ABSTRACT
Key Clinical Message: Schistosomus reflexus (SR), an unusual congenital defect in calves, can be diagnosed grossly by exposed viscera and curved spine with hindquarters twisted up toward the head. SR is typically associated with dystocia and fetal deaths in cows. Hence, cattle breeding programs must be aware of these anomalies to avoid losses from abnormal, non-viable calves. Abstract: Schistosomus reflexus (SR) is a rare and fatal congenital malformation in bovines from autosomal recessive disorders. We report a typical case of SR in a non-viable calf after the cesarean section of a crossbred Friesian cow. It was characterized by the inversion of the spinal column and a pronounced ventral curvature causing the cranium to be positioned near the sacrum and tail, along with exposed thoracic and abdominal viscera, limb ankylosis, and tongue protrusion. The postoperative management of the cow, along with the outcome, is also described here.
ABSTRACT
Objective: This study focuses on the orocutaneous fistula (OCF), a pathological channel between the buccal cavity and the outer surface (skin) of the face, causing leakage of saliva and fluid from the oral cavity to the face externally and also the ectopic incisors (EIs) erupted in a rare position in a day-old calf. The surgical interventions for these congenital defects were further described in this study. Materials and Methods: The calf was presented with an abnormal and external opening in the left submandibular region, having congenitally exposed jawbone and muscles with the resemblance of a linear groove, and was clinically examined based on the problem of swallowing milk due to lateral passing out of liquid through the unnatural tract before entering into the digestive tract. Clinical observation revealed an OCF with four EIs that abnormally erupted in the externally exposed groove of the fistula. Reconstructive surgery (RS) was performed along with a thorough guided approach to repair the defect, emphasizing normal functionality of the buccal cavity connecting to the pharynx and cranial esophagus, and smooth extraction of the EIs was ensured without making any deep wound. Results: After 2 weeks of postoperative care with supportive medications, the calf was quite recovered, having no further complications in the submandibular region along with no visible defect in swallowing. Conclusion: OCF in calves can be fruitfully treated by RS before getting severely infected and complicated. Outside the oral cavity, submandibular EIs can be easily removed, ensuring no further bleeding and defect.
ABSTRACT
Background: Spaying is considered a reliable surgical method for birth control and preventing potential feline reproductive diseases. Aim: This experiment was carried out to evaluate the suitability of the left lateral flank approach for routine spaying in cats. Methods: Twenty-seven queens of 7-24 months old and 1.5-3.5 kg body weight (BW) were spayed through flank laparotomy on the left lateral side of the abdomen. The cats were categorized into two groups: Group A (n = 12; cats did not yet give birth) and Group B (n = 15; cats gave birth before). The studied variables included age, BW, vaccination history, skin incision length, total surgical duration, the time needed for ligating ovarian pedicles and uterine body, suture materials, postoperative complications, and healing duration. Results: There were no significant differences (p < 0.05) in age, BW, and vaccination history of the cats between the two groups. The mean incision length and total duration of surgery were greater in the case of Group B than in Group A. The ease of entering into the peritoneal cavity, duration of ligating the ovarian pedicles, and transfixing the uterine body did not vary significantly (p < 0.05) between the groups although a longer time was taken for Group B than Group A. 62.96% spayed cats were found with no postoperative complication. The observed complications included wound site infection (7.41%), dehiscence of suture lines (11.11%), bleeding (3.70%), and oozing (14.82%) from wounds which were further treated successfully for complete recovery. Conclusion: Left lateral flank approach can be an effective method of spaying in queens without any life-threatening complications.
