✨ FOREIGN BODY FRIYAY ✨
Meet @pennythecavachon. The way to this gal’s heart is through her tummy (literally). ✂️
Penny presented almost two weeks ago for non-specific, intermittent gastrointestinal signs (ie. diarrhea and vomiting) that initially responded to supportive care, including fluid therapy, an injectable anti-emetic + antacid, broad-spectrum antibiotics and combination pre + probiotics. Penny is on a hydrolyzed protein diet, so her diet was fed as normally. She was suspected to have a mild gastroenteritis secondary to dietary indiscretion since she was offered new treats prior onset of symptoms.
However, Penny’s symptoms continued to wax + wane despite a BAR mentation & normal appetite, so we needed to dig further. 🕵🏽♀️
Low + behold, diagnostic imaging (a comprehensive abdominal ultrasound) ultimately detected foreign material in Penny’s stomach + extending into multiple segments of her small intestine. 🩻
At Vetique, we try our v best to curate an individualized treatment plan & keep it all in house — this way, you conveniently don’t have to bounce around from specialty center to specialty center. Win, win for all.
We didn’t exactly know what to expect once entering the abdomen, but we scrubbed in together & decided to git ‘er done. Birds of a feather. 👩🏽⚕️👐🏽👩🏽⚕️
The tail of the foreign material was linear, which can result in complicated cases of mechanical obstruction. These types of foreign bodies can cause plication of the intestines (think: an accordion), ultimately cutting off body supply + leading to necrosis.
Fortunately, Penny’s intestinal tract was in great shape, & resection + anastomosis was NOT required. 🙌🏽 We were able to remove the entire foreign body through a single stab incision in the stomach (ie. gastrotomy) while avoiding the need for several enterotomies (surgical incision into the intestine). Mom trusted us, & we were able to deliver! ✨
Penny
