Rocky the rockstar
Rocky, a year old daschund presented with quite unusual behaviour stretching out his back and shivering. He also declined his breakfast which is not him.
Examination revealed a tense sore abdomen and enlarged loops of intestine. Interestingly dogs may look like they have back pain but its abdominal particularly if they stretch out into the prayer position.
Abdominal ultrasound revealed an intestinal foreign body and an intusseption. This is where abnormal intestinal motility (movement) causes it to pass inside itself. Unfortunately this can cause severe damage to the blood supply, leading to part of the intestine dying, a very serious situation.
Emergency surgery after stabilisation revealed a foreign body in the stomach (brocolli stem), another foreign body in the lower intestine and the intusseption with associated damage. The damaged area was removed and rejoined.
This surgery is not risk free with a possibility of intestinal leakage, infection and sometimes worse. Thankfully Rocky recovered well but did need a lot of monitoring, nursing and home care.
Rocky was an unusual case, presenting with possible back pain and no vomiting which is normally a very common sign with intestinal issues.
Abnormal behaviour should always be investigated particularly any possible abdominal pain in a normally active happy young dog.
