SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF COMPLICATED INJURIES OF THE TAIL IN SHEEP AT AL-GASSEEM

The present study was carried out on 9 sheep with injuries in the tail. The wounds were severely complicated to the degree that the routine wound management seemed to be of no value for treatment. The radical treatment for these complicated cases was partial amputation of the tail. Amputation by making an incision in the shape of inverted V letter seemed to be an easy and efficient approach for treatment. Coapitation of the sides of the amputation stump made the sutures to be in the midplane where the operative site became less prone to irritation
 
postoperatively and gave the tail good appearance. The operation was easier in lambs than in the adult sheep. Partial amputation can be considered a radical intervention that saves time in treatment of the severely complicated injuries and the cases which have myiasis. The approach avoids the use of insecticides which are dangerous not only for the animal life but also for the people who may consume the milk or meat of the treated animals.