Thursday's Internet Edition, August 07, 2008. Urinary Calculi in Sheep and Goat by Sam Silvers - Edwards County Extension Agent - Urinary calculi (sometimes called waterbelly) is common in male sheep and goats on high grain rations. Grain is high in phosphorous. The disease occurs when calculi (stones), usually comprised of phosphate salts, lodge in the urinary tract and prevent urination. Normally, phosphorus is recycled through saliva and excreted via feces in ruminants. High grain, low roughage diets decrease the formation of saliva and therefore increase the amount of phosphorus excreted in the urine. Lack of water and water sources that are high in minerals are also contributing factors. If left untreated, affected animals will die when the bladder bursts and urine fills the peritoneal cavity and is absorbed into the bloodstream. While urinary calculi can occur in intact males, wethers are at greatest risk because castration of young males removes the testosterone necessary for the penis and urethra to reach full size. Lambs castrated within the first month of life are most vulnerable. In females, calculi are formed, but excreted due to anatomic differences in the male and female urinary tract. Symptoms include abdominal discomfort which may cause affected animals to have a humped-up appearance. Wethers are restless, kick at their belly and make frequent attempts to urinate. In goats, attempts to urinate are often accompanied by bleats and rapid twitching of the tail. Grinding or gritting the teeth while resting is also an indication of pain. Before complete occlusion of the urinary tract, urine may dribble from the urethra, dry on the preputial hair, and leave mineral deposits. Dribbled urine may be bloody. Palpation of the sheath may reveal significant hypersensitivity, distension and/or swelling Treatment of urinary calculi depends upon the location of the obstruction and could be as simple as snipping off the urethral process to allow calculi at the end of the tract to dislodge. Animals can be given oral solutions of ammonium chloride in an attempt to dissolve the crystals by acidifying the urine. Tranquilizers, antibiotics and anti-flammatory drugs may help to naturally dislodge some calculi. In more advanced cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to save valuable animals or pets. It is easier to prevent urinary calculi than to treat it. Feed rations which contain a calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of at least 2:1. Most commercial lamb and meat goat diets contain the proper ratio of Ca:P as well as ammonium chloride. When feeding textured feeds or mixed rations (e.g. whole grain + pellets), make sure the animals are not picking at certain feed ingredients. Horse feed should not be fed to small ruminants because it is not balanced for ruminants and can lead to stone formation Adequate water intake is necessary especially when it is very hot or very cold. Otherwise, the urine becomes concentrated, which makes the formation of stones more likely. Provide a good high calcium mineral that is formulated for feedlot lambs.

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