Surgical Correction of Intestinal Obstruction in Dogs-A Report of Eight Cases

Intestinal obstruction was diagnosed in eight dogs based on history, physical examination of abdomen, clinical signs and survey abdominal radiography. Laparotomy and surgical correction were undertaken either by performing enterotomy or intestinal resection and anastomosis. Laparotomy helped in correction of intestinal obstruction due to a stone, a plastic bottle cap, obstipation due to intramural neoplasm, a string, a scar formation, adhesions in one case each and trichobezoars in two cases. Enterotomy was performed in 5 cases and the cause of obstruction was removed. Multiple intestinal perforations on mesenteric border caused due to a string in one case were handled by cutting short segments of string and its removal through perforation sites, and by local debridement followed by closure with continuous Lemberts suture. Exploratory laparotomy followed by intestinal resection and anastomosis was performed in one dog with a complete intestinal obstruction due to a scar formation. Adhesions causing intestinal obstruction at the jejunal region were freed following exploratory laparotomy. Six dogs recovered uneventfully.