Case Study

Thickened ileum in a 9-year-old FS Cairn Terrier dog

A 9-year-old FS Cairn terrier dog was referred for an abdominal ultrasound. There was a history of elevated ALT activity, loss of appetite, and shaking. Mild liver dysfunction had been diagnosed on prior bile acids – pre-prandial 23umol/L; postprandial 28. Abnormalities on recent CBC and serum biochemistry were lymphopenia, elevated ALP, elevated ALT, elevated GGT activity and elevated lipase.

A 9-year-old FS Cairn terrier dog was referred for an abdominal ultrasound. There was a history of elevated ALT activity, loss of appetite, and shaking. Mild liver dysfunction had been diagnosed on prior bile acids – pre-prandial 23umol/L; postprandial 28. Abnormalities on recent CBC and serum biochemistry were lymphopenia, elevated ALP, elevated ALT, elevated GGT activity and elevated lipase.

Sonographic Differential Diagnosis

Thickened ileum can be due to typhlitis, edema, infiltrative disease and less likely neoplasia.

Image Interpretation

The ileocecal colic junction was slightly abnormal in appearance in that the ileum was empty and appeared somewhat thickened measuring up to 0.5cm.

DX

Thickened ileum

Outcome

The owner elected to humanely euthanize the pet after discussing the results of the ultrasound with the emergency veterinarian.

Clinical Differential Diagnosis

Pancreatic pathology – pancreatitis, neoplasia; Liver pathology- acute infectious hepatitis (viral/bacterial/fungal), toxins, trauma, neoplasia, abscess, chronic-active hepatitis; Stomach/duodenum pathology – neoplasia, foreign body, ulceration, infectious (bacterial/fungal)