Bladder stones are, unfortunately, all too common in this area and one of the biggest contributors to the condition is nutrition. Goats are browsers, meaning they are designed to forage amongst often sparse and woody vegetation. The trouble starts when we start supplementing their diet with lucerne or grain. The stones are formed over time by an excess in minerals which are high in these feeds. From the bladder the stones then start to travel down the urethra and eventually block the passage of urine. This is not only extremely painful but also life threatening. The first thing you may notice is your goat appearing to strain to urinate, urinating frequently, or just dribbling small amounts. Treatment for bladder stones requires surgery which is very costly and not always successful so prevention is definitely the way to go. If you have goats there are a few things you can do to minimise the risk of bladder stones becoming an issue.
Firstly this is primarily a problem for the males.
1. Don’t castrate before 3 months of age.
2. Only feed grassy hay, no lucerne, grain, horse feed etc.
3. Make sure you goat has access to plenty of fresh clean water
4. If you want to feed a treat every now and then, stick to carrots, green beans, cucumber or cabbage.
5. Have a salt lick available. This will encourage them to drink more water.
On a more positive note goats can make wonderfully entertaining companions. If you would like more information please give the clinic a call, we’d be happy to talk you through the important aspects of goat ownership.