A report on Intussusception: a life threating condition in younger dogs

Abstract

Intussusception is recognized as a common cause of bowel obstruction in small animals. Intussusception occurs primarily in dogs under 1 year of old and most common at ileocolic junction. An 8 months old non-descript dog with history of vomiting, diarrhoea, anorexia, dehydration was came in small animal surgery unit, veterinary college and research institute, tamilnadu, India. There was no defecation except fresh blood coming from the rectum. The animal was living on water for last two days although dehydration was found on physical examination. Tenderness was appreciable on abdominal palpation while a firm, painful mass felt in the mid-caudal abdomen. The clinical history and physical examination was suggestive of intestinal intussusception. Radiographic studies, including contrast radiography and ultrasonography were extremely helpful in making a diagnosis of intussusception and revealed a sausage-shaped mass with folded layers of intestinal wall. The intussusception was found to be ileocolic on laparotomy. The dog underwent surgical resection and end-to-end anastomosis was performed. After surgical treatment the health status was found normal up to 3 months post operative observation