FIRST, Testosterone causes continued development of the urinary tract, so that the internal diameter is larger on a kids that are not castrated prior to 12 weeks of age or 50 lbs. there are some who claim it does not make a difference, but it does.

Do not feed Milo. it has too much phosphorus and will cause formation of Urinary calculi.  Feed with corn needs to have 10lbs/ton of ammonium chloride while feed with milo needs 17 lbs per ton of ammonium chloride. Milo can be "least cost" for corn without change of label, but they do not increase the amount of ammonium chloride either. MAKE SURE that feed is not made with milo prior to feeding to wethers or bucks.

Water needs to be cool in summer, and in the sun in winter. Keep troughs clean.

Symptoms: goat kicks at belly, stretches, attempts to urinate, but can't.  You can feel the urinary meatus (opening) and you may feel 'sand'.  He may dribble, but not urinate. He may not even dribble, and if this occurs he will appear bloated.      THIS IS AN EMERGENCY! This goat will die of a ruptured bladder if the urine is not drained.

First: Sit him on his rump, you may need two people. Have on hand very sharp scissors. Put a fist in the area where testicles used to be, this is the location of the sigmoid flexure. The fist will keep him from retracting his penis. You will need to pull the sheath down, to expose the penis. Many times the tip of the penis will be blue or black, or the squiggle (penile process) at the end of the penis will be black, blue, and obviously full of gravel.  You must amputate the discolored part with scissors.  Be sure to keep your face out of the way, since if this is where the obstruction is, you will get a face full of sand and urine. If he does not urinate then, he will need to be catheterized by a vet, or he will die.

You can drench with 1 tsp ammonium chloride in 20cc water twice a day, or you can make up the onion recipe for an emergency until you can check the tip of the penis.  Banamine is good to help with discomfort, since it is a smooth muscle relaxant.  Be sure to give penicillin if you have to amputate the tip of the penis.  Don't be afraid to do this, or the wether could die.  Also, remember, he needs to urinate so much, that he will feel relief.  I have also worked out a stone the size of a pea from a goat's urethra.  I could see it through the penis.

Coni Ross

ONION RECIPE

1 LARGE PURPLE ONION DICED FINE

6 LARGE CLOVES OF GARLIC DICED FINE

6 LARGE LEMONS JUICED

COOK ON LOW HEAT IN CORNING WARE OR STAINLESS STEEL WITH LID ON UNTIL ONIONS ARE CLEAR.  DRENCH WITH THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE JUICE.  IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE THIS WOULD WORK, BUT IT DOES.

IF U.C. PERSISTS IN A GROUP OF GOATS WHEN CASTRATION IS RIGHT AND FEED PHOSPHORUS CALCIUM RATIO IS CORRECT (2:1). THEN WATER SHOULD BE SENT TO A LAB TO CHECK MINERAL CONTENT. OFTEN, HIGH MAGNESIUM IS THE CULPRIT IN WELL WATER.

CONI ROSS