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==Diagnosis==
==Diagnosis==
===Clinical Signs===
===Clinical Signs===
The clinical presentation depends on cause, severity, and site of obstruction. Upper small intestinal obstruction causes a net fluid secretion whereas lower small intestinal obstruction causes a net fluid resoption. Antibiotic responsive diarrhoea is more likely in distal small intestinal obstruction.
====Simple obstruction====
====Simple obstruction====
*Vomiting; the further the obstruction is towards the mouth, the more frequent the vomiting is
*Vomiting; the further the obstruction is towards the mouth, the more frequent and the more volume the vomiting is
*Moribund or in septic shock; if part of the intestine becomes devitalised, resulting in septic peritonitis
*Moribund or in septic shock; if part of the intestine becomes devitalised, resulting in septic peritonitis
*Abdominal foreign body, mass or obstructive ileus may be palpable
*Abdominal foreign body, mass or obstructive ileus may be palpable
*nausea
*nausea
*retching
*retching
*vomiting
*vomiting ± bloody diarrhoea
*abdominal pain
*acute abdomen
*abdominal fluid accumulation
*depression
*depression
===Linear foreign body===
===Linear foreign body===
===Laboratory Tests===
===Laboratory Tests===
*Mild dehydration to septic shock
====Haematology====
====Haematology====
====Biochemistry====
====Biochemistry====
*Hypochloraemia and hypokalaemia acid-base derangement is common in animals with upeer small intestinal obstruction.
====Other Tests====
====Other Tests====
===Diagnostic Imaging===
===Diagnostic Imaging===
====Radiography====
====Radiography====
*Plain abdominal radiography may be all that is needed to reveal the cause of the obstruction.
*Plain abdominal radiography may be all that is needed to reveal the cause of the obstruction. Gas and fluid accumulation may be visible due to intestinal dilation.
*Contrast radiography may be needed if ileus and obstruction cannot easily be distinguished.
*Contrast radiography may be needed if ileus and obstruction cannot easily be distinguished.