How to Naturally Treat Anemia in Goats
Anemia is a shortage of red blood cells and low iron levels in a body. It is common in both humans and animals, but is easily treated if caught early. Goats can develop anemia for a variety of reasons, such as an improper diet, parasites, or worms. Internal injuries or extreme blood loss can also cause anemia. You may suspect your goat is anemic if he appears to be lethargic or not as active as usual. Your veterinarian can confirm this with a blood test.
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Instructions
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Caring for an Anemic Goat
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Have your veterinarian perform a full panel of blood tests. While there may be several causes of anemia, one of the most common is a stomach parasite called Haemonchus contortus. Your goat may also be suffering from a secondary infection, which your veterinarian can diagnose and treat.
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Give your goat daily injections of Vitamin B12. These injections can be obtained by a prescription from your veterinarian. The injections should be refrigerated and given once per day for at least a week, although two weeks is ideal. A lack of Vitamin B12 vitamins in your goat may cause his body to slow production of red blood cells. Upping his intake of Vitamin B12 will help regulate the development of red blood cells.
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Give your goat Red Cell. Red Cell is a liquid vitamin product that is available over-the-counter from most feed stores or from your vet's office. Originally designed for horses, Red Cell is commonly used for other anemic farm animals, such as alpacas. Giving your goat Red Cell will give him an iron boost, which will help the development and regulation of red blood cells inside of his body.
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Tips & Warnings
Goat expert Suzanne W. Gasparotto notes that "a goat with a life-threatening level of anemia usually is too weak to eat and goes off-feed". In these cases, a goat may have to be fed through a stomach pump until he regains enough strength to resume normal eating. If your goat does not seem better after a few days of home treatment, or appears to be getting worse, take him to the veterinarian to have him evaluated.
