Surgical Management of Chronic Reticulum Impaction in a 3-Year-Old Uda Ram: A Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: Reticulum impaction is an important but underreported gastrointestinal disorder of small ruminants. Reticulum impaction results from mechanical obstruction due to ingestion of indigestible foreign materials, leading to reduced feed intake, altered rumen motility, weight loss, and sometimes death. This report aimed to share a rare clinical documentation of fatal reticulum impaction following surgical intervention in a Uda ram under semi-intensive management conditions.
Case report: A 3-year-old Uda ram weighing 60 kg was presented to the large animal unit of the veterinary teaching hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria, with a 2-week history of inappetence. The ram was managed semi-intensively in a herd and fed on wheat bran and bean husk. Physical examination revealed dullness, unilateral left prescapular lymphadenopathy, slight pallor of ocular and oral mucous membranes, and a firm mass in the left paralumbar region, although vital parameters were all normal. Hematological analysis revealed neutrophilic leukocytosis. A tentative diagnosis of rumen impaction was made based on clinical examination findings. Exploratory laparotomy confirmed reticulum impaction with compacted foreign materials. Despite improvement after post-operative medication with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, multivitamins, and iron supplementation, the ram developed complications such as diarrhea, tachycardia, and tachypnea, culminating in slaughter by the owner on day five post-surgery.
Conclusion: This case highlighted the importance of early detection of reticulum impaction for the prevention of severe consequences following surgical intervention, and feeding a high-quality diet in small ruminant production.