ABSTRACT
The kidneys in the goat are non-lobulated with a smooth surface, and are about 6–7 cm long by 3.5–5 cm wide. Direct clinical examination of the urinary tract is limited in the goat. Abdominal palpation may reveal pain on palpation in the kidney area, and sometimes an enlarged bladder. Ultrasonography is invaluable to assess the urinary tract and is easy to perform transabdominally in the conscious goat. Radiography is most usefully employed in the form of an intravenous urogram, especially to detect congenital malformations of the urinary tract. A paediatric endoscope is required and, because of the males's anatomical features, cystoscopy is restricted to the female. Renal biopsy is performed under local anaesthesia through a stab incision, and ideally ultrasound guided. Urethrotomy is a salvage procedure to allow urination while the animal recovers from the effects of urolithiasis, such as uraemia, prior to slaughter.
