Urethral Stone Prevention
Urolithiasis, commonly referred to as urinary stones or urethral stones, is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition in goats and sheep. While it can affect both males and females, males (bucks, rams, and wethers) are especially prone due to their unique anatomy. Urolithiasis occurs when crystals or stones form in the urinary tract, causing blockages that prevent normal urination and can lead to kidney damage, infection, or even death. Sadly, treatment options are limited and often challenging due to the specific types of stones that form and the complex anatomical structure of sheep and goats’ urinary systems.
However, the good news is that urolithiasis is largely preventable with careful management and the right strategies. By focusing on prevention, you can help ensure the health and well-being of your sheep and goats and avoid the severe complications that come with this condition.
UNDERSTANDING UROLITHIASIS (STONES)
Calcium Carbonate Stones
Image courtesey of Meredyth Jones Cook DVM, MS, DACVIM
The formation of urinary stones typically occurs in the bladder, and then these stones pass into the urethra (the tube through which urine exits the body) where they get stuck and cause the animal to “block”. Rams, bucks, and wethers’ urethras are long and narrow, making them at high risk of blockage compared to other species. In severe cases, if left untreated, the blockage can rupture the bladder or urethra, causing sepsis or death.
The types of stones that most commonly form in sheep and goats are calcium carbonate and struvite. These stones are often related to dietary factors and mineral imbalances. While female can also develop urinary stones, they are less likely to experience blockages due to their wider, straighter urethra.
PREVENTION IS CRUCIAL
Struvite Stones
Image courtesy of Meredyth Jones Cook DVM, MS, DACVIM
The main reason prevention is so important in cases of urolithiasis is that treatment is extremely difficult and often ineffective. Surgery to remove the stones, or even to create a new opening for urine to flow, can be costly, invasive, and fraught with complications. Medical management may only work in the early stages, and sometimes it’s not enough to fully resolve the issue. Additionally, in many cases, the stones can return after treatment, leading to repeated medical crises.
Given that prevention is so much more effective than treatment, it’s essential to adopt a proactive approach to manage your animals’ diet, hydration, and overall care.
STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTION
Here are several key strategies that will help you prevent urolithiasis and keep your animals healthy:
1. Avoid Grain and Alfalfa for Males
Extruded Goat Penis
Image courtesy of University of Maryland Extension
Feeding males grain or alfalfa is one of the most significant risk factors for urolithiasis. These feeds are high in calcium and phosphorus, which can promote the formation of urinary stones, especially when the mineral balance in the animal’s body is already off. While alfalfa is a great feed for growing lambs and kids or lactating females, it should be avoided for adult males unless absolutely necessary. Instead, provide them with a grass hay-based diet to promote proper digestion and urinary health.
2. Always Provide Fresh Water
Dehydration is another major contributor to urinary issues in sheep and goats. When an animal doesn't drink enough water, the urine becomes concentrated, which increases the risk of stone formation. Make sure that your animals always have access to clean, fresh water. Sheep and especially goats tend to drink more when they are provided with cool, clean water, so avoid letting their water troughs sit stagnant or contaminated.
3. Delay Castration to 4-6 Months
Castrating males too early—before they reach at least 4 months of age—can increase their risk for urolithiasis. This is because early castration can cause the urethra to become narrower and more prone to blockages. The best approach is to castrate males at 4-6 months of age, as this allows the urethra to develop and grow larger, reducing the likelihood of future urinary issues.
4. Ensure a Properly Balanced Mineral Supplement
Sheep and goats need a balanced supply of minerals to support overall health, including their urinary system. An imbalance in minerals, particularly calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, can contribute to the formation of urinary stones. It’s important to offer a high-quality mineral supplement formulated specifically for your species and ensure that it’s properly balanced.
5. Acidify Urine with Ammonium Chloride
Ammonium Chloride
Can be purchased at most livestock feed stores
Stones need a basic urine pH to develop so acidifying your animal’s urine can help prevent stones from ever forming. Giving your animal 2 teaspoons of ammonium chloride per 100 lb of body weight per day can help maintain their pH between 6-6.5. You do not want to give this continuously though, and instead “pulse it” by giving it once a day for 3 days then stop giving it for 4 days, and continue that pattern every week – 3 days on; 4 days off. If you give ammonium chloride every day, your animals will eventually build up a tolerance, and it will no longer work. This is why the commercial grain products with added ammonium chloride do not work!
It is also important to make sure you do not acidify your animal’s urine too much! Making your animal’s urine to acidic can also cause problems such as pain and inflammation. You want to maintain their urine pH between 6 and 6.5. You can test their urine periodically with regular pH strips from the drug store.
Unfortunately, Ammonium Chloride tastes terrible and just adding it to their feed or water can cause a decrease in intake (which is not what we want!). You can mix it in a drenching gun and administer directly into their mouth, or if you want something a little more fun for them and you, you can mix it up with a boxed Jell-O mix and pour into an ice cube tray for easy dosing!
If you have further questions about the proper use of ammonium chloride, please contact us!
6. Monitor for Early Signs of Urinary Problems
Even with prevention strategies in place, it’s still important to monitor your animals for any early signs of urinary distress. Symptoms of urolithiasis may include:
Enlarged Bladder of Blocked Goat
Image courtesy of Gold Ridge Vet’s Patient Records
Difficulty urinating or straining to urinate
Vocalizing
A hunched posture
Pain or discomfort when touched around the belly or hindquarters
Swelling in the lower abdomen or near the penis
If you notice any of these signs, contact a veterinarian immediately. Early intervention is key, even though treatment options may still be limited.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Urolithiasis is a serious condition that can cause significant harm to your sheep and goats, especially if not caught early. Unfortunately, treatment for urinary stones is difficult and expensive, and in many cases, surgery may be required. This makes prevention all the more important. By managing your animals’ diet, providing fresh water, ensuring proper mineral balance, and delaying castration to the appropriate age, you can dramatically reduce the likelihood of urolithiasis and ensure your animals lead healthy, happy lives.
As with any aspect of animal husbandry, taking a proactive approach to your animals' care will always pay off in the long run. Prioritizing their health and well-being through preventative strategies is the best way to keep them free from the pain and complications of urinary stones
If you have further questions regarding urolithiasis, please call, text, or email us! With the strategies outlined above, we hope to give your animals a happy, long life!
References:
D.G. Pugh, P. (2002). Sheep & Goat Medicine. Saunders.
Nwaokorie, E. E., Osborne, C. A., Lulich, J. P., Fletcher, T. F., Ulrich, L. K., Koehler, L. A., & Buettner, M. T. (2015). Risk factors for calcium carbonate urolithiasis in goats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 247(3), 293–299. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.247.3.293
Sickinger, M., & Windhorst, A. (2022). A systematic review on urolithiasis in small ruminants according to nutrition-dependent prevalence and outcome after surgery. Veterinary World, 809–817. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2022.809-817
Related Resources
https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/goat-successfully-treated-urinary-blockage
https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/urinary-stones-in-goats/
