Case Study

Jejunal foreign body in a 2-year-old F Mastiff dog

A 2-year-old F Mastiff dog was presented for weight loss, inappetence, and vomiting for 2 weeks. On physical examination the body score was 2/5 and the abdomen was painful on palpation. A cranial abdominal mass was noted on survey radiographs. No laboratory work was performed.

A 2-year-old F Mastiff dog was presented for weight loss, inappetence, and vomiting for 2 weeks. On physical examination the body score was 2/5 and the abdomen was painful on palpation. A cranial abdominal mass was noted on survey radiographs. No laboratory work was performed.

DX

Intestinal foreign body. Necrotizing enteritis, jejunum. Chronic lymphoplasmacytic colitis.

Sonographic Differential Diagnosis

Distal small intestinal foreign body consistent with fabric or moderately dense material.

Image Interpretation

An 8 cm, distal small intestinal foreign body obstruction was noted in this patient.

Outcome

On exploratory laparotomy a foreign body (rubber toy and fabric type material) was removed. The patient recovered without event.

Clinical Differential Diagnosis

Abdominal mass/pain – organ enlargement (congestion, inflammation, neoplasia), neoplasia, GI tract foreign body, pyometra, partial gastric torsion, pancreatitis.

Sampling

Biopsies of the jejunum revealed acute necrotizing enteritis with hemorrhage whereas colonic biopsies showed a moderate diffuse chronic lymphoplasmacytic colitis.