Surgical correction of gastric impaction in three captive Emu

Abstract

Gastric impaction is a most common managemental entity in capitive reared emu. Impactions consisted of sand, rocks, or gravel in combination with grass, leaves, wood, plastic and metallic objects. Three live emu showing signs of impaction and three dead ones suspected to have impacted stomach were presented to the veterinary clinics, ramohalli, Bangalore. Diagnosis was confirmed by abdominal palpation, and coelomic survey radiography. Proventriculotomy was performed on three emus to relieve impaction in the proventriculus. Postmortem examination of the three dead emu revealed severe dehydration and impaction of the stomachs. One bird died on 5th day of post surgery and remaining two birds recovered uneventfully. Good managemental practices were important to minimize losses caused by impaction of the stomach in emu birds, while proventriculotomy remains the most effective approach to the problem.