Ammonium Chloride for Goats
Does it really prevent urinary calculi?
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Urolithiasis: the formation of bladder stones, or “urinary calculi”— is a leading cause of disease and death in male goats. The treatment, expense, and poor prognosis for animals suffering from obstructive urolithiasis provide a strong incentive to prevent this condition from developing. Using ammonium chloride for goats is often recommended as the best option to prevent the formation of urinary calculi. But does it actually help?
Purpose of Ammonium Chloride
It’s important to realize that ammonium chloride won’t replace a balanced diet that minimizes metabolic conditions predisposing male goats to urinary calculi. It should be used within the framework of a good dietary and management program to help counteract any undetected or uncontrollable variables that may contribute to urolithiasis.
Most urinary calculi form in alkaline conditions. Since goat urine is naturally alkaline (pH of 7.5 to 8.5), ammonium chloride functions as an acidifier to lower urine pH to a target range of 5.5 to 6.5. In principle, this prevents the formation of calculi and dissolves existing calculi, but not all types of calculi respond to urine acidification.
Photo credit: Rebecca Krebs.
Ammonium Chloride vs. Different Types of Urinary Calculi
Urinary calculi are categorized into four basic types: phosphatic, calcium carbonate, silicate, and calcium oxalate.
Phosphatic calculi
Phosphatic calculi form due to an excess or imbalance of dietary phosphorus. Grain-fed goats are prone to these stones. Phosphatic calculi are the only type of stone that urine acidification with ammonium chloride can prevent or treat with a reasonable chance of success.
Calcium carbonate calculi
Calcium carbonate calculi form in male goats consuming feeds that are high in calcium, such as legumes (alfalfa, clover, etc.). While calcium carbonate stones may be less likely to form in low pH conditions, they’re structurally stable and won’t dissolve with urine acidification.
Silicate and calcium oxalate calculi
Silicate and calcium oxalate calculi are commonly found in goats that consume forages high in silica or oxalates. Urine pH may not be a significant factor in either the formation or dissolution of kidney stones. Both types are best prevented by restricting male goats from forages containing high levels of silica, such as certain tropical grasses and varieties of Napier grass, as well as high levels of oxalates, which are found in beet and spinach greens.
How does ammonium chloride affect the different types of stones?
Since phosphatic calculi are the only variety that respond to ammonium chloride, identifying the type of calculi affecting a goat and assessing risk factors in the herd, including the herd’s history with urinary calculi, is necessary to determine if ammonium chloride is a viable option for prevention or treatment of urolithiasis.
Photo credit: Rebecca Krebs.
Furthermore, goats with fully obstructive phosphatic urolithiasis, in which stones entirely block the urinary tract and prevent the goat from passing any urine, can’t be treated with ammonium chloride because the acidic urine won’t circulate among the stones to dissolve them. This is an emergency that requires veterinary attention. If phosphatic calculi are only partially obstructing the urinary tract, rapid urine acidification may dissolve them.
Dosing Ammonium Chloride Correctly
Feed manufacturers routinely add ammonium chloride to goat grain mixes at a rate of 10 to 20 pounds per ton, or 0.08 to 0.16 ounces per pound of feed. However, numerous studies have demonstrated that this amount of ammonium chloride is insufficient to lower urine pH to 6.5. A daily dosage of 350 mg/kg to 450 mg/kg has been found to be effective in maintaining a urine pH of 6.5 for a 24-hour period. For a 200-pound goat, this works out to a dosage of about 1.1 to 1.5 ounces, or approximately 7 to 9 teaspoons. Because ammonium chloride is unpalatable, it’s difficult to make goats freely eat that amount of the product, even when it’s mixed in grain. To administer the full dose, the owner may need to orally drench the goats with ammonium chloride mixed in corn syrup or fruit juice to mask the flavor.
Photo credit: Rebecca Krebs.
Ideally, since each goat responds to ammonium chloride differently, the specific dosage should be tailored to the individual goat: administer just enough to maintain a urine pH of 5.5 to 6.5, but no more. Overdosing can cause the goat’s system to become harmfully acidic. Urine pH should be measured using urine pH test strips approximately 6 hours after administering ammonium chloride to determine if the dose was effective.
Continuous Feeding vs. Pulse Dosing Ammonium Chloride
Bucks and wethers that are continuously fed ammonium chloride may not maintain sufficiently acidic urine over extended periods of time because the body adjusts and attempts to revert to its normal alkaline state. Furthermore, numerous studies demonstrate that goats treated with the suggested dose of ammonium chloride exhibit higher urine calcium content, which has an alkalizing effect. Researchers propose that these increased calcium levels may be attributed to bone resorption, suggesting that prolonged acidification could contribute to the development of osteoporosis. Additionally, more calcium in the urine may increase the risk of calcium-containing calculi. Whether or not the acidity of the urine compensates for this effect is debatable.
Photo credit: Rebecca Krebs.
Due to these complicating factors, many researchers and veterinarians don’t recommend continuous feeding of ammonium chloride as a preventive measure. Instead, they suggest pulse dosing goats by administering ammonium chloride for 5 to 7 consecutive days every month to dissolve any small phosphatic calculi before they become problematic. Pulse dosing preserves the acidifying effect of ammonium chloride and minimizes the possibility of bone resorption.
A Tool, Not a Magic Potion
Although ammonium chloride isn’t a magic potion, it can play a role in preventing and treating phosphatic urolithiasis. Goat owners must understand its limitations and proper use in order to administer it effectively and achieve desired results.
REBECCA KREBS is a freelance writer who breeds registered Nigerian dwarf goats at Krebs Dairy Goats in the Rocky Mountains of Montana. She enjoys poring over pedigrees and participating in the DHIR milk test program. Find her farm online at www.Krebs.farm.
Sources:
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- Jones, M. (2021, January). Urolithiasis in ruminants. Merck Veterinary Manual. www.MerckVetManual.com/urinary-system/noninfectious-diseases-of-the-urinary-system-in-large-animals/urolithiasis-in-ruminants
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- https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/items/db77e3bb-68a1-4a03-a2ab-075f67296bbf
- Stratton-Phelps, M., & House, J. K. (2004). Effect of a commercial anion dietary supplement on acid-base balance, urine volume, and urinary ion excretion in male goats fed oat or grass hay diets. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 65(10), 1391–1397. doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2004.65.1391
Originally published in the August 15, 2025 digital issue of Goat Journal.
