Ultimobranchial body cyst in a neonatal goat

Abstract

History and clinical signs:
A two-day-old black and white pygmy goat kid was presented to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory – San Bernardino Branch, for euthanasia and necropsy with a history of what appeared to be a fluctuant mass under the skin of the ventral side of the neck. On clinical examination, an approximately 10 cm in diameter, fluid-filled structure was palpated under the skin along the ventral aspect of the neck (Fig 1). The goat kid had pronounced dyspnea and distress particularly during palpation. Euthanasia was performed with an overdose of barbiturate and a full necropsy was performed.