Case Study

Jejunal Foreign Body in a 6 year old FS Yorkshire Terrier dog

This 6-year-old FS Yorkshire terrier presented for persistent vomiting that was non-responsive to hospitalization and medical treatment. Blood analysis revealed elevated BUN, albumin, total protein, and sodium levels consistent with dehydration.

This 6-year-old FS Yorkshire terrier presented for persistent vomiting that was non-responsive to hospitalization and medical treatment. Blood analysis revealed elevated BUN, albumin, total protein, and sodium levels consistent with dehydration.

Sonographic Differential Diagnosis

Mechanical ileus secondary to small bowel foreign body, with intestinal and peri-intestinal inflammation. The inflammatory component is important to recognize because it suggests compromised bowel, which may affect surgical approach, anesthetic, and recovery time.

Image Interpretation

A segment of small bowel is moderately distended with echogenic material possessing fragmented or dirty distal acoustic shadowing. The sonographic penetration through greater than 50% of the affected lumen supports minimally dense intraluminal material such as fabric or cloth. The involved bowel wall is mildly thickened and hypoechoic, with subtle loss of wall layering suggesting mural edema/inflammation. The peri-intestinal mesentery is echogenic, also supporting inflammation. Image 3: Foreign bodies removed during the procedure: Hands from a Pooh Bear stuffed animal.

DX

Jejunal foreign body

Outcome

The patient responded well to surgery, with an uneventful recovery. Similar foreign bodies were removed 3 weeks later in a separate episode of gastrointestinal obstruction.