Chicama Run Family Farm

Did you know that kidney stones in goats will kill them?  It usually happens when you fix a male goat and they have a "back up" of urine in their system.  It can also happen when they don't eat enough roughage - and too much feed.

Our little buck had this problem recently and we were lucky to catch it early.  Of course it was in the evening and days that most places that MIGHT have something to help are closed.  Originally we thought he was just constipated and treated him for that.

Thank goodness for GOOGLE and iPhones where I can search up data while I'm standing out in the field watching him!

This HAPPENED to work for us - but don't always count on it.  He was still peeing at this point and some blood was coming out.  If your goat is NOT peeing - GET A VET!!

SO - immediately we took him off feed and gave him roughage only.  This included literally dragging him out into the field for grass (he didn't feel well and was very lethargic) and even bringing him pine branches.

I also gave him a Magnesium supplement which I read can help pass the stones as it will coat them so they don't get larger.  This was pretty much his only real water source (besides the grass) for a few days as you don't want to push a ton of water through him until the stones are coated or broken up.  They make stuff that can help with that - I just didn't have it available.

I was out there 3-5 times a day making sure he would eat and I would watch him pee and poop.  Yep - exciting times on the farm!

But this time it was rewarding because I could see him get a little better every day and I knew I made significant progress when we started coming outside on his own and eating grass.  Then when he started to pay attention to the girls in the next field I feel that I had overcome a huge obstacle.

Now - you can come say HI to Sonic as he is back in with his girl friends and hanging out with the rest of the goats.  He made it through a serious crisis which I am glad I didn't over react to and focused on the problems and what I could do.  If it HAD become more serious (no pee etc) then the vet would have been called immediately.  I like this little guy though so I'm happy to have him back around though I still don't think he's quite thrilled with me.