URINARY CALCULI and URINARY TRACT OBSTRUCTION in PET GOATS
The formation of mineral deposits
or urinary calculi in the bladder can lead to life-threatening urinary
tract obstruction in castrated male goats. There are some steps you
can take to prevent this condition from developing in your goat. If
your goat does develop urinary calculi, early recognition of the
symptoms of urinary tract obstruction may save his life.
Prevention of Urinary Calculi
In male goats the urethra, which carries urine from the bladder and through the penis, continues to increase in diameter until the goat is 6 months old. Early castration of goat kids can arrest this development, leading to a narrower tube which is more easily clogged by mineral deposits. Therefore, we recommend delaying castration of your pet goat until he is at least 3 months old. (Waiting until your goat is 6 months old may not be advisable as he may reach sexual maturity and acquire a "buck scent" prior to that time.)
Dietary factors play a big role in the formation of urinary calculi. In particular, feeding large amounts of grain and alfalfa greatly increases the risk of developing calculi. This is because these feeds have an improper calcium:phosphorus ratio and tend to increase urine pH to a level which favors the formation of minearl deposits. Inadequate access to clean water leads to more concentrated urine and also makes the formation of calculi more likely.
The best diet for pet goats is pasture or browse and grass hay. This kind of diet helps maintain a healthy urine pH, limits the levels of certain minerals in the urine which contribute to urinary calculi formation, and also helps prevent obesity. Providing a loose salt and mineral mix designed for goats as well as giving your goats cool, clean drinking water promotes water intake and frequency of urination which naturally flushes out the bladder.
Symptoms of Urinary Calculi or Urinary Tract Obstruction
• Straining to urinate
• Appearance of being constipated
• Abdominal discomfort - stretching, kicking, looking at the side
• Rapid tail switching
• Poor appetite
• Blood in the urine
• Crystals on the hairs around the prepuce
• Bloated abdomen
• Death
Partial urethral obstruction can lead to permanent scarring of the delicate lining of the urethra, and complete urethral obstruction can quickly lead to kidney damage or rupture of the bladder or urethra. Call your veterinarian immediately if you suspect that your goat is having difficulty urinating.
Prevention of Urinary Calculi
In male goats the urethra, which carries urine from the bladder and through the penis, continues to increase in diameter until the goat is 6 months old. Early castration of goat kids can arrest this development, leading to a narrower tube which is more easily clogged by mineral deposits. Therefore, we recommend delaying castration of your pet goat until he is at least 3 months old. (Waiting until your goat is 6 months old may not be advisable as he may reach sexual maturity and acquire a "buck scent" prior to that time.)
Dietary factors play a big role in the formation of urinary calculi. In particular, feeding large amounts of grain and alfalfa greatly increases the risk of developing calculi. This is because these feeds have an improper calcium:phosphorus ratio and tend to increase urine pH to a level which favors the formation of minearl deposits. Inadequate access to clean water leads to more concentrated urine and also makes the formation of calculi more likely.
The best diet for pet goats is pasture or browse and grass hay. This kind of diet helps maintain a healthy urine pH, limits the levels of certain minerals in the urine which contribute to urinary calculi formation, and also helps prevent obesity. Providing a loose salt and mineral mix designed for goats as well as giving your goats cool, clean drinking water promotes water intake and frequency of urination which naturally flushes out the bladder.
Symptoms of Urinary Calculi or Urinary Tract Obstruction
• Straining to urinate
• Appearance of being constipated
• Abdominal discomfort - stretching, kicking, looking at the side
• Rapid tail switching
• Poor appetite
• Blood in the urine
• Crystals on the hairs around the prepuce
• Bloated abdomen
• Death
Partial urethral obstruction can lead to permanent scarring of the delicate lining of the urethra, and complete urethral obstruction can quickly lead to kidney damage or rupture of the bladder or urethra. Call your veterinarian immediately if you suspect that your goat is having difficulty urinating.
