Indian Journal of Veterinary Surgery

The study was carried out on 16 adult bovines (6 cattle and 10 buffaloes) suffering from caecal dilatation. The animals were presented with the history of partial or complete anorexia, depression, cessation of defecation, fever, tympany, abdominal distension and pain. Per-rectal examination revealed distended viscus on the mid to dorsal right side of the abdomen. Ultrasonographic examination revealed dilated caecum and/or colon extending from the right flank up to the 11th intercostal space or further cranially. Serum biochemistry revealed hypochloraemic, hypokalemic uncompensated metabolic alkalosis. 9/16 patients responded to either conservative or surgical treatment and 7 animals either died during the therapy or euthanised. Rectal temperature, respiratory rate, rumen motility, packed cell volume, haemoglobin and differential leukocytic count did not differ significantly between survivors and non-survivors but heart rate was markedly high in nonsurvivors. Total leukocyte count and serum lactate were significantly (P<0.05) higher in non-survivors than survivors. In conclusion, ultrasonography was found to be a valuable diagnostic aid for caecal dilatation. Clinical studies involving more number of cases may be useful to identify ultrasonographic and other biochemical based prognostic indicators in animals suffering from caecal dilatation.