Orange pee?

Orange spots (pee?) in the snow in goats pen?  any idea what it could be? I give molasses and apple cider vinegar in warm water.  I just added sweet feed to their goat chow 50/50 with sunflower seeds (could this do it?) They have loose minerals available and I give them pine tree forage in their pen:) any ideas?

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  • We only started eating beets a few years ago, and every time we have them for dinner, someone will say, "Now don't panic next time you pee and look in the toilet." But I do still have a little gasp almost every time I look in the toilet and see that pink or orange pee. I don't think we were eating beets back when this was first posted.

  • You know, it could possibly have been beet tops and skins. They occasionally do have these scraps to eat, but we don't usually have snow so I don't see it.

    I didn't end up taking away the tree since they only nibble at it a little each day, and the urine went back to normal immediately.

    Thank you for the brain power!

  • Thinking outside of goats here ... any chance they've eaten something like beets? That will turn human urine red to orange.

  • You could remove the tree for a few days then put it back and see what happens. 

  • Happy New Year to all who read!

    I'd like to rekinde this 6-year-old conversation about orange pee, as I observed some in my goats' snowy yard today.

    The urine stains are from yesterday, but since evening care was done in the dark, we didn't see it until this morning. This morning's urine is normal color (pale yellow).

    The only thing they have that's different than normal is we gave them our neighbor's Frasier Fir Christmas tree two days ago. They have been curiously nibbling at it but it is definitely not making up the bulk of their diet. I noticed a previous comment in this thread brought up evergreens.

    The other "different" behavior observed was lots of stamping, and a little shivering (5-10 minutes) when they came out in the morning (it's been quite cold in Indy).

    Almost everything I'm finding online says that the tree should be safe and possibly even beneficial; but I'm feeling nervous enough I'm considering taking the tree away. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

  • I was going to say what Sally said- this used to happen all the time with horses in New England.

     

    I wondered about it for awhile till I realized it is just a color the snow turns with old pee on it.  No big deal.

  • there is no more snow so I cant really tell if the changes in diet and water have worked, I found out my husband gave them my leftover black tea (earl grey) to the goats (as a treat) and thought this might have caused the discoloration?  I know we are lacking copper in the area and they dont eat much of their loose minerals, so I don't think that can be it.  The type of pine I was giving them was fir, but I am glad you mentioned it cause my neighbor(who is a arborist) brought home some ponderosa for the girls and I gave it to them Christmas (after the orange problem), but now I know to clean out the ponderosa:O  I hope they are ok... I am hoping cause they have free choice alfalfa, their goat chow and fir to forage that the ponderosa doesn't hurt them, but they do seem to love it and have been gorging on it:O

  • Just a random thought related to the other christmas tree discussion. One adverse effect of ponderosa pine is renal problems. What kind of pine are you giving for forage? Pine needles contain isocupressic acid, which is known to be toxic in cattle. Goats usually have a higher tolerance.

    It is probably dehydration or even nothing, but this is one thing worth considering.

  • Just to add to the colour pee and not sure if this will be the same as our horses but with our mares in winter their pee leaves orange, brownish colouring in the snow.  You will not see this with geldings or stallions.  With horses it is the oxidization that causes this!  It happens all year round but you don't actually see the colour change in summer as it is hitting grass but in winter because of the snow you do.  It might be the same thing for the goats.  Only a thought! In horses it's nothing to worry about!

  • Well, for that goat it would... but it might help you decide whether your heard feeding management should change.

    Jackie K said:

    Yeah and once you do a liver necropsy the possible copper toxicity becomes a moot point....

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