CASE REPORT: RUMENOTOMY FOR CHRONIC RUMEN IMPACTION IN A 4- YEAR-OLD SOKOTO GUDALI COW – OUTCOME AND LESSONS LEARNED

This report describes the surgical management and postoperative outcome of chronic rumen
impaction in a 4-year-old Sokoto Gudali cow. The animal was presented to the Large Animal
Unit of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, with a four￾month history of inappetence, persistent standing, progressive weight loss, and intermittent
bloat, which worsened three months postpartum. The animal was managed intensively in a herd
and fed on wheat bran, rice bran, bean husk, and grasses. Physical examination revealed
dullness, dyspnea, abdominal distension, bruxism, rumen stasis, and a firm mass in the left
paralumbar region. Vital parameters indicated mild pyrexia and tachycardia. Hematological
analysis revealed values within reference ranges, with mild eosinophilia. A tentative diagnosis
of chronic bloat secondary to rumen impaction was made, and rumenotomy was performed.
Intraoperative findings confirmed severe rumen impaction with compacted foreign materials.
Although the surgical procedure and initial postoperative period were uneventful,
complications developed by the third postoperative day, including persistent recumbency,
hypothermia, and poor therapeutic response. Due to progressive clinical deterioration, the cow
was humanely slaughtered. This case highlights the need for early recognition and prompt
intervention in chronic rumen impaction, as delayed presentation with systemic compromise
may undermines surgical success and worsen prognosis.