Urinary Calculi is a very serious condition that if left untreated can be deadly. If the goat can not urinate, his bladder will fill until he bursts. Urine gets into sub-cutaneous tissues. This is the condition known as water belly. This leads to a painful death. UC is an emergency situation that is best left to a vet, however, a vet is not always an option and saving the animal is priority. We have not dealt with UC here on our farm and have no first hand experience, but I hope my info I have learned and studied what has been successful for others will help in all of us if we have a need.
Diet along with delayed castration is key in helping to prevent UC .
Keep on hand:
Ammonium Chloride or 4 way acid packs which is used to prevent and treat UC...
Vit C
Banamine is needed for pain...1 cc per 100# sub Q
sharp cuticle scissors or surgical scissors
Knowing the Signs of UC
Goat dribbles or barley pees, stands off to himself, often hunched in pain, restless, tail flicking, grinding of teeth, cries of pain. May look like trying to poop.
Fast action is needed to avoid unnecessary pain and suffering. If the goat is still peeing, even sluggish, dosing ammonium chloride may be all that is needed based on the following schedule..
Always start with Banamine to aid in pain and inflammation.
“Mix the following in 20 cc water and orally drench: One (1) teaspoon Ammonium chloride per 75 lbs bodyweight every 12 hours for 2 days, then 1/2 tsp AC per 75 lbs bodyweight every 12 hours for the next 3 days, then 1/2 tsp once a day for 3 days, then 1/4 tsp daily as a preventative.” ( per tennessee meat goats)
or if you don't have Ammonium Chloride or 4 way acid pack, do
3 tbsp lemon juice, 1 cup water, give 20cc 4 x first day, 3 times next 2 days then twice a day after that; that's what I have as a preventive.
Other alternative treatment:
Fruit Fresh from the canning isle at the grocery store , same dose as AC
Apple Cider Vinegar...use at the same dose as AC.
Adding Vit c daily as a support is helpful and Banamine for pain and swelling.
If pee is stopped to a dribble or all together, very warm compresses and gently massage sheath to help break up stones and encourage peeing. If this is not working, snipping the pizzle may give instant relief. Here is a great link of this
http://goat-link.com/content/view/6...
Someone also suggest Methigel which is also for cats. I read its only effective when they goat is still peeing some, not totally blocked..
some good reads to learn more and hopefully stay ahead of UC.
http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/a...
http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/SP/MG/Do...
http://www.barnonemeatgoats.com/uca...
http://www.sheepandgoat.com/#!urinc...
Why Alfalfa...In most cases (ie: not for calcium UC prone animals)
When a goat eats alfalfa, one of two things happen.
1) The goat's body pulls the calcium out of the alfalfa into the bloodstream and puts it where it can be used. This can only happen with simple uncontaminated calcium molecules. The extra and unusable molecules go through the kidneys and are excreted in the urine.
2) The goat's body pulls out only the calcium it needs at the time for the bloodstream, the rest stays in the plant mush. The plant mush is later brought up as cud and the extra calcium it contains is excreted into the saliva, this also can only happen with simple uncontaminated molecules. From there it is swallowed back down and goes through the digestive system to be evacuated through the bowels. The contaminated molecules are filtered through the kidneys and excreted with the urine here too.
Situation 1 happens only in Boers, Pygmies, and about 50% of Nigerians. Situation 2 happens in all other American breeds. This is one reason why Boers and Pygmies are more likely to acquire UC.
Calcium Carbonate stones are very much an African breed problem, they are so rare as to be almost a nonissue in other breeds.
There are many types of stones and many areas with different browse, water, and soil composition.
Calcium Carbonate- Buildup of calcium in the bladder, usually deposited on dead cells of one type or the another. Can be started by vitamin A deficiency, illness, stress or injury, magnesium overload, or spontaneous.
Calcium Phosphate- usually caused by too much grain and/or pelleted feeds containing little roughage.
Calcium Oxalate- usually caused by too much vitamin C in the system, too much potassium, too much magnesium, and high oxalate plants (Including FLAXSEED).
Struvites- combination of grass based diet and a natural bacteria found in dirt.
Silica stones- Caused by high silica content in grass and/or DE.
Of course knowing what kind of stone you are dealing with would be ideal, so if you are able to collect the stones, do so.
Diet along with delayed castration is key in helping to prevent UC .
Keep on hand:
Ammonium Chloride or 4 way acid packs which is used to prevent and treat UC...
Vit C
Banamine is needed for pain...1 cc per 100# sub Q
sharp cuticle scissors or surgical scissors
Knowing the Signs of UC
Goat dribbles or barley pees, stands off to himself, often hunched in pain, restless, tail flicking, grinding of teeth, cries of pain. May look like trying to poop.
Fast action is needed to avoid unnecessary pain and suffering. If the goat is still peeing, even sluggish, dosing ammonium chloride may be all that is needed based on the following schedule..
Always start with Banamine to aid in pain and inflammation.
“Mix the following in 20 cc water and orally drench: One (1) teaspoon Ammonium chloride per 75 lbs bodyweight every 12 hours for 2 days, then 1/2 tsp AC per 75 lbs bodyweight every 12 hours for the next 3 days, then 1/2 tsp once a day for 3 days, then 1/4 tsp daily as a preventative.” ( per tennessee meat goats)
or if you don't have Ammonium Chloride or 4 way acid pack, do
3 tbsp lemon juice, 1 cup water, give 20cc 4 x first day, 3 times next 2 days then twice a day after that; that's what I have as a preventive.
Other alternative treatment:
Fruit Fresh from the canning isle at the grocery store , same dose as AC
Apple Cider Vinegar...use at the same dose as AC.
Adding Vit c daily as a support is helpful and Banamine for pain and swelling.
If pee is stopped to a dribble or all together, very warm compresses and gently massage sheath to help break up stones and encourage peeing. If this is not working, snipping the pizzle may give instant relief. Here is a great link of this
http://goat-link.com/content/view/6...
Someone also suggest Methigel which is also for cats. I read its only effective when they goat is still peeing some, not totally blocked..
some good reads to learn more and hopefully stay ahead of UC.
http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/a...
http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/SP/MG/Do...
http://www.barnonemeatgoats.com/uca...
http://www.sheepandgoat.com/#!urinc...
Why Alfalfa...In most cases (ie: not for calcium UC prone animals)
When a goat eats alfalfa, one of two things happen.
1) The goat's body pulls the calcium out of the alfalfa into the bloodstream and puts it where it can be used. This can only happen with simple uncontaminated calcium molecules. The extra and unusable molecules go through the kidneys and are excreted in the urine.
2) The goat's body pulls out only the calcium it needs at the time for the bloodstream, the rest stays in the plant mush. The plant mush is later brought up as cud and the extra calcium it contains is excreted into the saliva, this also can only happen with simple uncontaminated molecules. From there it is swallowed back down and goes through the digestive system to be evacuated through the bowels. The contaminated molecules are filtered through the kidneys and excreted with the urine here too.
Situation 1 happens only in Boers, Pygmies, and about 50% of Nigerians. Situation 2 happens in all other American breeds. This is one reason why Boers and Pygmies are more likely to acquire UC.
Calcium Carbonate stones are very much an African breed problem, they are so rare as to be almost a nonissue in other breeds.
There are many types of stones and many areas with different browse, water, and soil composition.
Calcium Carbonate- Buildup of calcium in the bladder, usually deposited on dead cells of one type or the another. Can be started by vitamin A deficiency, illness, stress or injury, magnesium overload, or spontaneous.
Calcium Phosphate- usually caused by too much grain and/or pelleted feeds containing little roughage.
Calcium Oxalate- usually caused by too much vitamin C in the system, too much potassium, too much magnesium, and high oxalate plants (Including FLAXSEED).
Struvites- combination of grass based diet and a natural bacteria found in dirt.
Silica stones- Caused by high silica content in grass and/or DE.
Of course knowing what kind of stone you are dealing with would be ideal, so if you are able to collect the stones, do so.