URINARY CALCULI IN GOATS

WHAT ARE URINARY CALCULI?

• Urinary calculi are small stones that form in the bladder and can become lodged in the urethra or urethral process in male goats preventing normal urination
• Some other names/terms commonly used for urinary calculi are urolithiasis, "water belly", "stones" & "blocked"

CAUSES OF URINARY STONES

• High grain & low roughage diets can increase the amount of phosphorus in the urine leading to the formation of stones in the bladder

GOATS THAT ARE AT RISK FOR URINARY STONES

• Male goats
• Castrated male goats may be more susceptible to urinary blockages
  • If banded or castrated at a very young age before urethra develops to full size
• It is thought that some goats are more genetically predisposed

SYMPTOMS OF URINARY STONES

• Increased vocalization
• Tail twitching
• Kicking at belly
• Urine Dribbling / straining to urinate / blood in the urine
• Abdominal distention
• Death may occur if not treated when other symptoms begin due to the bladder rupturing and causing urine to leak into the abdomen/blood stream

TREATMENT FOR URINARY STONES

• Sedatives may be administered to relax the urethral muscle allowing stones to pass
• If stones are logged in the urethral process the urethral process may be removed to allow urination
• In some cases depending upon the location of the stone in the urethra and the integrity of the bladder, surgery may be necessary to save the animals life

NUTRITION IS KEY IN PREVENTING YOUR MALE GOATS FROM GETTING URINARY STONES

• We suggest feeding a NO grain 
• Allow grazing and feed only grass hay
• Offer timothy hay pellets in place of grain
• Fruits and vegetables in moderation
• Have a white salt block available at all times to help increase water intake
• Call your veterinarian to discuss nutrition and prevention of stones