Clinical Case 9 - Page 2
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Courtesy of C. Antonczyk
The owner was asked to bring Duke to the practice as quickly as possible. On admission, the vet finds the following:
Clinical Examination
The vet performs a clinical exam and finds the following:
- Duke is dull and cooperative (even though he is normally aggressive and impossible to examine).
- The heart rate is 200 beats per minute and the mucous membranes appear pale with prolonged capillary refill time.
- Peripheral pulses appear weak.
- Duke's abdomen is visibly distended and there is a firm oblong viscous pressed firmly against the left body wall.
- Duke is making unproductive retching attempts.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
- Gastric dilation-volvulus.
What do you think can be felt along the left body wall?
- The spleen. This organ often distends in this condition and is being pressed against the body wall by the enlarged stomach.
What would you do next?
- Click here to see what the vet did.