and insecticides.
Ensure that you are wearing gloves when applying the product and that you use a flea shampoo specialized for goats or livestock and not human shampoo as they can irritate your goat’s skin.
It is important when treating your goat that you remain vigilant and consistent.
There is no one-stop remedy for fleas, and it requires constant application until your goat is free of all symptoms.
How to prevent your goat from getting fleas
When it comes to fleas, prevention is definitely better than the cure.
There are some simple things that you can do to help prevent your goat from getting fleas.
Proper hygiene
One of the best ways to prevent fleas is to practice proper hygiene and ensure that your goat’s housing, living environment, and bedding is clean and dry.
It is important to change your goat’s bedding regularly as this is one of the main ways in which they can contract fleas.
Fleas lay a lot of eggs and can breed very rapidly.
Quarantine and separate new goats
A common way that fleas are transferred to your goats occurs when a new goat is bought or brought into the existing herd.
Fleas live on the goats and transmission of the disease, as a result, is due to close physical contact.
A good way to prevent this type of spreading is to operate with a closed herd policy and quarantine and inspect any new goats that you are bringing in for a minimum period of time so that you can be sure they aren’t carrying any fleas that could affect the health of the rest of the herd.
Keep grass and pasture grounds trimmed
Fleas and ticks thrive in pasture grounds that contain tall, thick grass as it is an excellent place for them to live and grow.
It is, therefore, important to constantly rotate the various pasture grounds that you allow your goats to graze on and move them to different areas on a regular basis.
This will allow all of the grazing grounds to remain at a suitable height and would make them inhospitable for fleas and ticks to develop.
Additionally, it is important to keep the vegetation around your goat’s shelter trimmed and low cut as this is potentially another area where they can live and reproduce.
Treat dogs for fleas
Additionally, if you have herd dogs you should treat them for fleas and ticks.
As mentioned above it is possible for dogs to transfer fleas to goats, so it is therefore very important to treat them regularly to ensure that they aren’t spreading anything to your goats.
In conclusion, yes, goats get fleas.
Fleas affect many different types of pets and livestock and are extremely transmissible.
There are signs you can look out for, however, and if you notice any of these developing in your goat, separate it from the herd and treat them immediately.
There are various home remedies you can use that can be effective at getting rid of fleas in your goats.
If these aren’t working, or you think that the problem is too much for you to handle, then consult with your vet to find the best solution possible to the problem.