Meet Hanky the Goat
Hi everyone! My name is Hanky, and I’m a dwarf Nigerian boy goat.
Mom says I’m old enough to talk about something that’s very important for keeping boy goats healthy, so here goes!
Mom and Dad originally had twins Tom and Jerry. After Jerry went to the Bridge, they brought me home and Tommy settled me right in.
We had so much fun, playing in our yard butting heads, enjoying hay, apples, and carrots, sleeping in the sun, and just doing what comes naturally to us. Life was great!
Tommy’s Struggle with Urinary Blockage
Then one day, Tommy started acting funny. He didn’t want to play as much. He started grinding his teeth, which is something we do when we’re hurting. He started twitching his tail and slowed down his eating and drinking.
Each day got a little worse until Mom noticed and started watching Tommy like a hawk. And then she saw he was straining, crying a little, and his stream was getting smaller. The fur and skin around his pee-pee was wet too.
Mom went on that thing she calls “the internet” and found that, just like boy cats, boy goats can block up in their pee-pees. She called that nice vet lady for help.
Usually that lady’s nice, but this time she did bad things to Tommy. She poked at him and played with his pee-pee and made him drink some awful stuff! She also told Mom to give Tommy that medicine several times a day, which Tommy hated!
After a few days the medicine didn’t work, and soon Tommy couldn’t pee at all. Mom called the vet lady and after poking again this time she was really mean! She made Dad hold him sitting up like a human and cut off part of his pee-pee!!
It hurt and Tommy cried, but right after he had a big stream of pee! Mom continued to give Tommy that awful stuff several times a day. But I guess that was a good thing, because after a few days, Tommy was back to normal!
After that, both Tommy and I had to drink the nasty stuff each month. We didn’t like it, but Mom said it kept us healthy.
Sadly, a couple of years later, Tommy got sick again, and this time Mom couldn’t save him. But she says the medicine is why I’m still healthy today, so she gives it to me every month like clockwork.
Understanding the Problem
That’s Hanky’s way of telling it. Now let me fill in the details.
Male goats – especially dwarfs, show goats, or those fed grain – are prone to developing urinary stones (urinary calculi) that block peeing. Once blocked, the situation can quickly turn fatal without treatment.
This picture shows the anatomy of a male goat’s urinary tract.
Unlike females, male goats have a narrower urethra, and it extends into an even tighter structure called the pizzle. The pizzle is used for reproduction, but unfortunately its narrowness makes blockages more likely.
What Happens During a Blockage
If a goat is blocked and ammonium chloride fails to help, the next step is to “snip the pizzle” to open the urethra and allow urine to pass through again.
And that’s what we had to do. The vet anesthetized Tommy as much as was safe and had my husband Howie hold him in a seated position just like a person, so she could extend it. Tommy was tough and fought the anesthesia, so the vet had to cut it off with him semi-conscious. You can imagine how uncomfortable that was for both Tommy and Howie (or any male 😜 )!
Tommy recovered well and monthly ammonium chloride treatments for goats gave him a couple more years of health and happiness.
Unfortunately, once a goat has blocked, it becomes more likely to happen again. That was the case with Tommy. He blocked again despite ammonium chloride treatments. This time his blockage was so severe that his urine backed into his swollen bladder, and the only humane choice was to put him to sleep.
Treatment and Prevention
Ammonium chloride is the best treatment and preventative available. Sometimes it’s mixed with Gatorade, but even that doesn’t mask the horrible taste (yes, I taste almost all my animals’ medicines 🤷♂️).
I have found a better way to administer it though – 2 small scoops of ammonium chloride mixed with 1 teaspoon of water and 1 teaspoon of molasses. This combo makes a sweeter 15ml dose that’s easier to give. The scoop is always included in the ammonium chloride container.
Hanky gets this 5 days in a row every month. So far (knock on wood), he has never blocked, and I’m hopeful he will never have to experience this horrible situation.
Female goats don’t have this problem, so his “sister” Fawn doesn’t need this treatment. She’s thankful – she tasted it once and never wanted anything to do with it again!
You can purchase ammonium chloride here and easy-to-use 35ml syringes here (note you want the long tipped syringes for easier administration).
Signs to Watch For
- Reduced appetite, drinking, or playing.
- Restlessness, tail twitching.
- Tooth grinding, always a sign of pain.
- Straining to pee, dribbling, or bloody urine.
- Dampness around the penis from dribbling.
Any of these are reasons to call the vet!
Preventative Care for Male Goats
- Provide a proper diet: Focus on hay as the main food. Avoid grain, which increases the risk of crystals.
- Offer balanced minerals: Use commercial goat minerals with a calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of 2:1 or 3:1. This is critical for urinary health.
- Ensure fresh, clean water daily: Goats must stay hydrated to flush their systems. Monitor intake closely; reduced drinking may signal trouble.
- Don’t wether too early: Delay neutering until 5–6 months old to allow the urethra to fully develop to its widest size.
- Give ammonium chloride monthly: Regular treatment helps prevent urinary issues, particularly for dwarf goats and others at higher risk.
Final Thoughts
Urinary blockages in goats are painful, dangerous, and can be deadly. But with the right prevention – diet, minerals, water, and ammonium chloride – you can give your boys the best chance at staying healthy.
As Hanky would say: “Take care of our pee-pees, and we’ll keep playing, munching hay, and soaking in the sunshine!”
The Goldilocks Barn Tool Dilemma
Barn work doesn’t have to mean twice the effort. Adjustable and shorter tools are here for us at last!
If you’re 5’4” or under, barn tools can feel like a Goldilocks problem—men’s tools are too big, kids’ tools are too small, and nothing is just right. That makes chores harder than they need to be.
The good news? Manufacturers are catching on:
- Shovels now come in smaller 42” versions – perfect for shorter arms.
- Grub hoes can be found at about 40” instead of the usual 4–6 feet.
- More rakes and other tools now come with adjustable handles.
- Even lawnmowers (like my EGO) have adjustable heights for different users.
Quick Tip: Measure yourself before buying with a tape measure or a piece of wood cut to your ideal tool length. Research lengths and handle sizes instead of grabbing the first tool on Amazon.
The right fit makes barn work faster, easier, and a lot less tiring.
Click here to purchase the 42″ right-sized shovel that I use (the green one in the picture).
Click here to check out an adjustable EGO mower.
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