Mycoplasma Pneumonia in Goats: Signs, Diagnosis & Treatment
- See your vet immediately if your goat has fast or labored breathing, fever, weakness, open-mouth breathing, or stops eating.
- Mycoplasma pneumonia is a contagious bacterial respiratory disease complex in goats. Some mycoplasma species can also cause mastitis, joint swelling, or sudden herd outbreaks.
- Diagnosis often involves a physical exam plus herd history, and may include PCR testing, culture, bloodwork, or necropsy samples in severe or herd-level cases.
- Early treatment can include vet-directed antibiotics and supportive care, but prognosis varies with the mycoplasma species, how sick the goat is, and whether secondary infections are present.
- Typical 2026 U.S. cost range for evaluation and treatment is about $150-$1,500+ per goat, with higher costs for farm calls, hospitalization, oxygen support, or herd diagnostics.
What Is Mycoplasma Pneumonia in Goats?
Mycoplasma pneumonia in goats is a contagious respiratory infection caused by Mycoplasma bacteria. These organisms can spread through respiratory droplets and secretions, and some species may also spread through milk from infected does. In goats, mycoplasma infections can range from a milder bronchopneumonia to severe pleuropneumonia with high fever, breathing distress, and sudden losses in a herd. In some outbreaks, goats may also develop swollen joints, mastitis, or neurologic signs along with respiratory disease. (merckvetmanual.com)
One important form, contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) caused by Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae, is a major disease in parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Similar mycoplasma species, including Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, M. mycoides capri, M. agalactiae, and others, can also affect goats worldwide. In the United States, a goat with suspected severe mycoplasma pneumonia still needs prompt veterinary attention, but your vet may also think about other common causes of pneumonia and whether any reportable foreign animal disease concerns apply based on travel, import, or herd history. (merckvetmanual.com)
For pet parents, the key point is that this is not a cough to watch at home for long. Goats can decline quickly, especially kids, newly transported animals, or goats under stress. Fast treatment and herd-level management matter because one sick goat may signal a larger contagious problem. (merckvetmanual.com)
Symptoms of Mycoplasma Pneumonia in Goats
- Cough
- Fast breathing or increased effort
- Fever
- Nasal discharge
- Weakness, lethargy, or poor appetite
- Open-mouth breathing or frothy saliva
- Exercise intolerance
- Swollen joints or mastitis in the same outbreak
See your vet immediately if your goat is breathing hard, stretching its neck to breathe, breathing with its mouth open, has a high fever, will not eat, or seems weak or dehydrated. These signs can mean severe pneumonia, low oxygen, or sepsis. (merckvetmanual.com)
Milder coughing can still matter, especially in kids or if more than one goat is affected. A cluster of cough, fever, nasal discharge, and reduced appetite in a herd should be treated as urgent because mycoplasma and other contagious pneumonias can spread quickly. (merckvetmanual.com)
What Causes Mycoplasma Pneumonia in Goats?
Mycoplasma pneumonia is caused by infection with one of several Mycoplasma species. Merck notes that goats may be affected by Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae, M. mycoides capri, M. ovipneumoniae, M. agalactiae, M. bovis, M. putrefaciens, and M. conjunctivae. Not every species causes the same pattern of disease, which is one reason lab testing can be helpful. (merckvetmanual.com)
Spread usually happens through aerosol droplets, respiratory secretions, and close contact. Some mycoplasma infections can also spread through the milk of infected does. Herd stress plays a big role too. Poor ventilation, crowding, transport, mixing new animals, and other respiratory infections can make pneumonia more likely or more severe. Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae may also set the stage for secondary bacterial pneumonia, including infection with Mannheimia haemolytica. (merckvetmanual.com)
Kids and newly introduced goats may be especially vulnerable. In a herd setting, one coughing goat can be the visible part of a larger outbreak. That is why your vet may ask about recent purchases, shows, transport, bottle-feeding practices, milk sharing, and any history of mastitis or joint disease in the herd. (merckvetmanual.com)
How Is Mycoplasma Pneumonia in Goats Diagnosed?
Diagnosis starts with a hands-on exam and herd history. Your vet will look at breathing rate and effort, temperature, hydration, appetite, and lung sounds. They will also want to know whether other goats are coughing, whether any new animals were introduced, and whether there have been recent deaths, mastitis cases, or swollen joints. In some endemic settings, clinical signs plus outbreak pattern and necropsy findings may strongly suggest mycoplasma disease. (merckvetmanual.com)
For a more definite diagnosis, testing may include PCR, bacterial culture, bloodwork, and sample collection from nasal swabs, milk, pleural fluid, lung tissue, or necropsy tissues. Merck notes that PCR has greatly improved diagnosis, while culture can be difficult because mycoplasmas need special media and longer incubation. Serology such as ELISA or complement fixation may help more with herd surveillance than with confirming an acute individual case. (merckvetmanual.com)
Your vet may also recommend testing to rule out other causes of goat pneumonia, such as pasteurellosis, Mannheimia infection, lungworms, viral disease, aspiration, or chronic lung conditions. If a goat dies, necropsy can be one of the most useful and cost-conscious ways to identify what is affecting the herd. Cornell diagnostic lab fee schedules show that culture and related infectious disease testing add meaningful but often manageable diagnostic costs, especially when compared with repeated losses in a herd. (merckvetmanual.com)
Treatment Options for Mycoplasma Pneumonia in Goats
Spectrum of Care means you have options. Here are treatment tiers at different price points.
Budget-Conscious Care
- Farm call or clinic exam
- Temperature and breathing assessment
- Vet-directed empiric antibiotic plan when appropriate
- Anti-inflammatory medication if your vet feels it is safe
- Fluids, nursing care, heat support, and isolation from the herd
- Basic herd management advice on ventilation and quarantine
Recommended Standard Treatment
- Full veterinary exam with herd-history review
- PCR or culture sampling when available
- Targeted antibiotic treatment under veterinary oversight
- Anti-inflammatory and supportive care
- Bloodwork or additional monitoring as needed
- Short-term outpatient follow-up or recheck
- Isolation and practical herd biosecurity plan
Advanced / Critical Care
- Urgent or emergency veterinary assessment
- Hospitalization or intensive on-farm monitoring
- Oxygen support if available
- IV or repeated fluid therapy
- Expanded diagnostics such as bloodwork, imaging, PCR panels, or necropsy of herd mates
- Aggressive treatment for severe pneumonia, sepsis, or mixed infections
- Detailed herd outbreak investigation and biosecurity recommendations
Cost estimates as of 2026-03. Actual costs vary by location, clinic, and individual case.
Questions to Ask Your Vet About Mycoplasma Pneumonia in Goats
Bring these questions to your vet appointment to get the most out of your visit.
- Based on my goat's exam, how urgent is this breathing problem right now?
- Do you suspect mycoplasma, another bacterial pneumonia, lungworms, or a mixed infection?
- Which tests would give us the most useful answers for the cost range I can manage?
- Should this goat be isolated, and for how long?
- Are there food-animal medication or withdrawal considerations I need to follow for milk or meat?
- What signs mean the treatment plan is working, and what signs mean I should call back the same day?
- Should we test or monitor other goats in the herd, especially kids or recently purchased animals?
- What ventilation, stocking density, or quarantine changes would most lower the risk of another outbreak?
How to Prevent Mycoplasma Pneumonia in Goats
Prevention focuses on biosecurity, ventilation, and reducing stress. Quarantine new or returning goats before mixing them with the herd, and ask your vet how long makes sense for your setup. Avoid overcrowding, improve airflow in barns and shelters, and reduce sudden management changes when possible. Merck specifically notes that quarantine and strict biosecurity are important for limiting transmission of mycoplasma diseases in goat herds. (merckvetmanual.com)
Because some mycoplasma species can spread through milk, good kid-rearing hygiene matters too. Your vet may want to review bottle-feeding practices, doe health, and whether any mastitis problems could be linked to a herd-level mycoplasma issue. Promptly separating coughing or feverish goats can help reduce spread while you wait for veterinary guidance. (merckvetmanual.com)
If your herd has a severe respiratory outbreak, especially after importation, travel, or contact with animals of uncertain origin, contact your vet right away. In the United States, diseases not known to exist here or unusual increases in illness or death may need rapid reporting through animal health channels. That does not mean every coughing goat has a foreign animal disease. It does mean fast veterinary involvement is the safest path for both your animals and the wider goat community. (aphis.usda.gov)