Difference between revisions of "Gastric Foreign Objects"
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
==Signalment== | ==Signalment== | ||
*Dogs affected more often than cats due to their less selective eating habits. | *Dogs affected more often than cats due to their less selective eating habits. | ||
| + | *Puppies are prone. | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
| Line 12: | Line 13: | ||
==Diagnosis== | ==Diagnosis== | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===History=== | ||
| + | Reports of the owner witnessing the animal ingesting an object is obviously very helpful in obtaining a diagnosis. However, there is not a history of this in most cases. | ||
===Clinical Signs=== | ===Clinical Signs=== | ||
| Line 21: | Line 25: | ||
*dehydration - may occur as a result of prolonged vomiting. | *dehydration - may occur as a result of prolonged vomiting. | ||
*hypovolaemic shock - uncommon unless the stomach has been perforated. | *hypovolaemic shock - uncommon unless the stomach has been perforated. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Abdominal Palpation=== | ||
| + | Occasionally it may be possible to palpate an object that is lodged in the stomach. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Laboratory Tests=== | ||
| + | *Haematology - May detect dehydration and a hypoproteinaemia if the patient has a protein-losing enteropathy. | ||
| + | |||
===Plain radiography=== | ===Plain radiography=== | ||
Revision as of 12:16, 19 August 2009
 |
This article is still under construction. |
Signalment
- Dogs affected more often than cats due to their less selective eating habits.
- Puppies are prone.
Description
Ingested objects that are able to pass through the oesophagus may subsequently become a gastric or intestinal foreign object. If small enough, the object may pass through the pylorus and the entire gastrointestinal tract. Others may become intestinal or rectal foreign bodies. Objects that remain in the stomach may be subsequently expelled by vomiting, otherwise they may continue to cause gastric outflow obstruction, gastric distension and irritation.
Diagnosis
History
Reports of the owner witnessing the animal ingesting an object is obviously very helpful in obtaining a diagnosis. However, there is not a history of this in most cases.
Clinical Signs
Some animals may be asymptomatic, otherwise the following signs may present:
- vomiting - due to gastric outflow obstruction, gastric distension and/or irritation.
- inappetence
- anorexia
- dehydration - may occur as a result of prolonged vomiting.
- hypovolaemic shock - uncommon unless the stomach has been perforated.
Abdominal Palpation
Occasionally it may be possible to palpate an object that is lodged in the stomach.
Laboratory Tests
- Haematology - May detect dehydration and a hypoproteinaemia if the patient has a protein-losing enteropathy.