Bezoars in goats

Thanks to Annahlee for allowing me to share her pictures and story.

Bezoars in goats are masses of indigestible material that accumulate in the digestive tract, often in the rumen or abomasum. They can be composed of hair, plant fibers, or minerals and may cause blockages that affect digestion.

Types of Bezoars in Goats:

1. Trichobezoars – Formed from ingested hair (often from self-grooming or licking other goats).

2. Phytobezoars – Made of undigested plant material, such as hay, leaves, or fibrous feed.

3. Lactobezoars – Found in bottle-fed or orphaned kids due to milk curds accumulating in the abomasum.

4. Mineral or Pharmacobezoars – Formed from excess minerals or medications clumping together.

Symptoms of Bezoars in Goats:

• Loss of appetite or difficulty eating

• Chronic bloat or rumen stasis

• Weight loss or poor body condition

• Signs of colic (kicking at belly, discomfort)

• Lethargy or depression

Causes and Risk Factors:

• Goats licking or chewing on each other’s hair due to boredom or mineral deficiencies

• Poor-quality or overly fibrous hay leading to indigestion

• Overfeeding milk to kids without proper digestion

• Ingestion of foreign material (plastic, twine, etc.)

Prevention:

• Provide balanced nutrition with proper fiber content.

• Ensure adequate mineral supplementation to reduce abnormal licking/chewing behaviors.

• Offer plenty of fresh water to aid digestion.

• Avoid overfeeding milk to young kids and provide creep feed when weaning.

• Keep pastures and feeding areas free of foreign materials.

Treatment:

• Mild cases may resolve with increased fluids, mineral oil, or digestive aids.

• Persistent or severe cases may require veterinary intervention, including rumenotomy (surgical removal).

• Laxatives or rumen stimulants might be used to help move material through the digestive tract.