What is Urolithiasis in goats?
Urolithiasis occurs when urinary stones or crystals have formed within the urinary tract of the animal. While these stones or crystals initially form within the bladder, they can migrate into the urethra at any stage, where they can do one of two things:
1. The stone or crystal, if small enough, can pass through the urethra to be excreted in the urine
2. The stone or crystal, if larger than the diameter of the urethra, gets stuck in the urethra where it forms a blockage (obstruction), preventing urine from being able to be excreted the way it should be.
Some of the early clinical signs of urinary obstructions include:
- blood in the urine
- straining to urinate (intermittently or constantly)
- a decrease in urine production
- dribbling urine instead of seeing a steady stream and dribbling when walking
- pain during urination (groaning, crying or more subtle signs such as shifting weight from side to side and feet stamping)
prolonged urination
- swishing the tail when attempting to urinate (a signs of pain)
- abdominal pain (flank watching-looking at the abdomen and a saw horse stance)
Some of the late clinical signs include:
- loss of appetite
- lethargy +/- depression
- abdominal swelling (if the abdomen has filled with urine due to bladder rupture)
- swelling around the prepuce (if the urethra has ruptured causing urine leakage)
- seizures
- death
Check out our video where we run you through an example of a real live case of urinary obstruction in a goat. This goat received immediate veterinary intervention.
For more information about this topic, head over to our Facebook page here
[ Ссылка ]
