In early March, a 70-kilogram male goat from Tong-Rong Elementary School showed distressful groans, rolling on the ground, and no urination observed for several days. Thus, the goat was referred to the National Taiwan University Veterinary Hospital (NTUVH) for diagnosis and treatment.

After a detailed physical examination, the veterinarians of the Section of Large Animal Diseases at the NTUVH found that the goat was emaciated and dehydrated because of long-term improper diet. He also showed abdominal distension and pain. The goat underwent advanced examinations such as X-rays, ultrasound examination, and blood examination. According to X-rays and ultrasound examination, the goat had no urinary tract stones; however, severe ascites, distended bladder, and thicken bladder wall were noted. Therefore, the veterinarians then performed ultrasound-guided urine aspiration to analyze the urine in details. The collected urine was dark red. The urine analysis showed hematuria and inflammation under the microscopic examination. The blood examination showed severely elevated levels of inflammation markers, renal dysfunction, and electrolyte imbalance, which was a life-threatening situation. Therefore, supportive treatments such as intravenous fluids, analgesics, and antibiotics were provided immediately.

On the first day visiting NTUVH, the goat patient was emaciated and had abdominal pain.

After a day of aggressive treatments, the condition of the goat showed no improvement. The veterinarians thus performed surgery of “tube cystostomy,” a urinary catheterization method, to relieve the emergency condition. Cystoscopy was also performed during the cystostomy, and it revealed thickening and hemorrhages of the bladder mucosa. To further clarify the etiology of the condition, the veterinarians conducted a biopsy of bladder tissues and the specimens were sent for histopathology analysis. The result of histopathology showed cystitis, with no signs of tumors.

The veterinarians pointed out that most of their goat patients were from economic farms. In case goats with urination difficulty did not improve significantly under medical treatment, their owners usually chose euthanasia due to financial concerns. Considering the financial limits of the Elementary School and the educational value of this case for veterinary students and residents, the hospital provided assistance of a big discount to the treatment fee of over ten thousand NTD to treat the ill goat.

A month after being discharged, the goat was urinating normally, and other health conditions were stable and good. The vets of the NTUVH educated the staff of elementary school regarding proper husbandry of goats and responsibilities of being owners of the goat. The values of the case for NTUVH include responsibility and participation in community affairs by NTUVH and its educational value.

The professional veterinary team performed urgent relief surgery for the goat. The picture shows cystoscopy examination during cystostomy surgery.