A number of inherited congenital defects of bones and joints, such as epiphysitis, achondroplastic dwarfism, osteopetrosis, and incomplete development of limbs, taillessness and tail deformities have been reported. However, we could not locate any reports of sacral deformity, taillessness and atresia ani occur¬ring in the same animal.
A 2-day-old male Holstein was presented because it had no anus. Physical examination revealed a cleft between the 2 ossa coxarum instead of a sacrum. The animal also lacked a tail (Fig 1). Radiographs reveal¬ed a rudimentary sacrum and no coccygeal vertebrae (Fig 2). The pelvic inlet had a foamy appearance from retained feces and gas in the rectum associated with atresia ani.
After sedation with xylazine and infiltration of the area with a local anesthetic, rectostomy was perform¬ed to correct the atresia ani. The animal recovered without complications.