Baxter the goat: A tale of urinary stones and second chances

Baxter the goat-a UF Large Animal Hospital success story.

Baxter the goat, pictured in the middle, was successfully treated at UF’s Large Animal Hospital for urinary stones stuck in his urethra.

By Sarah Coulson

Baxter, a Nigerian dwarf goat, found himself in a predicament last September. He couldn’t pee! This seemingly simple problem was actually a life-threatening emergency, called “obstructive urolithiasis,” meaning he had developed urinary stones stuck in his urethra.

Sound scary? It is! Urinary stones are one of the most common medical emergencies in male goats, and it’s essential to act fast to save their lives. Baxter was lucky; the team at the University of Florida’s large animal emergency service diagnosed his condition quickly, and he underwent emergency surgery that very night.

Today, Baxter is happy and healthy, back to his goatly ways. However, not all goats are as fortunate.

Dr. Anje Bauck, a professor of large animal surgery at UF, emphasizes that prevention is key.

“The best thing is to avoid the disease in the first place by following sound management practices,” she said.

The culprit? Diet. Feeding male goats high concentrate diets, including grains, corn, and sweet feed, significantly increases their risk of developing urinary stones. Even commercial goat pellets can be problematic, as goats tend to eat less forage when given them.

“High forage, low concentrate diets are best to help minimize the risk of this disease,” Bauck advises. “Castrated, male goats should be allowed to graze and have access to good quality grass hays like Timothy or Coastal hay. Grain and pellets are usually not necessary as part of their diet.”

If you suspect your goat might have a urinary obstruction, don’t hesitate. Get them to a veterinarian immediately! Common signs include straining to pee, peeing in small amounts, or vocalizing when peeing. Sometimes the signs are more subtle, like lethargy, self-isolation, or general malaise.

Remember, the UF Large Animal Emergency team is available 24/7, ready to help your furry friend no matter the hour.