What should you know about goat pneumonia?

In a goat, pneumonia means inflammation and infection in the lungs. Affected animals may cough, breathe quickly or with effort, have nasal discharge, lose interest in food, or become weak. A veterinarian should assess the animal; do not give human medicines or handle respiratory secretions without advice.

For a person, cough, fever, chills, chest discomfort, breathlessness, and coughing up phlegm can occur with Pneumonia. Similar symptoms may occur with Influenza or COVID-19, so the animal's illness does not diagnose the human illness.

Keep a sick goat away from other animals as advised by a veterinarian, improve ventilation, and use hand hygiene after contact. Ask the veterinarian about protective equipment and whether other animals need monitoring. If a person develops respiratory symptoms after animal contact, reduce close contact with others and arrange medical advice.

A clinician may listen to the lungs, check oxygen levels, and decide whether further tests or treatment are needed. Do not use leftover antibiotics or delay care while trying to identify the animal's infection.

Seek emergency help for severe breathing difficulty, blue or grey lips, confusion, collapse, chest pain, or inability to stay awake. Get prompt medical assessment for worsening cough, persistent fever, new chills, coughing up blood, or marked weakness. A serious infection can progress to Sepsis and needs rapid treatment.

Could my symptoms be Pneumonia, Influenza, or COVID-19? Do I need a chest examination or testing? What symptoms should make me call emergency services? How should I protect household members while I am coughing?