When a goat dies unexpectedly, a post-mortem examination can provide important clues about what caused its death and whether the rest of the flock could be at risk. Knowing what to look for can help a farmer provide useful information to a veterinarian and take steps to prevent further losses.
By Maile Matsimela, digital editor at African Farming
A post-mortem examination involves carefully examining a dead animal, both externally and internally, to look for abnormalities that could help explain why it died.
Ideally, this should be done by a veterinarian or trained animal health professional. However, where veterinary assistance is difficult to access, farmers can examine a freshly dead goat and record what they see for discussion with a veterinarian or animal health technician.
There is one important exception: Never open the carcass if you suspect anthrax.
Before you start, rule out anthrax
A goat that dies suddenly and develops rapid bloating, particularly if blood or blood-stained fluid is coming from the nose, mouth or anus, should not be opened. These could be signs of anthrax, a serious disease that can also infect people. Do not cut into or unnecessarily handle the carcass. Contact the state veterinarian or animal health authorities immediately.
Farmers should also remember that other diseases, including Rift Valley fever, can infect humans. This means protective clothing and careful hygiene are essential whenever a dead animal is handled.
Also read: The goat farmer’s manual | How to clean and treat a goat’s wounds properly
The fresher the carcass, the better
A post-mortem should be carried out as soon as possible after the goat dies. Once decomposition starts, the organs change rapidly, making it difficult to distinguish abnormalities caused by disease from changes that happened after death. A bad smell, greenish or blackish organs, very soft tissues and gas bubbles in the organs are indications that decomposition is already taking place.
What you will need
- Prepare a large, sharp knife, clean water, soap and disinfectant.
- Rubber gloves and boots should be worn where available, together with an apron or other waterproof covering.
- A saw or pair of cutters can help when opening the rib cage, while rounded scissors are useful for opening the intestines.
- Keep a pen and paper nearby. Ideally, have someone record your observations while you conduct the examination.
Start with the goat’s history
Before making the first cut, write down everything you know about the animal and its death.
Record its age, sex, breed, identification number or name, body condition and the date it died. Also note any signs of illness you observed before death and how long the animal had been sick.
Just as importantly, establish whether other goats are showing similar signs. Several animals developing the same problem could indicate a disease or management problem affecting the flock rather than an isolated death.
Also read: The goat farmer’s manual | Simple feeding rules for healthy and sick goats
Examine the outside first
Do not immediately reach for the knife. Start by looking carefully at the entire goat.
- Was it in good condition or extremely thin?
- Is there hair loss?
- Are there wounds, swellings or abscesses?
- Check for ticks, particularly inside the ears, between the claws and where the legs join the body.
- Look at the eyes, mouth and other visible mucous membranes. They should normally be light pink.
- Note unusual paleness or colour changes, sores, blisters or discharge.
- Also look for discharge from the eyes, nose or mouth and check the hindquarters for signs of diarrhoea.
These observations can provide important clues before the carcass is opened.
Position the goat correctly
Place the goat on its right side on the ground.
Working with the animal on the ground rather than hanging it by its hind legs allows you to see whether the internal organs are lying in their normal positions. Move the left front and hind legs away from the body to expose the abdomen and chest. When you open the abdomen, do not immediately remove the organs. First look at how everything is positioned.
Check for excessive fluid, blood, blood clots or pus. Look for organs that appear displaced and for unusual lumps, masses or abscesses. Also examine the fat. Very little fat, or fat that appears watery, may indicate that the goat had been severely undernourished.
If there is a large amount of fluid in the abdomen, note its colour, appearance and smell.
Open the chest and examine the lungs and heart before removing them. Look for excessive fluid, bleeding, pus, lumps or abscesses. Check whether the lungs or heart are unusually attached to the chest wall or surrounding tissue. Open the sac surrounding the heart and look for excessive fluid or blood.
Also read: The goat farmer’s manual: A step-by-step guide to taking a goat’s temperature
What can the lungs tell you?
Healthy lungs should generally feel soft and spongy. Feel the lungs and then make several cuts through them. Look for fluid, foam, pus, abscesses, parasites or areas that differ noticeably in colour and texture. Lungs affected by pneumonia may contain red, yellowish or grey areas and can feel considerably firmer than healthy lung tissue. Open the windpipe and look for foam, blood or other abnormal material.
Check the heart and liver
Examine the heart for unusual white spots, stripes, bleeding or other abnormalities.
The liver should normally have a fairly uniform red-brown appearance. Check whether it is swollen or contains dark, yellow or otherwise abnormal areas. Cut through several parts of the liver and feel its texture. Look for parasites, abscesses or other abnormalities.
The gall bladder should also be examined. If it is very full, this could indicate that the goat had not been eating.
Examine the spleen and kidneys
Check whether the spleen is enlarged or has changed noticeably in colour or shape. Both kidneys should be similar in size and shape, have smooth surfaces and feel firm.
Cut them lengthways and check for pus, blood clots, unusual white material or other abnormalities. Open the bladder and note the colour of the urine and whether blood is present.
Also read: The goat farmer’s manual: How do I water and feed my goats?
Don’t overlook the stomach
Examine the outside of the stomachs for bleeding, wounds and abscesses before opening them. Open the rumen and look at both its contents and lining.
Is there a reasonable amount of relatively fresh feed? Are there ulcers, wounds or parasites? Also look for foreign objects. Goats can ingest plastic, wire, cloth and other materials that may contribute to digestive problems.
The abomasum, or true stomach, should also be opened and checked for ulcers and parasites.
Work through the intestines
First examine the outside of the intestines for wounds or other obvious abnormalities. Then open selected sections. The inside should generally be pale. Look for unusually red areas, bleeding, grey or yellowish material, white spots, lumps or other lesions.
Examine the intestinal contents and look for worms. Finally, check the rectum. The appearance and consistency of the faeces can provide additional clues about digestive disease.
Check the reproductive system
If the goat is female, determine whether she was pregnant and examine the reproductive tract for obvious abnormalities. Pregnancy, abortion, retained foetal material or problems involving the uterus may provide important clues about the animal’s death.
Check the teeth and muscles
Teeth can tell you more than you might expect. Older goats with severely worn teeth may struggle to eat enough feed and gradually lose condition. Examine the major muscles along the backbone, legs, neck, ribs and abdominal wall. Look for bruising, bleeding, abscesses and unusual white spots, stripes or discolouration.
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Record what you find
Do not try to diagnose the disease from a single abnormal-looking organ.
Instead, record exactly what you see. Note the organ involved, its colour, size, texture and any unusual fluid, bleeding, lesions, worms, abscesses or other abnormalities.
Photographs can also be useful when consulting a veterinarian, particularly when professional assistance is not immediately available.
A veterinarian can combine these observations with the goat’s history, signs before death and, where necessary, laboratory testing to reach a diagnosis.
Samples can help confirm the cause
If veterinary assistance is available, ask the veterinarian which samples should be collected and how they should be preserved.
Different diseases require different samples and testing methods, so it is better to obtain instructions before collecting or preserving tissue. If formalin is supplied for preserving tissue samples, remember that it is toxic. Handle it carefully and keep it securely away from children, animals and food.
Also read: The goat farmer’s manual: How do I check the condition of my goats?
Clean up properly
Once the examination is complete, dispose of the carcass and contaminated material appropriately and follow veterinary or animal health authority instructions where an infectious disease is suspected.
Wash and disinfect knives and other equipment thoroughly. Clean your boots and protective clothing and wash your hands and arms well with soap and clean water. Most importantly, use the post-mortem examination as a tool to gather information, not as a substitute for veterinary diagnosis.
When a goat dies unexpectedly, understanding what happened to thw animal could help prevent the next one from dying.
The information in this article is sourced from the Goatkeepers’ Animal Health Care Manual published by ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs. For more information, contact your animal health technician, veterinarian or another appropriate animal health professional.
Also read:
The goat farmer’s manual | From floor to roof – how to house your goats properly
The goat farmer’s manual | How do I handle and restrain my goats?
