Urolithiasis in Goats

What are the clinical signs of

Urolithiasis?

Not eating

Straining

Often misled as straining to defecate

Legs pushed behind

Vocalization

No signs of urination

Dry prepuce
Dry pen

THIS IS A VETERINARY
EMERGENCY!

How your vet will diagnosis

Urolithiasis:

History

Clinical Signs

Ultrasound

X-rays

When available

Blood work

Ultrasound

Quick & easy to perform

Bladder > 6 cm suggestive of obstruction

Sediment
Swirling pattern

Blood or sediment

Radiography

Evaluation of presence & location of radiopaque stones

Helpful for deciding the best treatment options

Prognostic indicator

Radiography

Contrast Study

Blood Work

George et al.

HOW BAD IS BAD?

- Useful for evaluation of kidney

damage & metabolic status of the
animal

Treatment Options

Urethral process amputation

Can be done in the field

Bladder marsupialization last

resort!

Urinary catheterization

Transabdominal catheter
placement

Euthanasia

Recommended if urethra has

ruptured
Young age of the animal
Severely debilitated

Perineal urethrostomy

Can be done in the field if

specific catheter is available
Needs intensive monitoring

General anesthesia required

Expensive

Can be done in the field

Tube Cystostomy/Cystotomy

General anesthesia required

Expensive

Surgical
correction can
become very
costly!

Urethral Process Amputation

Stones can get lodged in the

urethral process

Urethral process is not

necessary for breeding

I combine the procedure

with urethral catherization

POOR LONG TERM

SUCCESS !

Perineal Urethrostomy

Quick, easy

Can be performed in the

field

General anesthesia not

required

Not an option in breeding

animals

Often salvage procedure

Short term fix

Urine scalding

Stricture usually occurs

Tube Cystotomy

Expensive

Only option when bladder ruptured

General anesthesia required

Re-obstruction later in life possible

Success rate variable

Bladder Marsupialization

Expensive

Permanent opening

Urine scalding

Chronic infection of the bladder

Risk of bladder mucosal prolapse

General anesthesia

Last resort

Euthanasia

Calcium Carbonate Calculi

BB stones

Associated with diets high

in calcium

Alfalfa
Clover

Oxalate containing plants

Struvite Stones

Magnesium Ammonium
Phosphate (MgNH4PO4)

Develops in alkaline urine

Gritty appearance

Commonly in feeder
animals

On high grain diets

Diets with

High phosphorous from

cereal grains
Mg contents > 0.3%

Risk Factors

Breed

Sex of animal

Nigerian Dwarf > Pigmy Goats

For calcium carbonate stones
Genetic predisposition ?!
Castrated > intact male > female (rare)

Age of castration

Early castrated animals are more prone to urinary tract stones

Smaller diameter of urethra
Stones are not urinated out easily

Feeding

Water intake

Prevention

Delay castration

Especially in pet animals

As long as you can

Encourage water intake

Especially when weather changes

Clean/fresh water at all times
Warm water in winter/ Cold water in summer
Increased consumption by increasing salt in diet

Prevention

Urinary Acidifier

Ammonium Chloride

Does NOT taste good

Animals will not eat it easily

Continuous administration

0.5 to 1% DMI
2% of a concentrated ration

Promotes calcinugonesis
200mg/kg/day

Refractoriness to urine acidification

Use 3 weeks discontinue for 1 week start again for 3 weeks

Monitoring of urine pH

Prevention

Diet

Decrease calcium intake

No legumes such as alfalfa

Decrease grain & increase roughage

Adjust Ca: P ratio
2:1 helps binding of calcium to phosphorus in the GI tract

Questions?
Anita Varga DVM ,
MS, DACVIM-LA
530-7717150
www.goldcoastveterinaryservice.com
anitavargadvm@gmail.com