Southern Hills Veterinary Hospital
Posted by Dustin Horton // August 9, 2011 // Local Business
Hi, my name is Dr Lydia Aris. I opened Southern Hills Veterinary Hospital just over one year ago. We are a full service veterinary hospital, with appointments available five days a week. I see dogs, cats, pocket pets, sheep, and goats. I would like to thank everyone for the great welcome and continued support that we have received and let everyone know we are excepting new patients!
Today, I would like to write about a potentially devastating problem that occurs in neutered male sheep and goats (small ruminants). They are prone to getting uroliths which are stones formed in the urine. Wethers are at greatest risk because castration of young males removes the hormonal influence (testosterone) necessary for the penis and urethra to reach full size. These uroliths are not a problem by themselves, but what often happens, is they block the flow of urine so the animal is unable to void. These animals will strain to urinate, but no urine is voided. Sometimes they have a bloody discharge, or crystals at the end of the penis. They can also strain so greatly, that they get a rectal prolapse. Urinary blockage is a medical emergency and does not have a good prognosis. Early recognition and treatment provides a better prognosis, but often does require surgical intervention. If the obstruction is not removed, the bladder will burst in a relatively short period of time. I believe the best treatment is prevention. There are several things that promote the formation of uroliths. 1. Increased concentration/stagnation of the urine due to decreased drinking, enough potable water unavailable or increased water loss sometimes due to very hot or cold weather. 2. Early neutering of lambs/kids. 3. Increase in urine pH (alkaline) of the urine. 4. Imbalance of mineral composition in their diet. If wethers receive a grain ration, it should always contain ammonium chloride, as well as the proper Calcium-Phosphorus ratio. Plenty of clean and fresh water, at a reasonable temperature, should always be available. Lastly, it is currently thought that deferring castration until 3 to 5 months of age may reduce the incidence of obstructive calculi. Surgical neutering is more costly, but the presence of testosterone until after puberty will greatly help the full development of their urinary tract. If there are any questions or comments, please contact me via email through our website, TullyVet. com
