Oesophageal obstruction in dromedary camels: report of 4 cases

Oesophageal obstruction and its surgical management in 4 camels is reported. The signs during clinical examination were dysphagia, salivation, and swelling at different levels of ventral aspect of the neck. The site of obstruction was confirmed by plain and contrast radiography. In 3 cases, obstruction was present at distal cervical part of oesophagus at the level of 5th cervical vertebra and in one case it was at thoracic inlet. Conservative and surgical treatment was carried out; one case was successfully recovered by conservative treatment and two cases showed the recovery after oesophagotomy and one case died after oesophagotomy.