Case Of the Month

Linear Gastrointestinal Foreign Body

Gus String FB with accordion pleating.
Linear gastrointestinal foreign body is not just for puppies any more. See how Gus, the 6-year-old Miniature Schnauzer went retro to his puppy days of pica. Imaging & Interpretation by Eric Lindquist DMV (Italy), DABVP.

History: A 6-year old intact male Miniature schnauzer with a history of vomiting, lethargy, dehydration, inappetance, weakness, and hematuria was presented for evaluation. A piece of yarn was found in the vomit and in the stool. Abnormalities on urinalysis were proteinuria, bilirubinuria, and hematuria. On CBC and serum chemistry hemoconcentration, lymphopenia, elevated albumin and BUN (27), and hyperglycemia (129) were evident. Snap Elisa CPL was within normal range. Survey abdominal radiographs showed splenomegaly and multiple small pockets of gas throughout the GI tract. The animal was treated with cefazolin, Pepcid, Cerenia, phenoxybenzamine, Rimadyl, Baytril, and IV fluids.

Outcome

Post surgery the pet recovered well and was discharged on a course of amoxicillin and Baytril.

Clinical Differential Diagnosis

(Remo Lobetti PhD, DECVIM):

Vomition – foreign body, pyloric hypertrophy, neoplasia, IBD, intestinal parasites.
Hematuria – UTI, uroliths, neoplasia.

Sampling

On exploratory laparotomy a linear foreign body was found anchored in the stomach with multiple small intestinal perforations. The foreign body was removed and an intestinal resection and anastomosis performed.