Courtesy of Danielle Langloism, Wikipedia CCLLela’s UC Experience
ATG’s Lela Perez recently ran into aproblem with urinary calculi in one of her wethers. Here is her account:
One of a project goat’s greatest worries is sickness which can interfere with the training and conditioning schedule, and ultimately ruin the goat for show. Unfortunately, one of the worst sicknesses wether show goats can get has struck home.
On Saturday, May 15, I noticed one of my newly purchased wether goats stretching himself out as if to urinate, but nothing came out. He looked very restless, his tail was twitching, and every time he tried to urinate he would make noise. I could tell he was in pain.
After some quick research, my suspicion of urinary calculi was confirmed. The little wether was rushed to the vet and got the medical attention he needed. The article I found told me everything the vet told me.
Urinary calculi, or bladder stones, are caused by an imbalance of vitamins and minerals in the goat’s feed ration. Without veterinary treatment once symptoms are found, a goat will die from bladder rupture and absorption of urine into the bloodstream.
The little wether is now on a diet of alfalfa hay and gets a dose of apple cider vinegar every day. This is helping to acidify his system slightly so that any stones left may dissolve. Even with this there is no guarantee that the problem is gone for good.
For more information the article I found from sheepandgoat.com and the Maryland Extension can be found here.
Lela
