General anaesthesia is known to be associated with the risk of cardiopulmonary depression, therefore the use of a safer means of anaesthesia as an alternative has to be explored. Epidural anaesthesia technique is known for its simplicity, safety and effectiveness and is one of the most frequently used regional anesthetic techniques described for surgical procedures caudal to the umbilicus in small animal practice. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of lumbo-sacral epidural injection of a mixture of 7.5 mg/kg of 2% lignocaine solution and 0.2 mg/kg 0.5% diazepam solution in 10 apparently healthy Nigerian local dogs undergoing caudectomy. Onset of neural blocked recorded was 6.5 ± 1.35 min (mean ± SD), duration of analgesia was 54.4 ± 5.38 min (mean ± SD) and duration of recumbency was 115.1 ± 36.1min (mean ± SD). Changes observed in the Pulse rate (PR), Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), Respiratory rate (RR) and Rectal temperature (RT) were recorded at 10 min intervals throughout the duration of the procedure. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in the mean physiological parameters observed as compared to the baseline values. Blood samples were also taken at 15 min interval throughout the duration of the procedure to determine the effects of the epidurally administered lignocaine-diazepam combination on haematological and serum biochemical indices. No significant differences (p>0.05) were observed in the mean haematological (PCV, RBC, WBC, Hb and CBC) and serum biochemical indices (ALT, ALP, Creatinine and BUN).  It was concluded that epidurally administered lignocaine-diazepam mixture at 7.5 mg/kg and 0.2 mg/kg respectively had a fast onset of neural blockade, adequate and long duration of analgesia without profound effects on haemodynamic and cardiopulmonary system.

<p class="abstract">A 7-year-old lactating Red Sokoto goat was presented to the veterinary clinic, Aliyu Jodi Road Sokoto, with the complaint of inappetance, weight loss, reduced milk output and foul smelling udder four weeks after kidding. The goat weighed approximately 25 kg. The patient appears dull with rough hair coat, the right mammary gland was necrotic and blue-greenish, atrophied, hardened with a lacerated base, painful to touch with foul smelling. Gangrenous mastitis was diagnosed and animal as scheduled for surgery. The surgery was successfully conducted; the animal was later discharged 16 days post surgery.</p>

Postoperative analgesic effects of tramadol and diclofenac in goats presented for diaphyseal femoral fracture management were compared. Eight adult goats aged 10 to 24 months (16±5.2 months) were used. The first group of 4 goats received 3 mg/kg of tramadol intramuscularly (IM), and 2.5 mg/kg of diclofenac sodium was administered to the second group of 4 goats before induction of anesthesia IM. Mechanical pain scores, clinico-physiological and red and white blood cell counts were evaluated over a period of twelve hours post drug administration. The study groups were not revealed to the postoperative pain assessors until the end of the study. There was no significant difference in the rectal temperature values and the analgesiometer readings between the tramadol and diclofenac groups (p<0.05). The variations in the pulse rate, respiratory rate, red and white blood cell counts between the groups fluctuated within the normal physiological limits.It was therefore concluded that preoperative intramuscular administration of tramadol at 3 mg/kg provided similar effective postoperative analgesia with diclofenac at 2.5 mg/kg IM following femoral diaphyseal fracture management in goats.

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Congenital defects, abnormalities of structures or functions present at birth, maybe as a result of genetic or environmental factors or both and in most cases; the exact etiology is not clear but can occur in all animals. These abnormalities are responsible for slowing down of genetic progress and economic loss for the breeders, due to the death of animals.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> Available record of cases presented to Aliyu Jedo Veterinary Clinic, Sokoto from December 2015 to 2019 was used to investigate congenital malformation in ruminants based on species and sex. Surgery was carried out in all the cases with local anaesthesia (infiltration technique) using lignocaine. Surgical procedures carried out were rectopexy (atresia ani), gingivectomy (gingival fibromatosis), superficial keratectomy and temporary tarssorhaphy (dermoid cyst), casting and physiotherapy (contracted tendons).    </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> A total of 47 congenital malformations; atresia ani 22 (46.8%), gingival fibromatosis 18 (38.3%), dermoid cyst 6 (12.8%), and contracted tendon 1 (2.1%) were reviewed in the study. The ovine species had the highest incidence of cases load recorded 23 (48.93%) followed by bovine 17 (36.17%) and then caprine species 7 (14.89%).  The incidence of all malformations was higher in males (68.1%) than in females (31.9%). All cases were attempted surgically with success in all the procedures.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> It can be concluded that male ruminants have the highest prevalence of congenital malformation. Congenital malformations are more frequently seen in ovine and least seen in caprine. Atresia ani appeared to be the most commonly reported cases.</p>

Dystocia in small ruminants mostly occurs when the first or second stage of parturition is delayed. It may occur when the first stage could not progress to the second stage within 30 minutes. In this report, a 2-year-old Yankasa ewe weighing 40 kg was presented at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Sokoto with complaints of straining and protruded mass around the vulva which was noticed 12 hours prior to presentation. Clinical examination revealed dullness, straining, a pinkish protruded mass through the vulva and pregnancy in the last trimester. Laboratory results indicated no parasite, leukocytosis, neutrophilia, eosinophilia and bandemia. Manual obstetrical maneuvers were applied to deliver the fetuses but failed. The lambs were delivered through cesarean section and the prolapsed vagina was surgically managed. The dystocia was strongly believed to have occurred in this case due to faulty fetal disposition which subsequently led to vaginal prolapse as a result of unsuccessful straining in attempt to deliver. This case report indicated that vaginal prolapse may occur as a sequela to prolonged unsuccessful straining. The conditions were managed successfully without intra and postoperative complications and relapse.