Can I take goat temperature with IR thermometer?

I have a 13 year old Saanen/Nubian cross doe with what I am 99.9% sure is pneumonia. She has been moving slower than usual and seems to have lost weight this week, standing off by herself sometimes, and tonight I realized she was panting and had a snotty nose. The weather has suddenly turned warm and humid after a stretch of cool weather, which is also consistent with pneumonia once or twice in the past. So I started her on an antibiotic tonight as it felt like the right thing to do. She is obviously sick, but still walking around, eating, drinking. After I gave her the injection she walked away and panted for a minute then came back and bit me. I thought that was a good sign.

The one thing I would have liked to have done is take her temperature. However, I realized I no longer had a thermometer that could be used rectally. What I do have is an infrared thermometer. Does anyone know if that can be used to take a goat's temperature, and if so, what part of the goat and what is the normal temperature for that part?

I am not a vet! But I've seen a vet use a IR thermometer on the inside of a foals ear... don't know if it's common practice, don't know what temp you're looking for, sorry.

There's a sheep farm up above St. Mary's lake. Owned by Collin Locke. Any relation? I believe his wife is a vet.
I spent a season living in a tent under their apple trees... god, more than 20 years ago now.

Thanks Chris, that sounds like something that should work. I'll use the same method on the other goat who isn't sick, and compare their temperatures to each other, so it shouldn't be necessary to know in advance the exact normal temperature of a goat's ear.

No, I'm not related to any other Lockes on Salt Spring that I know of, and am not acquainted with Collin and his wife, sorry.... Camping under apple trees north of St. Mary Lake sounds pretty idyllic though. :)

Hope it works for you Andrea! Let us know how she does.

Secret to IR is testing a location on 4-5 healthy goats, so you establish a "base" for what s normal.

Location should, ideally be hair free; ear canal, under belly, rectum...doesn't really matter as you will have the healthy ones to establish your "norm".  

On the Mid Island (Nanaimo) there is a vet who specializes in goats (and euthanasia) her name is Anne Walsh - HomeComfortVet.com She likely would do a phone consult, if things get tricky.