Modified tube cystostomy technique for management of obstructive urolithiasis in small ruminants: procedure and outcome in 17 sheep and goats.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the surgical technique and clinical outcome of small ruminants treated for obstructive urolithiasis using a modified tube cystostomy (MTC) technique. ANIMALS: 15 goats and 2 sheep treated with an MTC between March 2018 and February 2023. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: Animals were diagnosed with obstructive urolithiasis on the basis of history, physical examination, and ultrasonographic examination. An MTC was performed with sedation and a local block. Postoperative medical management was instituted to help reestablish urethral patency, and Foley catheters were removed after successful urination. RESULTS: Animals were hospitalized an average of 3 nights (range, 0 to 14 nights). Complications included urine spillage in the abdomen and accidental deflation of the Foley balloon. Six animals were euthanized due to poor prognosis or failure to regain urethral patency. Foley catheters were removed an average of 15.7 days postoperatively in animals that regained urethral patency. Long-term (> 1-month) follow-up was available for 8 animals, with an average postoperative survival time of 19.4 months (range, 1 to 58 months). Four animals were lost to long-term follow-up. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This MTC technique is an effective means of catheterizing the urinary bladder in small ruminants. It can be performed under field conditions and serve as a standalone procedure for providing temporary urine egress. Patient size is limited by the length of the introducer, and an intact, distended urinary bladder and plan for reestablishing urethral patency are important considerations.

Comparison of firocoxib and meloxicam for pain mitigation in goats undergoing surgical castration.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to determine whether firocoxib (FIRO) or meloxicam (MEL) was effective at providing analgesia after surgical castration in goats. ANIMALS: 18 intact male crossbred goats (6 to 8 months old) were enrolled with a mean weight of 32.6 (± 2.9) kg. METHODS: Surgical castration was done under injectable anesthesia by a licensed veterinarian. Twelve bucks were surgically castrated and given either FIRO (n = 6) or MEL (n = 6). Six bucks served as controls (CNTLs) and were not castrated. Outcome measurements included visual analogue scale, infrared thermography, plasma cortisol, plasma substance P, and kinetic gait analysis. All outcome measurements were obtained at -24, 4, 8, 24, 48, and 72 hours. RESULTS: All 3 treatments were significantly different from each other at the 24- and 48-hour time points, with MEL animals having lower visual analogue scale scores when compared to FIRO animals; CNTL animals exhibited the lowest plasma cortisol levels (3.19 ng/mL; 95% CI, -1.21 to 7.59 ng/mL) followed by FIRO (7.45 ng/mL; 95% CI, 3.10 to 11.80 ng/mL) and MEL (10.24 ng/mL; 95% CI, 5.87 to 14.60 ng/mL). FIRO had an average mean decrease in gait velocity change (-54.17 cm/s; 95% CI, -92.99 to -15.35 cm/s), while MEL had an increase in gait velocity when compared to baseline values (14.54 cm/s; 95% CI, -24.27 to 53.36 cm/s). Control animals had an average mean of -3.06 cm/s (95% CI, -41.88 to 35.75 cm/s). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results from this study showed that there were some analgesic effects from administering MEL when compared to bucks that received a placebo treatment (CNTL).

Characterization of short- and long-term morbidity and mortality of goat kids born to does with pregnancy toxemia.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy toxemia is a common metabolic disease of periparturient small ruminants. Information on its effects on metabolism and perinatal adaptation of newborn lambs and kids is lacking. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate differences in morbidity, mortality, and common biochemical and hematologic variables between pregnancy toxemia kids (PT) and control kids (CON). ANIMALS: Sixteen kids born to does being treated at the hospital for pregnancy toxemia (blood beta-hydroxybutyrate concentration [BHB] > 1.2 mmol/L) and 12 kids from healthy dams (dam BHB < 1.2 mmol/L) that kidded at the hospital. METHODS: In this cohort study, serial measurements of blood L-lactate, glucose, and BHB concentrations, arterial blood gases, hematocrit, total protein concentrations, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) concentrations, and body weight were compared between groups over the first 72 hours of life. Long-term follow-up was performed after 3 months. RESULTS: Pregnancy toxemia kids were more likely to require tube feeding at 0 and 12 hours (relative risk 7.7 [1.13, 52.45] and 2.8 [1.39, 5.65]). Pregnancy toxemia kids were more acidemic (7.26 ± 0.069 vs 7.34 ± 0.079, P = .003) and hyperlactatemic (8.17 ± 2.57 vs 5.48 ± 2.71, P = .003) at birth than CON kids. Control kids were 1.1 [1.01, 1.77] times more likely to survive to discharge and 2.2 [1.15, 4.20] times more likely to survive to 3 months than PT kids. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Pregnancy toxemia kids had higher short- and long-term mortality and were more likely to require perinatal intervention. Weight loss in the first few days could be a useful predictor of nonsurvival.