I think my goat is going deaf...

So I have a 7 year old Nigerian Dwarf (Apple Biscuit) who I raised from a bottle. She has always come when I call her name or shake a grain can. She has been very inresponsive lately.

I brought out some grain for her and my Pygmy, and Apple was in the shelter where she couldn't see me. She didn't come out until I went to the fron of the shelter. She looked very surprised to see me, too.

Anyone know why this is happeneing? Is it because she is getting old? She is in very good health besides that, and has nice weight, good quality food, etc.

Thanks

Seems like I looked up goats and they live to be about 30,
My goat stays int he barn sometimes at feed time. I think he is just lazy. Not sure how you would test a goats hearing.

When she does see you and comes out is she sluggish at all? Even just a little bit? Or at that point is she her regular self?
7 years old isn't really "old" in terms of the smaller breeds of goats, but so many things can affect their health that sometimes by the time they reach 7 or 8, it can seem like they are old. Also, deafness (or getting hard of hearing) wouldn't be that uncommon either.

Sometimes I have had a goat so sacked out I thought they were dead. I would call their name and get no response, so I would panic and go check on them, only to have them pop a lazy eye up and me and accuse me of disturbing a terrific dream of them dancing in a meadow somewhere chasing butterflies.

If it were my goat, and it was as unusual as it seems, keep an eye on the goat and if anything else seems off perhaps call a vet. Goats need regular deworming and routine health care like horses. If you have had a wacky winter like many of us have, it affects the life cycles of parasites, which are very different than horse parasites, and with the weather warming up now the parasites are active. She may not have a huge parasite load, but a higher than normal one can take its toll and make a goat seem like it has less energy.

If you would be interested in some really good goat websites that address many heath issues or concerns, or general info on anything goats, PM me and I would be glad to send them to you.

7-8 for average goat is older. A test to see is have someone hold her facing one direction and have another person make a surprising noise (not something she is use too) to one side or another, try different distances away to judge how bad.

Thanks for the replies. She is acting perfectly normal otherwise. I will have the vet look at her when she comes for spring shots and see what she thinks.