Mycoplasma Pneumonia in Goats: Coughing, Fever, and Outbreak Management
- See your vet immediately if your goat has cough, fever, fast breathing, nasal discharge, weakness, or stops eating. Mycoplasma pneumonia can spread quickly through a herd.
- Mycoplasma infections in goats may be caused by several species, including Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae and other Mycoplasma organisms. Some cases stay mild, while others become severe pneumonia with high herd impact.
- Diagnosis usually involves a farm exam plus nasal, milk, ear, or tissue samples for PCR or culture. Chest ultrasound or necropsy may help during an outbreak.
- Early treatment, isolation, better ventilation, and strict biosecurity can reduce losses. Herd management matters as much as medication in outbreak control.
What Is Mycoplasma Pneumonia in Goats?
Mycoplasma pneumonia is a contagious respiratory infection caused by Mycoplasma bacteria. In goats, several species can be involved. Some cause mild bronchopneumonia, while others can trigger severe outbreaks with fever, coughing, nasal discharge, and breathing distress. Merck notes that goats may also show problems outside the lungs, including polyarthritis, mastitis, conjunctivitis, neurologic signs, or sudden death in some infections. (merckvetmanual.com)
One important point for pet parents is that "mycoplasma pneumonia" is not always one single disease. In many U.S. herds, Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae is part of the picture and may weaken the airways, making secondary bacterial pneumonia more likely. In other parts of the world, a much more severe form called contagious caprine pleuropneumonia is caused by Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae. (merckvetmanual.com)
Because signs can overlap with pasteurellosis, viral respiratory disease, aspiration, lungworm, or other causes of pneumonia, your vet usually needs testing to sort out what is driving the outbreak. Fast action matters. A goat that is open-mouth breathing, depressed, or not eating can decline quickly. (merckvetmanual.com)
Symptoms of Mycoplasma Pneumonia in Goats
- Coughing
- Fever
- Fast or labored breathing
- Nasal discharge
- Poor appetite or anorexia
- Weakness or depression
- Drop in milk production
- Joint swelling, mastitis, or eye inflammation
Mild coughing in one goat can turn into a herd problem fast, especially after transport, weather stress, overcrowding, or mixing new animals. Worry more if you see fever, fast breathing, weakness, refusal to eat, or several goats getting sick at once. Those patterns suggest a contagious respiratory outbreak rather than a minor irritation. (merckvetmanual.com)
See your vet immediately if a goat is struggling to breathe, lying down more than usual, separating from the group, or if kids and recently stressed adults are affected. Young, pregnant, lactating, and immunologically stressed goats can worsen quickly. (merckvetmanual.com)
What Causes Mycoplasma Pneumonia in Goats?
Mycoplasma pneumonia happens when contagious Mycoplasma bacteria spread through a herd, most often by aerosol droplets and respiratory secretions. Some species can also spread through milk from infected does. Merck lists several goat-relevant organisms, including Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, M. agalactiae, M. bovis, M. putrefaciens, M. conjunctivae, and members of the Mycoplasma mycoides cluster. (merckvetmanual.com)
In the United States, Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae is especially important because infected sheep and goats may look healthy yet still carry the organism in the upper respiratory tract. USDA APHIS notes that some infected animals remain clinically normal, while others develop illness ranging from mild respiratory disease to severe pneumonia and death. (aphis.usda.gov)
Outbreaks are more likely when goats are crowded, poorly ventilated, recently transported, mixed with new arrivals, or already dealing with other respiratory pathogens. Merck also notes that M. ovipneumoniae may predispose the lungs to secondary infection with bacteria such as Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida, which can make disease more severe. (merckvetmanual.com)
If your goats have contact with sheep or with wildlife interfaces, your vet may also think about broader herd and biosecurity risks. APHIS highlights M. ovipneumoniae as a concern for transmission between domestic small ruminants and susceptible wild populations. (aphis.usda.gov)
How Is Mycoplasma Pneumonia in Goats Diagnosed?
Diagnosis starts with a careful herd history and physical exam. Your vet will ask when coughing started, how many goats are affected, whether any new animals were introduced, and whether there has been recent transport, kidding stress, weather change, or contact with sheep. Lung sounds, temperature, breathing effort, hydration, and body condition all help guide next steps. (merckvetmanual.com)
Definitive diagnosis usually requires testing. Merck states that PCR or bacterial culture is the best way to confirm Mycoplasma infection. Depending on the case, samples may include nasal swabs, ear swabs, milk, pleural fluid, lung tissue, or tissue collected at necropsy. Serology such as ELISA or complement fixation can support herd-level surveillance, but it is less useful for diagnosing an individual acute case because cross-reactions can occur. (merckvetmanual.com)
During an outbreak, your vet may recommend testing more than one goat. That can include recently sick animals, untreated early cases, and any deaths for necropsy. Imaging such as thoracic ultrasound may help in field settings, while necropsy can be one of the most informative and cost-conscious ways to identify what is moving through the herd. If secondary bacteria are suspected, your vet may also submit samples for culture and susceptibility testing. (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 or clinic exam
- Temperature and breathing assessment
- Isolation from the herd
- Early empiric antimicrobial plan chosen by your vet
- Anti-inflammatory or fever control if appropriate
- Supportive care such as fluids, easy access to hay, and reduced stress
- Basic outbreak steps: separate sick group, improve ventilation, stop animal movement
Recommended Standard Treatment
- Exam plus herd history review
- PCR and/or culture sampling from nasal, milk, ear, or tissue samples as appropriate
- Targeted antimicrobial treatment plan from your vet
- Anti-inflammatory medication and fluid support as needed
- Recheck exam within 24-72 hours for nonresponders
- Testing or necropsy of additional affected goats during an outbreak
- Written herd biosecurity and quarantine plan
Advanced / Critical Care
- Emergency assessment for severe respiratory distress
- Hospitalization or intensive on-farm monitoring
- Oxygen support where available
- IV or repeated fluid therapy
- Thoracic ultrasound and expanded diagnostics
- Necropsy and broader herd testing to map the outbreak
- Aggressive supportive care for recumbent, dehydrated, or non-eating goats
- Consultation with your vet and diagnostic lab on herd containment
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.
- You can ask your vet which Mycoplasma species are most likely in our area and whether this looks like a single case or a herd outbreak.
- You can ask your vet which goats should be tested first so we get the most useful PCR or culture results.
- You can ask your vet whether we should also test for Mannheimia, Pasteurella, lungworm, or other causes of pneumonia.
- You can ask your vet how long sick goats should stay isolated and what signs mean they can safely rejoin the herd.
- You can ask your vet whether any apparently healthy herd mates may be carriers and how that changes outbreak control.
- You can ask your vet what ventilation, stocking density, and cleaning changes would help reduce spread right now.
- You can ask your vet whether necropsy on a goat that dies would be the most cost-conscious way to guide treatment for the rest of the herd.
- You can ask your vet for a written plan covering treatment, monitoring, quarantine, and when to call back urgently.
How to Prevent Mycoplasma Pneumonia in Goats
Prevention starts with biosecurity and air quality. Quarantine new goats before mixing them with the herd, avoid nose-to-nose contact with outside animals, and keep housing dry and well ventilated. Overcrowding, damp bedding, ammonia buildup, transport stress, and sudden mixing all increase the chance that a respiratory pathogen will spread. Merck specifically recommends quarantine of affected flocks and strict biosecurity for new introductions. (merckvetmanual.com)
If coughing appears, separate sick goats early and work with your vet before the problem becomes herd-wide. APHIS notes that some animals infected with Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae may look healthy, so prevention is not only about treating obviously sick goats. Testing additions, limiting contact with sheep when appropriate, and avoiding shared airspace or equipment during outbreaks can all help. (aphis.usda.gov)
Vaccines for contagious caprine pleuropneumonia are available in some countries, but that does not mean a routine U.S. vaccine option exists for every herd or every Mycoplasma species. Your vet can help decide whether testing, culling chronic carriers, management changes, or seasonal planning are the most practical prevention tools for your farm. In the U.S., severe foreign-animal-disease concerns should also be reported promptly through animal health officials when indicated. (merckvetmanual.com)