A compact goat who should look sturdy, not soft
A healthy Pygmy goat presents as a small, broad, confident animal: head up, eyes clear, ears alert to the yard, and a short coat that shines rather than standing rough and dull. He should come to the fence for attention or hay and keep company with his herd instead of planting himself in a shelter corner. Pygmy proportions are naturally stocky, with a deep barrel and short legs, so judge him against Pygmy shape rather than against a leggy dairy goat. What you are looking for is muscle and energy under that compact build, not jiggle, labored movement, or a belly that swings as he walks.
The hands-on condition check a round breed needs
Push your fingers through the coat over his ribs, spine, and chest. On a goat in good condition you can feel ribs with steady pressure under a smooth covering, and the spine feels rounded rather than sharp or completely lost. Pygmy goats are famously efficient eaters and can become overweight on a routine that would merely maintain a larger breed, and excess weight shows first as sluggishness, reluctance to climb or play, and strain on short legs. Lift his beard and check the skin of his neck, belly, and inner legs for crusts, crawling parasites, or raw patches from scratching, since a thick coat can hide irritation until it is well established.
Hooves and movement on short legs
Watch him cross the pen to a hay rack. He should step evenly on all four feet, turn without stiffness, and stand square when he stops. Pygmy hooves grow fast relative to the wear many pet goats get on soft ground, so pick up each foot and look for long toes curling the foot out of balance, trapped stones, or a foul smell between the toes. A goat who kneels to graze, limps after trimming, or avoids the rocky patch he usually crosses without thought is telling you a foot or joint hurts, even if he still eats happily when feed comes to him.
Appetite, cud, and pellet checks
At meals he should compete politely for hay, chew thoroughly, and later rest while working a cud with calm, regular jaw movements. His rumen, felt on the left side behind the ribs, should feel doughy and move gently rather than drum tight with gas. Pellets should be firm and separate. A Pygmy who leaves hay but still begs for grain treats may simply be spoiled, yet one who leaves both, stops producing pellets, grinds his teeth, or stands stretched out and straining needs the change taken seriously rather than written off as stubbornness, a reputation this charming breed often gets unfairly.
Pygmy warning signs to act on
Call a veterinarian the same day for bloat, straining to urinate (especially in a wether, who should be watched closely for any weak or dribbling stream), scouring, refusal of feed, or breathing that stays fast while resting in the shade. Pale inner eyelids, sudden weight loss under the coat, a hot swollen joint, or a foot he will not bear weight on also warrant a prompt call. Because wethers and overweight goats carry particular urinary and mobility risks, do not let a cheerful face talk you out of what your hands found. Logging his weight feel, hoof trims, and urination observations in KinsLe's Pet Passport gives each check a comparison point his round shape alone cannot provide.