Goat First Aid Kit: 20 Supplies You Should Always Have on Hand

🐐 Must-Have Goat Supplies: 20 Essential Tools & Treatments You Should Always Have On Hand

For wound care, emergencies, and everyday goat keeping

Farm life sounds fun—and for the most part, it is—but there’s one little-known part of goat ownership you may not be prepared for when you’re just starting out: emergencies. Goats are sweet, needy, loud, and a lot of fun… until something goes wrong. And with goats, something will go wrong at some point.

Whether you’re brand new to goats or getting back into them after some time away, it’s crucial to have certain basic supplies ready before you need them. This list covers the most commonly used goat care items—the ones you’ll wish you had on hand when trouble strikes. These are the essentials we recommend you stock up on first. In future articles, we’ll talk about specialty medications and dive into the most common goat diseases and injuries.

🧰 How to Use This Kit: Build Smart, Stay Prepared

Putting together your goat med kit might feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be done all at once. Start small, focus on essentials, and build your kit over time.

• Rotate and check expiration dates regularly—medications lose effectiveness past their prime.

• Practice using the tools safely, like taking temperatures or wrapping wounds, so you’re ready when it counts.

• Keep instructions or notes on dosages and uses handy—especially for emergencies when stress can cloud your memory. We’ll try to help with that throughout this blog series.

🧊 Storage Tips: Keep Your Meds Safe and Ready

Proper storage extends your supplies’ shelf life and keeps them safe from accidental contamination:

• Store meds in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight and moisture.

• Use a dedicated med tote, tackle box, or container—label it clearly.

• Keep items out of reach of children and curious goats!

• Refrigerate meds if required by the label.

• Separate supplies for quarantine goats to avoid cross-contamination.

🧪 Health Monitoring & Injection Supplies

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🌡️ Thermometer (x2)

Goats hide symptoms well—checking their temperature is often the first sign of infection, illness, or shock. Normal temp ranges from 101.5–103.5°F.

We list two thermometers because when you really need one, it’s the worst time for it to break or give a weird reading. A backup lets you double-check or jump into action if your first one fails.

⚖️ Weight Tape or Scale

An accurate weight is critical to dose meds properly. Guessing can lead to underdosing or overdosing—both dangerous.

We prefer a scale. If you're starting with kids, a bathroom scale and some creative juggling can work short-term (just subtract your weight). But once they’re 70 pounds of flailing goat, a livestock scale is worth the upgrade.

✂️ Scissors

You’ll use these constantly—for cutting vet wrap, opening packaging, trimming gauze, or even bandaging yourself. Keep a dedicated pair in your med kit so you’re not running around the house while a goat is actively bleeding on you.

💉 Syringes (Various Sizes)

Most useful sizes: 3cc, 6cc, and 12cc. You want clearly marked measurements and enough on hand to use once and toss—don’t reuse. If you keep other livestock (like horses), stocking a few larger sizes for multipurpose use is smart.

🪡 Needles (18g–22g)

Always use a new sterile needle for every draw or injection to protect both your goats and your medications.
Our experience:

• 22g ½" works well for kids and routine shots like CD&T

• 20g ¾–1" is better for adults

• Thicker meds may require lower gauge (larger bore) needles like 18g

📏 What Does “Gauge” Mean?

Needle gauge refers to thickness:

• Lower number = thicker needle

• Higher number = thinner needle
  Example:

• 20-gauge is thicker than 22-gauge

• 25-gauge is very fine, great for tiny animals or super-thin skin

💧 Oral Dosing & GI Support

🥄 Drenching Syringe (x2 Preferred)

Essential for oral meds like electrolytes, activated charcoal, or probiotics. We strongly recommend keeping at least two.

Why? If you quarantine new or untested goats (which we do), you want to avoid cross-contamination. Each group needs its own supplies, including drenching syringes.

Also—screw the tip on tight. Horror stories abound of tips getting lost down goat throats. That’s a vet trip you don’t want.

🦠 Probiotics

Used during digestive upset, after antibiotics, or high stress. Powdered probiotics mix into milk, water, or feed.

We especially give probiotics daily to unweaned bottle babies (using a lamb bar) and anytime they’ve had diarrhea or been treated for coccidia. It helps stabilize their gut and speed recovery.

💦 Electrolytes

A must for heat stress, scours, or travel dehydration. Especially helpful during:

• Summer

• Kidding season

• Transport

• Sudden illness in kids
  Electrolytes can buy you time and save lives when a goat isn’t nursing or eating.

🍯 Molasses

Our go-to energy booster when goats are lethargic, off-feed, or in shock. We keep it on hand because it stores well and works fast.

Not just for goats—this year, it even helped our only duckling hatchling perk right up. Molasses may not seem like a “med,” but it’s cheap, versatile, and could be the difference between life and death.

🥄 Baking Soda

A simple, essential remedy for bloat and acidosis. Some offer it free-choice; we used to, but found it more effective to give only when clearly needed (like after grain access).

Even though it’s easy to find at grocery stores, having it before an emergency matters—it can save a trip and a goat.

⚫ Activated Charcoal

Your emergency toxin treatment. If a goat or other animal eats something bad, charcoal binds toxins to prevent absorption.

We’ve used it more on our dogs than goats—once when they ate tulip and daffodil bulbs from the laundry room. Charcoal bought time and helped recovery. Now it’s stocked for every species on the farm.

🩹 Wound Care Essentials

🧼 Chlorhexidine

An antiseptic for:

• Treating wounds

• Cleaning abscesses

• Disinfecting instruments or gear

We prefer it over iodine for deeper wounds and use it often for staph infections or general wound care. Gentle, effective, and worth the shelf space.

🌀 Vet Wrap

Magic stuff! Sticks to itself but not your goat. Perfect for hoof wraps, injury protection, or securing gauze.

We have a whole drawer for it and have used it on goats, dogs, horses… even Ronak (true story).
💡 Tip: Use non-stick gauze underneath to avoid ripping off scabs.

🩺 Gauze (Pads & Rolls)

You want:

• Sterile pads for bleeding and drainage

• Non-stick pads (like Telfa) for healing wounds

• Rolled gauze to hold everything in place
  We’ve used gauze for everything from horn injuries to leg gashes. Store in a clean, sealed bag—nothing worse than reaching for dirty gauze in an emergency.

🩸 Bloodstop Powder

Use for hoof trims, minor nicks, and surface injuries to stop bleeding fast. Not for deep wounds, but perfect for small jobs.

You may not use it often, but when you need it, you really need it.

🧴 Vetericyn Wound Spray

Safe, effective, all-purpose wound rinse good for cuts, abrasions, and cleaning skin around eyes or mouths.

We keep a bottle in the barn and use it for:

• Small scrapes

• Punctures

• General wound cleanup
  It’s fast, easy, and helps healing.

👁 Vetericyn Pink Eye Spray

Technically for pink eye but great for any eye irritation—cloudiness, squinting, debris, or minor infections near the eye.

We rely on it during fly season and dusty hay days, with excellent results when used early.

🍶 Isopropyl Alcohol (or Wipes)

For sterilizing:

• Thermometers

• Syringes

• Injection sites

• Medicine bottle tops

Single-use alcohol wipes are super convenient for on-the-go treatment.

🧤 Handling, Helpers & Hygiene

🧴 OB or KY Lube

Essential for:

• Taking rectal temps

• Assisting with kidding

• Vaginal checks during labor

Goats appreciate courtesy—a little lube makes all the difference. Just keep the container clean—don’t contaminate it by dipping fingers directly in.

🧤 Disposable Gloves

Non-negotiable for:

• Kidding assistance

• Examining lumps

• Giving injections

• Treating wounds

They protect both you and your goats—and keep meds clean. Goats can carry zoonotic diseases like chlamydia, so hygiene really matters.

☎️ Emergency Contacts: Have Your Vet and Help Numbers Handy

No kit is complete without having your vet’s phone number and any emergency contacts saved in your phone and posted near your goat area. Keep a printed list in your med kit or first aid box, so you can find it quickly even if your phone dies or gets lost.

⚠️ Red Flags: When to Use Your Kit—and When to Call the Vet

Your med kit is a lifesaver, but it’s no substitute for professional help. Call your vet immediately if you see any of these signs:

• Difficulty breathing

• Severe trauma or bleeding

• Unconsciousness or seizures

• Persistent diarrhea or dehydration

• Lameness or inability to stand

• Sudden swelling or eye injuries

If you’re ever unsure, it’s better to call early than to wait and risk your goat’s health.

🧳 Wrapping Up: Build Your Kit, Then Breathe

Putting together your goat med kit might feel overwhelming at first, but trust us—even a basic stash makes a world of difference when something goes sideways (and with goats, it eventually will). You don’t have to buy it all at once. Start with the essentials, stash them in a dedicated container, and build from there.

In the next post, we’ll dive into medications you should consider stocking—things like Banamine, CD&T antitoxin, BoSe, and others you might not grab last-minute. We’ll walk you through what each med is for, how and when to use it, and which ones you’ll need your vet to help you get ahead of time.

🐐 What’s Next: Dive Deeper Into Goat Care

We’re just getting started! Up next, look forward to these essential guides designed to keep your herd healthy and happy:

• Essential Goat Medications (Part 2): How and When to Use Them Safely
  Learn exactly when to give meds like Banamine, BoSe, and CD&T, plus tips on working with your vet.

• Common Goat Ailments: 10–15 General Health Issues You Should Know
  From respiratory infections to parasites, get the rundown on signs, symptoms, and simple treatments.

• Time-Sensitive Diseases & Meds: Acting Fast to Save Your Goat’s Life
  Some illnesses need immediate attention—know which ones and what to do before the vet arrives.

• Newborn Kid Care: Specific Meds, Top Ailments, Vaccines & Timelines
  Protect your tiniest goats with the right medicines, vaccines, and a clear care schedule.

• Buckling & Buck Health: Key Medications and Common Problems
  Understand the special needs and ailments bucks face, especially during the rut.

• Doeling & Dry Doe Care: Meds and Top Health Concerns
  Focus on preventive care and common issues for growing doelings and dry (non-milking) does.