Dystocia in a ten month old West African Dwarf goat sequelae to faulty breeding practice

Abstract

Breeding of underage animals, though not encouraged in animal husbandry is still very common due to poor management systems in local settings in Nigeria. Although the worldwide incidence of dystocia in small ruminants is low (<4 %), it is still one of the most presented cases in veterinary clinics. A ten month old female West African Dwarf (WAD) goat was presented at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Ibadan with complaint of difficult labour noticed two days prior to presentation. No medication or assistance was given before presentation at the clinic. It was reported that the animal was primiparous and was kept a under semi-intensive management system with other goats. On clinical examination, an oversize foetal head was stuck in the cervix with a left-lateral deviation of the head complicated by unilateral shoulder flexion. The fetus was dead as a brownish pungent smell was dripping from the nose and mouth. This article describes emergency caesarian section in an underage doe due to absolute fetal oversize.