Question of the Day

This dog has a chronic linear foreign body with multiple intussusceptions. The foreign material in the stomach and duodenum, gravel sign (mineral opacities), and plication suggest a linear foreign body and chronic partial obstruction.

Distended bowel loops with a convex soft tissue appearance could indicate intussusception, however, ultrasound is a better imaging modality to confirm this. Chronic partially obstructing linear foreign bodies can cause intussusception as the peristaltic motion of the intestines attempts to move the foreign material forward.

Decreased serosal detail is likely in part due to poor body condition although the presence of peritoneal effusion is also likely.

Click here to see normal canine abdominal radiographs.

Click here to see a postmortem image showing multiple intussusceptions and plication pattern with markedly distended bowel loops.

Radiographic interpretation and images courtesy, Dr A. Zwingenberger and Veterinary Radiology. Normal radiograph links courtesy, Imaging Anatomy Univ. of Illinois Vet Med.