Courtesy of C. Antonczyk
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.
- 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 volvolus.
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.