Endoscopic Diagnosis and Management of Cases of Oesophageal Obstruction in Dromedary Camels

This study examined 18 dromedary camels suffering from different oesophageal disorders. These animals were either less than 6 months old (8 cases) or aged one year and above (10 cases). Each camel underwent special examination of the oesophagus and the associated clinical signs were noted. The sites of oesophageal obstruction were cervical (10 cases), thoracic inlet (2 cases), cervical and thoracic, both (2 cases) and thoracic (4 cases) regions. The causes of oesophageal obstruction were foreign bodies, feed straw or chronic oesophagitis. The obstructions were managed by repeated siphoning (4 cases), removal using crocodile forceps during endoscopy (8 cases), oesophagotomy (1 case which later died) and advancement of the obstructive mass into the rumen (2 cases). In present study, 15 camels recovered following various treatments. Two cases were euthanatised and one was slaughtered owing to their poor prognosis.