You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your animal is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate.

Goats are kept for commercial purposes and as pets. Here are some normal physiological parameters

Owners often ask what "normal" values are for goats. The main parameters for adult goats are summarised in this table :

 

Parameter	Normal Values	Comments
Body temperature - taken using a mercury or electronic thermometer inserted in the rectum	39-39.5oC (102.5-103oF)	Body temperature is usually retained within the normal range and a high or low finding should be reported to your veterinarian as soon as possible
Heart Rate - taken by feeling low down on either side of the chest wall behind the elbow in a standing animal	70-95 beats per minute	The heart rate will be higher in young goats. The heart rate in adults will increase due to a variety of factors including exercise, stress or excitement. It can also increase if the animal has a disease. A heart rate outside the normal range should be reported to your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Respiratory rate - taken by counting the number of chest wall movements in a minute	10-30 breaths per minute	The respiratory rate can increase due to a variety of factors including exercise, stress or excitement, or high environmental temperatures. It can also increase if the animal has a high body temperature and in some diseases. A respiratory rate outside the normal range should be reported to your veterinarian as soon as possible
Rumen rate - taken by feeling the number of rumen movements through the upper flank on the left side of the body.	1-1.5 rumen contractions per minute	Rumen contractions may vary depending upon the time of feeding. An absence of rumen movements can be a serious clinical sign.

Updated October 2013