Treating Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL) in Goats
Understanding CL in Goats
Treating Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL) in Goats involves careful management, as this chronic bacterial infection—caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis—has no known cure. CL is highly contagious among goats and sheep, and it typically presents as abscesses in the lymph nodes. While complete eradication from a herd is challenging, various treatment and control methods can help reduce the spread and severity of the disease. This guide explores practical strategies for treating CL in goats, with a strong emphasis on prevention, biosecurity, and long-term herd management.
Note: Always consult your veterinarian before beginning any treatment.
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I am not a veterinarian; this is only an example of what we do with our animals. Please consult your vet before making any health decisions with your animals.
For a deeper dive, check out these related posts:
Is CL a Death Sentence for Goats?
Not necessarily. Some goats live their entire lives with a single abscess and never have another outbreak. For pet goats, that may be an acceptable risk. However, for dairy goats, breeding stock, or show animals, even a single abscess may disqualify them or pose too much risk.
Note: Never drink milk from a goat that has tested positive for CL. Internal abscesses in the udder are impossible to detect without imaging.
Diagnosing CL
CL can be tricky to diagnose because external abscesses look similar to other infections. Your vet can confirm CL using:
- Pus sample analysis (bacterial culture)
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing
- Serologic blood testing (may show false positives or negatives)
For the most accurate result, testing the pus is recommended.
Preventing CL in Your Herd
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Here are key strategies to minimize the risk of CL:
1. Quarantine New Animals
Keep new goats isolated for at least 30 days. Watch for abscesses and monitor their overall health.
2. Weekly Health Checks
Run your hands over each goat weekly. Pay attention to lymph node areas for lumps or swellings.
3. Sanitation and Hygiene
Clean barns, feeders, and tools regularly. Disinfect areas where abscesses have ruptured. CL can persist in the environment.
4. Treat Wounds Promptly
Clean and disinfect any cuts or injuries quickly to reduce bacterial entry.
5. Consider Vaccination
In some regions, vaccines for CL are available, though not universally effective. Discuss options with your vet.
6. Don’t Share Equipment
Avoid sharing syringes, grooming tools, or feeders between herds.
What CL Abscesses Look Like
Not all abscesses are signs of CL. Goats can develop harmless abscesses from scratches, thorn pricks, or minor trauma. However, when an abscess forms in specific lymph node areas (like under the jaw, behind the ears, or along the shoulders) without a visible cause, it’s time to be concerned.
CL abscesses can also form internally, affecting the lungs, liver, udder, or other organs. Internal CL is harder to detect and often more damaging.
Importantly, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis can be zoonotic, meaning it can occasionally infect humans. Use gloves and protective gear when dealing with potential CL cases.
Why Antibiotics Aren’t Effective
One of the frustrating aspects of CL is that antibiotics don’t work. The body walls off the bacteria in thick-walled abscesses that antibiotics can’t penetrate. As a result, once an abscess forms, alternative methods are necessary.
Treatment Options for CL in Goats
1. Culling the Infected Goat
If a goat has a visible, unruptured abscess and you do not wish to treat it, culling may be the most responsible option. This is especially true if the goat is used for milk or breeding, as there is a risk of spreading the infection.
Do not send a goat with an active, oozing abscess to a sale barn. This irresponsibly spreads the disease to other herds.
2. Culling the Entire Herd (Worst-Case Scenario)
If multiple goats become infected or an abscess ruptures into the environment, the bacteria can contaminate fencing, bedding, feeding equipment, and soil. In these situations, culling the herd may be considered to break the cycle of infection.
If you choose to keep your herd, prepare for ongoing abscess management, strict hygiene, and permanent biosecurity protocols. Disinfecting the environment is crucial—CL bacteria can survive in soil for years.
3. Draining the Abscess
If you choose to drain an abscess, treat it as if it is CL—even if you haven’t confirmed it. Wear gloves, isolate the goat, and disinfect everything. The abscess should be lanced when it is soft and ready to rupture. A vet is recommended, but experienced owners may choose to do it themselves with proper guidance.
How to Lance a CL Abscess on a Goat
Lancing a CL abscess is a serious procedure that should be done with extreme care to protect both the animal and other goats from infection. Here is a detailed step-by-step guide:
What You Need:
- Sharp scalpel or sterile blade
- Gloves and eye protection
- Disposable apron or coveralls
- Disinfectant (Betadine or iodine solution)
- Paper towels or clean cloths
- Syringes and saline solution
- Clean gauze or bandages
- Trash bags or sealable containers for waste
- A helper to hold the goat securely
- Isolation area for recovery
Steps:
1. Prepare the Environment
Work in a well-ventilated area away from other animals. Clean and disinfect the surface where you’ll work. Wear gloves and eye protection.
2. Secure the Goat
Have someone hold the goat firmly or use a stanchion. The goat must be still to avoid injury during the lancing.
3. Clean the Abscess Area
Clip away any hair around the abscess. Wash the area thoroughly with warm water and an antiseptic to remove debris and bacteria.
4. Check the Abscess Readiness
Only lance an abscess when it is soft and has come to a full head. A firm abscess is not ready and should not be lanced.
5. Lance the Abscess
With the goat secured and the area disinfected, use the scalpel to make a clean incision at the lowest point of the abscess so that gravity helps with drainage. The incision should be large enough to allow full drainage.
6. Drain the Pus
Use gauze or paper towels to gently squeeze and drain all of the pus. Avoid splatter, as this pus is highly infectious. Dispose of all waste materials in sealed trash bags.
7. Flush the Cavity
Use a syringe filled with iodine or diluted Betadine solution to flush the inside of the abscess cavity thoroughly.
8. Keep the Wound Open
Abscesses heal best when they are allowed to drain fully. Do not close or bandage the wound completely.
9. Isolate the Goat
Keep the goat in isolation until the wound has dried and scabbed over. Disinfect the area where the procedure took place.
10. Monitor for Recurrence
Watch for signs of new abscesses. Once a goat has CL, recurrence is common.
The pus should be collected and properly disposed of, and the wound must be cleaned and kept open to drain fully. This method does not eliminate CL but can manage symptoms and prevent rupture in the field.
4. Treating with Formalin
Warning: Formalin (a solution of formaldehyde) is toxic. Avoid skin and eye contact, and use only with full protective gear.
Though not FDA-approved for this use, some goat keepers have used formalin to treat CL abscesses by injecting it into the abscess wall.
Note: Formalin is the consistency of water and will easily drain out of a needle too large.
What You’ll Need:
- Gloves and eye protection
- Luer lock syringe with 25-gauge needle
- Paper towels
- Helper to hold the goat
How to Inject Formalin:
- Inject 0.5cc for small abscesses (nickel-sized or smaller); use 1–3cc for larger ones.
- Insert the needle at the top of the abscess, close to the goat’s body, into the abscess wall.
- Hold a paper towel over the site when withdrawing the needle to prevent liquid from spraying.
- Expect swelling and redness—this is a normal reaction.
- If the abscess hasn’t hardened in a few days, you may need to re-inject.
Abscesses usually dry up, harden, and fall off within 4–6 weeks. During this period, isolate the goat to prevent environmental contamination.
Caseous Lymphadenitis is one of the more challenging diseases in goat farming, but it doesn’t have to spell disaster. With vigilance, regular health checks, and informed decision-making, you can manage the risks and maintain a thriving herd.
While no single solution fits all situations, understanding your options—culling, drainage, formalin treatment, or preventative practices—gives you the power to act decisively. Keep your herd safe, and never stop learning.
The health of your goats is in your hands. Armed with knowledge and good practices, you can protect them from the worst effects of CL and ensure a healthy, productive future.
For additional information, I recommend the following articles and videos:
Tennesee Meat Goats (Article on using Formalin.)
Popping a Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL) Abscess in a Doe (Video showing incision and drain procedure.)
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