Page 6 - Agriculture Magazine, September 2020
photo Rivendell Farm
Sometimes owners have seen the goats straining like they’re constipated and sometimes they’re just not quite right, maybe not eating like they normally do. These signs can indicate a urethral blockage, wherein stones that have been “growing” in the bladder end up in the urethra and stop urine from being able to pass, causing urine to “backup” and, without any treatment, a fatally ruptured bladder or urethra.
Stone formation not uncommon in male goats Dr. Magdalena Niedermeyer, Associate Veterinarian Burnt Fork Veterinary Clinic
One of the worst and unfortunately not uncommon small ruminant emergency calls often starts, “I have a wether (castrated male goat), and he is on his side crying out, and I’m not sure why.” Sometimes owners have seen the goats straining like they’re constipated and sometimes they’re just not quite right, maybe not eating like they normally do. These signs can
indicate a urethral blockage, wherein stones that have been “growing” in the bladder end up in the urethra and stop urine from being able to pass, causing urine to “backup” and, without any treatment, a fatally ruptured bladder or urethra. The problem with urinary blockages is that even with timely treatment, the prognosis is guarded to poor. Owners often find themselves facing expensive surgery or euthanasia, and a wether that blocks once is more likely to re-obstruct. With
