Apr2015_UQ Vets News Dayboro
UQ Vets Dayboro,
125 McKenzie Street, Dayboro.
Phone 3425 1544 ALL HOURS
Bladder stones in goats
Over the last few weeks we have treated several goats with bladder stones. Bladder stones are, unfortunately, all too common in this area and one of the biggest contributors to the condition is nutrition.
Goats are browsers, meaning they are designed to forage amongst often sparse and woody vegetation. The trouble starts when we start supplementing their diet with lucerne or grain.
The stones are formed over time by an excess in minerals which are high in these feeds. From the bladder the stones then start to travel down the urethra and eventually block the passage of urine. This is not only extremely painful but also life threatening. The first thing you may notice is your goat appearing to strain to urinate, urinating frequently, or just dribbling small amounts.
Treatment for bladder stones requires surgery which is very costly and not always successful, so prevention is definitely the way to go.
If you have goats there are a few things you can do to minimise the risk of bladder stones becoming an issue. Firstly this is primarily a problem for the males.
1. Don’t castrate before 3 months of age.
2. Only feed grassy hay, no lucerne, grain, horse feed etc.
3. Make sure your goat has access to plenty of fresh clean water.
4. If you want to feed a treat every now and then, stick to carrots, green beans, cucumber or cabbage.
5. Have a salt lick available. This will encourage them to drink more water.
On a more positive note goats can make wonderfully entertaining companions. If you would like more information please give the clinic a call, we’d be happy to talk you through the important aspects of goat ownership.
Puppy Pre-School: And for something completely different, we are pleased to announce that puppy pre-school has come to UQ Vets Dayboro.
Puppy pre-school gives your pup the chance to start socialising with other pups and people in a safe environment. You will be given all the support you need to help settle your pup into his new home and become a happy and confident member of your family.
Your puppy must be vaccinated before starting. If you have a puppy between the age of 8-18 weeks and would like to start getting them socialised, please call the clinic for more details.
Staff Training: Lastly, the clinic will be closed for three hours one afternoon a month for staff training. A vet will be available in the event of an emergency, just follow the prompts and your call will be re-directed. Our next training day will be Tuesday 14th April from 12:30-3pm.
Brought to you by the team at UQ Vets Dayboro
Phone: 3425 1544.
