Surgery of the Injured Dulla in Dromedary Camels (Camelus dromedarius)

Objectives: to investigate classification and possible causes of dulaa disorders and effect of surgical removal on male sexual desire. Animals: Twenty six male camels (age=6-13years) with dulaa injuries were admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia. Sixteen camels showed signs of protruding, fluctuating and edematous dulaas. Other ten camels showed signs of completely entrapped dulaas. Procedures: Under deep sedation and local infiltration anesthesia, injured dulaa was surgically amputated. Entrapped dulaa was gently pulled out before performing surgery. Results: Amputated protruded dulaa had ulcers, edema and hematoma. Entrapped dulaa had ulcers, impaction with food, fibrosis and penetrating wounds. None of the operated males showed reducing sexual desire 4 weeks after the operation. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: It was concluded that injured dulaa was either protruded or entrapped. Sharpness of canine teeth may play a role of having dulaa injury in camels, so it is recommended to perform teeth rasping annually just before the reproductive season. Amputation of dulaa had no effect on male sexual desire in dromedary camels.