The other morning, while checking
the herd, I noticed one of my yearling bucks crying over next
to the fence. At first I figured he had gotten stung by a wasp
or bee. But he kept it up. What a mournful cry! I checked on
him a couple of time that morning, and didn’t really see
anything, still figuring that he has been wasp stung. Around
noon, I noticed he as stretched out to urinate and nothing was
coming out. I began to worry. After I consulted with the utmost
goat expert on our farm, Pat, we determined he had urinary stones
(calculi). I called a friend who had been a paramedic and was
raising goats to see if he knew what to do. His only suggestion
was to do something in a hurry.
He had lost bucks to UC and has saved some bucks that
had UC. His suggestion was to get in touch with the vet. I called
Wyatt Galbraith and was told Wyatt could not make it to the
farm until after 4 pm. With that information, the decision to
haul the buck to the vet was made. Down the hill; separated
the buck from the other bucks; loaded him; and off to the vet’s.
I was told if I got to there before 2 pm, I would be the first
seen when the vet came in from farm calls.
We arrived at the vet’s; I checked in and was
told the vet should be returning in a few minutes. I unloaded
the dude, and prepared for whatever Wyatt was going to do to
him. Since I had shown this dude and he was trained to a lead,
I felt comfortable with him on a lead. Wyatt arrived and confirmed
our diagnosis.
According to Small Ruminant Production Medicine and Management
by InfoVet.com, “Several factors, most relating to diet,
contribute to the development of urinary stones. Some stones
develop when goats and sheep are fed high levels of concentrates
that tend to be high in phosphorus. Others develop when grass
and cereal grains make up most of the diet or when forages high
in oxalates (Halogeton) are eaten. Anything that causes the
animal to drink and urinate less or increases the urine pH can
also enhance stone formation. The most commonly formed stones
are calcium phosphate (apatite), magnesium ammonium phosphate
(struvite), silicate, oxalate, and calcium carbonate.”
As I held the boy, Wyatt massaged the urethra and a stone came
out (relatively small to my way of thinking but I'm assuming
rather huge for a goat's way of thinking; but, then, I've never
had kidney stones), followed by a little urine but not big stream
from his overfull bladder.
Wyatt continued to work with him, until there was more
urine, but the bladder was having spasms. A discussion was held
between Wyatt and me, and we determined the buck should spend
the night at the Animal Hospital. I walked him into the office
and into the examination room where, finally, he emptied most
of his bladder. Wyatt watched his urine output and gave him
Banamine and ammonium chloride.
I was told to call the next morning to determine his
condition. At 10 am the next morning I called; he had passed
another stone earlier, and Wyatt wanted to keep him one more
day to determine if the medication was working and to be sure
he didn’t have any more stones getting hung up.
The next morning I called, and he was ready to be shipped
home. When I arrived, I was given Banamine for five days and
an ammonium chloride solution, 20 cc per day, until I ran out
of it.
According to Small Ruminant Production Medicine
and Management by InfoVet.com, UC can be prevented by focusing
on diet and proper supplements. “One important preventative
measure is to have a proper calcium-phosphorus ratio of approximately
2:1 in the diet. Chemical analysis of the ration, especially
of the forage portion, is advisable so that the proper levels
of calcium can be fed. Avoid over feeding grains, and feed a
grass/alfalfa hay mix if available. When feeding only grass
hay, calcium supplementation may be required. Calcium levels
are easily increased by the addition of dicalcium phosphate
or calcium carbonate (limestone) to the ration. Lowering the
pH of the urine (acidification of the urine) may be necessary
in many situations. This is accomplished by the addition of
0.5-2.0% ammonium chloride to the ration. Ammonium sulfate in
slightly higher amounts will also satisfactorily acidify the
urine. When dealing with small groups of animals, feeding 90
mg/lb/head/day of ammonium chloride will help prevent the problem.”
Fresh water is also important for prevention. Adding salt to
feed will increase urine output and dilute the mineral content
of the urine.
We checked with our feed provider and learned Goat
Grower with Rumensin does contain a 2:1 ratio of calcium to
phosphorus and does contain the recommended level of ammonium
chloride. With that knowledge, our vet said this was probably
just an isolated case – especially since the other 10
bucks in the pen with him had no problems. Quite possibly he
had not been consuming enough of the salt/mineral available
to him or had, with the cooler weather, not been drinking enough
water.
Back on the truck, our buck had a good trip home; and,
of course, since he had been off the place, he went into the
quarantine pen for the next 10 days. Happy to be home, at least
I think he is happy to be home, he would prefer not to be a
pin cushion. But at least, all of his body functions are functioning….
at least he can pee without pain.
