Pathophysiological alterations in acute abdomen due to intestinal obstruction in dogs

The dogs having acute abdomen due to lodgement of foreign bodies and anatomical anomalies were used in this study. Pathophysiological alterations were studied by assessing the clinicophysiological and haematobiochemical parameters, which included behaviour of animal, sitting posture, extent of appetite, extent of vomiting, diarrhoea, heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature and electrocardiography. The haematobiochemical parameters included haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), total erythrocyte count (TEC), differential leucocyte count (DLC), total protein, albumin, glucose, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and electrolytes included Na+ and K+. Heart and respiratory rates were comparatively higher in acute abdomen patients and the mean values of cardiac output were slightly lower. The values of Hb, PCV, TEC, and neutrophil count were significantly higher. Significant increase in the total protein, albumin and glucose levels was observed in the acute abdomen patients. Significantly higher levels of serum urea nitrogen, creatinine, ALT, AST and GGT were observed and a significant decrease in the levels of serum sodium, potassium and calcium were observed.