Prevalence and diagnosis of foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract in dogs

The percentage of the spread of foreign bodies in domestic animals is quite high. In some cases complications arise that require complex reconstructive operations. Unfortunately, there remains a high risk of death. The article presents a retrospective analysis for 2021-2022 of the appeals of owners with their pets (dogs, cats) to the veterinary clinic of the city with complaints about the presence of foreign bodies in the digestive tract of animals. The research was carried out on the basis of the veterinary clinic of Omsk, based on the evaluation of the electronic database “Vetmanagerˮ and the journal for the registration of sick animals, form No. 1-vet. The data obtained were ranked by species and breed, age, seasonality and location of the foreign body. Foreign bodies of the digestive tract in animals were found in 12% of cases of all diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In dogs, the disease was registered in 54% of cases, mainly in animals younger than 1 year old. According to the research results, the following dog breeds are most predisposed to swallowing foreign objects: huskies (9.78%) and Labradors (11.9%). Localization of foreign bodies in dogs was recorded in 45.45% of cases in the small intestine. Appropriate surgical techniques were used to remove foreign bodies from various parts of the digestive tract, 61% of them were enterotomy. Characteristic clinical signs of intestinal obstruction in dogs are apathy, paroxysmal or permanent non-localized abdominal pain, bloating, loss of appetite, vomiting, lack of defecation, in some cases - fever, increased breathing, progressive dehydration and impaired urination. The ultrasound picture in the dogs of the analysis group was characterized by pendulum-like peristalsis to the site of obstruction, foreign bodies were visualized directly, hypotension of the gastrointestinal tract. X-ray examination showed that dogs with foreign bodies had an expansion of intestinal loops, the effect of a “pearl necklaceˮ, shadows of the directly foreign objects.