You know whats even more fun than treating teenage bucks for soremouth?

Treating a full grown, 275 lb Buck for soremouth. SO EXCITING!

(Lots of Sarcasm)

The following has kinda icky pictures that will make you itchy. Look at your own scratchy risk. Also, We are Not Vets. This is what works for us, and if its doesn’t work for you, not all viruses will respond the same.

Soremouth, or Orf in humans, is in the same viral family as the Chicken Pox virus. And the treatment is about the same-keep the patient comfortable, hasten the symptoms, and don’t try to catch it! It happens in almost every herd, just like every kindergarten class. So when it happens, don’t panic! You aren’t a bad goat owner, you just own goats. And like giant toddlers, they are gonna catch a bug or two. Generally Once a goat has it, they wont have another outbreak, unless the viral strain is radically different.

A goat can catch soremouth when its a kid, and then not have an outbreak until they are an adult. Its no fun for the goat or the handler. Nasty scabs along the mouth, and sometimes around the eyes and hoof line. The only time this virus is truly dangerous is when it goes thru a herd with nursing does. They can get it on the udders which makes it painful for the kids to nurse, which means the kids can literally starve to death.

There is a vaccine, but its a “live” vaccine and only prevents that particular strain from infecting the goat herd. We have had it twice, both after bringing in new goats, once after a 30 day quarantine. This new strain is affecting the buck pen, and has a lovely side effect of causing thick nasal congestion and drainage. So my poor boys not only have painful mouths, they have snotty noses. You try and teach a goat to blow into a tissue. Trust me, they wont. So yay wet wipes and those baby snot bulb things.

The treatment regimen we use seems to hasten the active time of the disease, causing the scabs to dry up and fall off in 1-2 weeks instead of a month or more. 99% DO NOT REMOVE THE SCABS. This is cause an open wound, bleeding, and possible infection. However, sometimes the scabs can grow so thick, especially at the corner of the mouth, it makes it hard for the animal to open their mouth and eat. John Crichton was literally crying in pain when he tried to eat, even with soft food, so we did some strategic removal. He was immediately much more comfortable. But again, this is a rare situation.

Make sure any time you handle a goat with soremouth you use latex gloves and wash after, because HUMANS CAN CATCH IT. Dogs can catch it, Cats, walruses, any mammal. But goats and sheep are the most susceptible.

If you want to do what we do, get the following for the treatment. We have to go to a specialty drug store locally called Drug Emporium, but amazon has the items as well.

Gentian Violet
Tea Tree Oil
Oregano Oil

We purchase the small blue spray bottles located usually on the same aisle as the essential oils. Gentian Violet goes on first because it acts as an antiseptic to prevent infection, especially from Staph. Next Tea Tree and Oregano, either mixed together or separate. We do them separate because the oregano does sting and we try to focus it only on the worst parts.

You will have purple, cranky goats that will run at the sight of gloves and a blue bottle, but they will be much much happier when its all gone. Our first case started the day after Christmas, and Pilot is now completely sore free. Chrichton and Red Baron are on the road to recovery, and poor Rupert has just begun, and got it around his eye. Of course Zeus and D’Argo, our pet mutt goats, got nuttin. Sigh.