Common emergency and musculoskeletal repairs in the small ruminant

Abstract

Small ruminants suffer musculoskeletal disease most com­monly due to fracture, wildlife attack, fence injuries, infec­tious or degenerative diseases. Due to their size, behavior and physiologic healing capacity compared to other species, they are excellent orthopedic patients. External coaptation is well tolerated in these species and can be applied in many cases, and often results in a satisfactory clinical outcome. In unfor­tunate circumstances where limb amputation is elected, small ruminants appear to tolerate this procedure and can have fair to good long-term outcomes.