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The most important aspect of urolithiasis prevention is dietary modification. Ideally, the urolith(s) should be submitted to a laboratory for urolith analysis to determine composition. In the absence of this information, gross appearance of the urolith and ration evaluation should assist in figuring out the likely calculi involved. For phosphate calculi, excessive dietary phosphorus should be avoided, and rations should be adjusted to contain a calcium to phosphorus ratio of 1.5–2 : 1 and dietary magnesium should be less than 0.2%. Grain and alfalfa feeding should be reduced. For individuals fed a total mixed ration, roughage content should be evaluated. The primary excretion of phosphorus in ruminants is saliva, not urine. Therefore, if roughage is increased in the ration, rumination increases and salivary excretion of phosphorus is increased while solute in the urine is decreased. For silica uroliths, avoidance of at‐risk pastures and feedstuffs is recommended. High‐risk pastures can be used to graze female cattle instead of bulls and steers.

Adequate water consumption is critical in the prevention of urolithiasis. Ensuring access and availability to good quality water sources should be evaluated. If quality water sources are available, addition of sodium chloride to the ration should be considered to increase water consumption, ultimately creating dilute urine. According to Hawkins, sodium chloride has an effect of displacing magnesium and phosphorus from nucleation centers and thus preventing crystal development and urolith formation [1]. Silica uroliths form predominantly in the last 60 days before weaning; therefore a heavily salted creep feed is recommended for calves in the prevention of siliceous uroliths [4, 27, 42]. Sodium chloride can be fed up to 3–5% of the daily dry matter intake; this level of salt should be gradually increased to this level [4, 27].

Alternatively, reduction in urine pH can be attempted by feeding ammonium chloride at 0.5–1% of dry matter intake in a ration, which may help prevent apatite, struvite, and carbonate uroliths [27]. Feeding a DCAD ration can also be used to lower urinary pH in cattle. Silica urolith formation is not affected by urine pH. Caution should be used with long‐term use; reduced bone mineral density has been reported in mature ewes fed anionic salts long term [43].

As previously discussed, urethral diameter is testosterone dependent. Delaying castration would result in a larger urethral diameter. According to Hawkins [1], a calf castrated at seven months of age could pass a urolith 13% greater in diameter and a bull could pass a urolith 44% greater in diameter than a calf castrated when one month old. While the evidence exists that delaying castration increases urethral diameter, the welfare consequences of delaying castration should be considered prior to implementation. Dietary modification and water consumption would be better areas of focus for prevention.