Hernia in sheep and goats
Sheep and goats are frequently presented with different forms of hernias to veterinary clinics. The aim of this study is to investigate the outcome of the surgical treatment of abdominal, umbilical, inguinal and scrotal hernias in sheep and goats. Fifty-eight clinical cases (sheep = 44, goat = 14) were presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia from September, 2003 to September, 2006. These animals had abdominal (sheep = 30, goat = 10), umbilical (sheep = 6, goat = 4), inguinal (sheep = 7) and scrotal (sheep = 1) hernias. All the cases of hernias in sheep and goats were subjected to full study including the history of the case, classification of hernias, the size of the hernial ring, surgical repair of the hernias, adhesions between the hernial sacs in each case, the postoperative care and follow up of the cases. The results revealed that gender had an effect on the incidence of hernia. The incidence of abdominal hernias was higher in females and the incidence of inguinal hernia was higher in males. There was a positive correlation between the history of hernia and the degree of adhesion. For the sheep, 26 out of 30 cases of abdominal hernia had good outcomes and the healing was excellent. There were postoperative complications in 4 ewes. For the goats, there were slight swellings at the site of operation in 2 out of 10 cases of abdominal hernia, while the remaining 8 cases had good outcomes. There was one case of umbilical hernia with an umbilical abscess that had broken down with sepsis formation at the surgical site. In conclusion, the success rates of surgical treatment for all types of hernias were very high and there were no significant differences in the success rates among the different types of hernias in both sheep and goats. The types of suture materials and the types of hernias had no significant effect on the outcome of the surgical treatment.
Cause and type of hernia in farm animals
A true hernia is defined as having a hernia ring, sac, and contents. Hernias of the abdominal wall are common in all domestic species and include umbilical hernias and inguinal or scrotal hernias. Hernias may be direct (through a rent in the body wall) or indirect (through an already existing ring, such as the inguinal ring or umbilical ring). Congenital hernias tend to be indirect, although direct, traumatic hernias may arise during dystocia or obstetrical manipulations. Umbilical hernias vary in size and may contain only fat or omentum, or in more severe cases, intestinal loops. In dogs, Weimaraners, Pekingese, Basenjis, and Airedale Terriers are overrepresented. In many cases, umbilical hernia is seen in dogs with concurrent cryptorchidism. Hereditary etiology is suspected but not proved. In cattle, the Holstein Friesian breed is overrepresented. Diagnosis in all animals is by observation of the hernia sac, palpation, ultrasonography, and possibly radiographs. Surgical closure of the body wall defect is indicated in most cases to reduce risk of future intestinal incarceration.
Inguinal or scrotal hernias are common in pigs, horses (particularly draft breeds and warmbloods), and many breeds of dogs and are suspected to be hereditary. Inguinal hernias can occur in bitches and may involve the uterus. Clinical signs vary from nonpainful inguinal or scrotal swelling to acute colic in horses or vomiting in dogs, particularly if the small intestine is strangulated. In horses, palpation per rectum can diagnose intestinal loops in the vaginal ring, which can be gently removed to provide relief before transport to a surgical facility. Any devitalized bowel is resected via midline celiotomy. In stallions, testis-sparing laparoscopic closure of the inguinal rings has been performed in both standing and recumbent horses with good outcome and subsequent fertility. In foals and calves, medical management through reduction of the hernia and placement of a figure-eight bandage ha
Post-opt Considerations: in calf hernia correction
Post-opt Consideration
rule for post-op hernia success is to restrict the animal’s movement. That usually is easiest to achieve with a dairy calf. With beef calves, she says to not return them straight to pasture. Instead, keep them in a small pen for four to six weeks. Also consider using an abdominal bandage for 24 to 72 hours to provide support. Depending on the animal’s anatomy and incision size, an alternative would be the use of a stent bandage.
Two additional treatment factors to consider are the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics. “I'll oftentimes use a dose of penicillin at the time of surgery, especially if it's just a simple, uncomplicated repair with no sign of infection, just to cover for any contamination—especially if it's a field surgery I find that is usually adequate.”
From a management perspective, instructs clients to gradually re-introduce animals to forage over a three- to five-day period to prevent excessive rumen fill and pressure on the incision.
How to correct hernia in a simple surgical ways
Four Considerations For Calf Hernia Repair In The Field
Hernias in young calves can often be addressed surgically in the field. But before taking that step,
In simple terms, you need to know when to cut and when to run
If you opt for surgery, you want to do it while the problem is new and the calf is young. The reason for that is straightforward.
“When you fix hernias in a young calf, there’s not a lot of weight on the abdomen from the rumen and intestines,
The opposite is true as well. Larger animals tend to have larger hernias which are more challenging to address, especially outside the clinic or hospital.
Here are four additional considerations before you opt for surgery in the field:
1. Take the time to do a thorough physical exam. The reason: at first glance, some abnormalities look like simple hernias but are instead something more complicated to address, such as a Richter’s hernia or an abomasal fistula.
2. Determine whether the hernia is non-reducible. Baird says classically, simple hernias either contain small intestine (enterocele) or omentum (epiplocele) that is easily replaced in the abdominal cavity by depressing the hernia sac. The contents slide with little to no resistance from the hernia sac into the abdomen. When one releases the sac, the contents return readily
3. Evaluate whether infected umbilical structures are present. If so, in these scenarios, the hernia often requires more intensive surgery than what you may be able to accomplish in the field.
4. Consider the size of the hernia. Most simple hernias successfully treated in the field will be no more than 4 to 5 centimeters (three fingers in size) and have a hernia ring
less than 5 centimeters in diameter,
Umblical hernia in calf
A hernia is a protrusion of the contents of a body cavity through a weak spot of the body wall. This may be from accidental or a normal anatomical opening, which does not completely fulfill its physiological function. It is a common defect in calves Congenital umbilical hernias are of concern for heritability, although many umbilical hernias are secondary to umbilical sepsis. Multiple births and shortened gestation lengths are two important risk factors for congenital umbilical hernias in calves . These are probably the result of a polygenic threshold character, passively involving a major gene whose expression is mediated by the breed background. Sire and umbilical infections are associated with risk of an umbilical hernia in calves during the first 2 months of life The frequency of umbilical hernia in the progeny of males ranging from 1-21% is consistent with the hypothesis that enhancer is the carrier of major dominant or co-dominant gene with partial penetrance for umbilical hernia Hernias may be small at birth and gradually enlarge with age. The contents of an umbilical hernia are usually fat, omentum and, in some larger hernia, segments of small intestines. In cattle, large umbilical hernias are not uncommonly seen with an average frequency of 4-15%. They develop from improper closure of the umbilicus at birth due to the developmental anomaly or hypoplasia of the abdominal muscles or from manual breaking or resection of the cord close to the abdominal wall
Several methods for hernial treatment have been described. Ligation of the hernial sac, use of clamps, suturing of the hernial sac and radical operation are normally performed to correct the umbilical hernia, although open herniorrhaphy is the most common method of veterinary treatment. Despite its common use, open method of herniorrhaphy has many demerits especially bacterial infection that might cause recurrence of hernia. Whether closed herniorrhaphy can minimize these postoperative complications is uncl
Umbilical hernias may be congenital or acquired, and they are seen in foals, calves, pups and pigs . Many small umbilical hernias may appear to resolve spontaneously, but large or strangulated umbilical hernias will require surgical correction. Inguinal hernia is relatively common in bulls, rams and boars. Scrotal hernia is merely an extension of an inguinal hernia. Congenital inguinal hernia is rare in bulls, but it may result in evisceration at castration. Acquired inguinal hernias occur in mature bulls and rams
Surgical and bandaging options are available but are unlikely to be practical or successful within the constraints of the export process. Animals in distress should be euthanased or sent for emergency slaughter. Pregnant animals with severe abdominal or pre-pubic herniation may be induced to abort or calve with corticosteroids (dexamethasone) and prostaglandins (cloprostanol, dinoprost trometamolin) and should be assisted as necessary at delivery.
Hernia in goats
A hernia may present as a soft, elastic, reducible swelling except when trapped gut is being strangulated or acute rupture causes haemorrhage and oedema. Umbilical hernias occur in the ventral abdomen, the result of the umbilical ring failing to close after birth. The sharp edge of the umbilical ring can be palpated. Traumatic hernias occur in the ventral or lateral abdomen and are the result of trauma from a horn or a fall. Acute and severe hernias may be associated with pain and distress. Hernia associated with rupture of the pre-pubic tendon occurs in older cows generally in late pregnancy due to failure of stretched and thinned abdominal muscles. Scrotal hernias involve herniation of abdominal content through the inguinal canal of males. The scrotum is unusually enlarged and strangulation is a real risk. Close external and internal (rectal) palpation may assist in confirming the diagnosis.
This is the protrusion of abdominal contents (mesentery or intestinal tract) through a defect in the abdominal wall, the skin remaining intact.
Size of the lesion depends on the extent of the defect and the amount of intestine or other content involved. Hernias may be congenital (umbilical hernias) or acquired such as traumatic, inguinal and scrotal hernias, and rupture of the pre-pubic tendon.
Hernias are unlikely in the animals selected for the live export process. They are mentioned because they may resemble haematomas, ruptured urethra, abscesses and peri-parturient oedema.