Aging Goat Losing Weight? It Might Be Her Teeth

🦷 🐐What to do when your old goat has janky nashers

There’s a quiet dignity in an aging goat.

The slower pace.

The calmness in their eyes.

The way they still come running for their grain... maybe a little slower than they used to, but still just as excited as always.

But here’s something a lot of folks don’t talk about: the toll age takes on a goat’s teeth.

My beloved doe, Dolly, is an elder in our herd. She’s been with me for many years and we share a very special bond. So when she struggled to put weight on this Spring. I was concerned (and almost overlooked the real problem).

Winters here in Wisconsin are no joke and while our goats are tough, this year, Dolly came out the other side much too light for my liking.

(I love a pudgy Boer goat gloriously riddled with fat rolls).

My husband kept pointing out that she was dropping grain and choking more often.
And of course, I brushed it off at first…what does he know, right?

Well..., turns out, he knows A LOT. He was absolutely right to be concerned.

Because dolly’s teeth aren’t what they used to be.

And as it turns out, she also seems to have taken a hit to the jaw during a scuffle at the feeder; an injury that only made things worse.

Then, this week, I received a beautiful message from a subscriber who’s walking a similar path. She’s caring for an elderly cashmere doe, beautifully named Marguerite, and wondering how to support her through her senior years.

And one of the first things that came to mind was exactly this:
The dental care we often overlook in aging goats.

So, this issue is for Dolly.
It’s for Marguerite.

And it’s for every goat who’s earned their “grays” and deserves a little extra care.

What Happens to a Goat’s Teeth as They Age?

Here’s the crazy thing about goats…they don’t have upper incisors...nope, just a hard dental pad on top.

But those bottom front teeth and the molars in the back?

That’s where trouble arises as they approach their golden years.

You see, as goats get older, their teeth:

• Wear down from years of grinding hay and browse

• May loosen or fall out entirely

• Can develop sharp edges or gaps

• Sometimes rot or misalign with age

And there’s not much you can do to reverse it, unfortunately.

The result?

Trouble chewing. Dropping wads of hay (called quidding).

Weight loss (and lethargy). Frustration. Even subtle behavioral changes from chronic discomfort.

Here’s a Few Signs Your Goat Might Be Struggling With Dental Issues:

• Weight loss despite still eating and a healthy appetite

• Long, slow chewing... sometimes on just one side

• Taking longer to finish their meals…eating like a bird

• Eating a little, then “giving up” and leaving their grain behind

• Wads of half-chewed hay around the feeder

• Grain choking or difficulty swallowing pellets

• Dropping condition even with good quality feed

Sometimes these issues can show up slowly...but other times, it feels like your old gal just wakes up one day and can’t chew anything but mash.

So how can we support our elderly goats when their teeth are giving them grief?

Let’s dive in…

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🪧 This next part is just for subscribers...

I’ll walk you through exactly how I support my senior goats with dental issues... including the mash recipes I use, the supplements I keep on hand, and the little routines that make a big difference.

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