Urinary calculy suspected in 7-month old wether. What do I do???

[Granolamom]

Thanks so much, you guys! I went out there this morning, and he is his usual, sweet, energetic self again. I will be watching him like a hawk for the next 2 weeks, and can't wait for the AC to get here, so that I can start giving it to him.
The self-regulating thing is sooo true, I'm starting to see that!
Our little guy (who's name is Luigi, by the way) is drinking water like it's going out of style, and eating hay for the first time EVER (he's simply refused to eat it up until now).
As a matter of fact, all three of them used to turn their noses up at any kind of hay I offered to them, until yesterday, when all this drama took place. (When I bought them, the owner told me about this, but I did not believe him) Go figure!
The vet gave me his home phone number (since today is Sunday), and if any blockage happens, I will call him right away. So far, so good, though.
Gonna go wake up hubby now, because it's time to go outside and give Luigi his shot (ARGHHHHH!!!!!).

 

[username taken]

The vet gave me his home phone number (since today is Sunday), and if any blockage happens, I will call him right away

WHOOOO-HOOOOOO! You have a great vet right there!

I'm so happy everything is going so well!​

 

[Granolamom]

Quote:
WHOOOO-HOOOOOO! You have a great vet right there!

I'm so happy everything is going so well!

Well, it is now 9 o'clock in the evening, and I'm not sure where we are with our little guy. He spent most of the day in a corner of the goatshed. He eats brush, but nothing else, and he drinks water okay. I had to leave home for several hours today, and when I returned, sat with him for quite a while, but did not see him pee. He's definitely still straining, and during the times where I was watching, not a single drop came out.
He's not bleating like he's in pain, and will still get up and play with his sister, but does not have as much interest in it, as usually.
The vet felt his bladder yesterday, and it was empty. If I were to feel for it, where would I try to find it? Would I be able to feel it if it was full? I have felt around his penis area, but since I don't know exactly what I'm feeling for, can't make a judgement. Anybody know?

 

[username taken]

to be honest, I have always ultrasounded for the bladder, to see how full it is, never felt for it.

how long has he been on the antibiotics for?

 

[Granolamom]

Yesterday morning was the first shot (subcutaneous), and today we gave him the 2nd.

 

[username taken]

so he's had 24 hrs or more on the antibiotics, right?

that worries me ... I would have expected at least a slight improvement ...

usually, antibiotics are given intramuscular ... what antibiotic are you using?

 

[Granolamom]

Oh boy, I was afraid you'd ask me that! I was so happy that he could do SOMETHING for my little guy, that I didn't even ask what kind of antibiotic he was using. It says "Naxcel" on the bottle, and I give him 1ml.
I kinda figured he would have an improvement, too, and actually this morning he had gotten better, jumped around, drank water like crazy, and acted normal. Then, this afternoon, he was all withdrawn again. I cut brush for mom and sister, and he never got up to get any. I hand fed him some, which he ate fine, and then pestered him with a bowl of water, until he drank some of it. I did this 3 times today. He's getting some brush, hay and probiotics (no grain). The water has ACV in it, because I don't have the Ammonium Chloride yet (should get it tomorrow, I hope), and I wanted to do something. He's not crying, just very quiet.
Forgot to mention: he was grinding his teeth all day yesterday, but no longer does that. Is that an improvement...?

 

[username taken]

(Sheep)

Administer by intramuscular injection at the dosage of 0.5 to 1.0 mg ceftiofur equivalents/lb body weight (1 to 2 mL reconstituted sterile solution per 100 lb body weight) every 24 hours for 3 consecutive days.

(Cattle)

Administer by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection at the dosage of 0.5 to 1.0 mg ceftiofur equivalents/lb. body weight (1 to 2 mL reconstituted sterile solution per 100 lbs. body weight). Treatment should be repeated at 24-hour intervals for a total of three to five consecutive days.

Grabbed that off the Naxcel website since its not an antibiotic we use here in Australia. From what I hear it is the drug of choice for UTI. Looks like the dosage and injection method is correct. Yes, its a good sign that he's stopped the teeth grinding - means he isnt in as much pain.

Hmm, this really is a hard one. If it were my guy I'd want to figure out for sure whether he was passing anything - either put him in a pen covered with newspaper/blankets, or fashion a bit of a nappy (diaper) for him. If he's still managing to pass some I'd wait till morning to contact the vet, if he's not passing anything, I'd use the emergency number.

Also, if it were me, I'd be happier if the vet removed the urethral process, just in case.​

 

[Granolamom]

You know, I suggested that to the vet yesterday (couldn't remember the name for it, but explained the "hair-like thing at the tip of the penis", and he knew what I was talking about. He was not keen on the idea at all, and said that the only type of surgery if he was completely blocked, was the worst-case scenario one you mentioned (which results in him peeing like a female).
He also said, that he would not perform this, and we'd have to take him to the University of Georgia.

I'm glad to hear about the teeth grinding. Did not know, that this means pain in goats. Man, I am SO making this up as I go (I've only had these wonderful creatures for 4 months), but I guess that's how you learn: by asking questions, reading up, watching others, and sometimes improvising or going with your gut.
I will go out there and put something under him, that will help me figure out, if he's passing any liquid at all. It's driving me bonkers, not to know.

 

[username taken]

I'm not surprised that he wouldnt do the perineal urethrostomy (the 'pee like a girl' surgery) - it is extensive and difficult and expensive. But, for some people, their pets are more important than the money which is why I mentioned it. Out of all my goats, only one would ever get that treatment (an old angora wether named Gizmo, who was my first ever goat

) But I'm surprised that he didnt want to cut off the urethral process (the hair thingy) since that is relatively straight forward.

But, it does sound like you have a good vet who has a general knowledge about goats, which is GREAT, plus he knows who he can refer you to in difficult cases.

Trust me, even experienced goat producers such as myself are often making things up as we go along

I have a sick doe myself at the moment, and for a long time myself, my vet and my mentor were just feeling our way through it, not really knowing what the problem and solution was. Now we understand the problem, we are fiddling around experimenting with different solutions, we dont know for sure which will work!