Meningeal Yes or No

🚨 Kid Goat Paralysis? Here’s What to Do Before You Deworm

Woke up to find your month-old goat kid dragging its back legs? Panic is natural, but reaching for fenbendazole might not be. Sudden paralysis in young goats isn’t always meningeal worm (in fact, it’s almost never). Here’s a practical breakdown for goat owners who want clarity, not chaos.

💡 Disclaimer: This guide is educational and does not replace veterinary care.

🔍 Step 1: Observe What You’re Seeing

Start with a calm assessment. Ask:

• Is the kid alert and vocal?
• Are they still nursing or nibbling?
• Do their legs have feeling? (Pinch gently and check for reaction)
• Any swelling, bruising, or signs of trauma?
• Take their temperature—fever points to possible infection.

🧪 Step 2: Check Likely Causes

🚩 Suspect	🧠 Clues	✅ Fits / ❌ Doesn’t Fit
Spinal trauma	Sudden onset after jumping, falling, rough play	✅ Very common in playful kids
White muscle disease	Weakness, stiffness, often affects more than one kid	✅ If herd is selenium deficient
Joint infection	Warm, swollen joints, fever, limp	❌ Usually localized, not paralysis
Meningeal worm	Slow onset, older goats, progressive weakness	❌ Unlikely in kids under 2 months
Polio (thiamine deficiency)	Star-gazing, blindness, circling	❌ Rare before weaning age
Tetanus or botulism	Stiffness (tetanus) or flaccid paralysis (botulism)	❌ Onset is slower, botulism rare

💊 Step 3: Provide Gentle Support

Even without a firm diagnosis, good supportive care helps stabilize:

• Soft bedding to prevent pressure sores
• Keep the kid hydrated and warm
• Herbal supports for trauma:
  • Comfrey poultice for bruising or soft tissue stress
  • Arnica orally or topically for inflammation
  • Skullcap or Chamomile to calm nervous system strain

Avoid rushed deworming unless neurological signs strongly point to MW and you’re working with a vet.

🌿 Step 4: Reflect on Herd History

Ask yourself:

• Have you supplemented selenium recently?
• Any dietary changes? Poor-quality hay or low E/Se feeds?
• Did the kid get injured—jumping from a high perch or roughhousing with older siblings?

Often, sudden paralysis is rooted in trauma or nutrition, not parasites.

❌ Deworming first = smart ✅ Diagnosing first = smarter

🐐 Free Download: Goat Paralysis Quick Check Chart

Woke up to a goat that can’t walk? Don’t panic—grab our “Sudden Paralysis Quick-Check Chart” to sort trauma from toxin, and myth from mystery.

📥 What’s Inside:

• Differential diagnosis for sudden hind limb paralysis
• Quick reflex tests & observation tips
• Herbal support suggestions
• Clarity on what’s not meningeal worm

🖼️ Looks great printed and posted in your barn or vet kit!

🐐 Free Download: Goat Paralysis Quick Check Chart