An intussusception is a segment of bowel that has telescoped into the lumen of the segment next to it. In dogs it is mainly a problem of puppies and young adults with enteritis, it usually involves the junction of the ileum and colon, and it is a surgical emergency because the trapped bowel obstructs, loses its blood supply and can perforate.
Key facts
Intussusception at a glance- Species and system: dog (also cats); gastrointestinal, small and large intestine.
- Typical patient: a young dog with enteritis from parvovirus, parasites or another cause; median age 10 months in 153 dogs treated surgically.
- Most common site: the ileocolic (ileocecocolic) junction.
- Classic presentation: vomiting and diarrhea, often small volumes of bloody diarrhea, with a palpable sausage-shaped abdominal mass.
- Diagnosis: abdominal ultrasound showing a target-like lesion of concentric rings in transverse section; confirmed at celiotomy.
- Treatment: stabilise, then surgery: manual reduction if possible, otherwise resection and anastomosis; treat the underlying cause.
- Not zoonotic and not reportable in itself; the underlying enteritis may be infectious.
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 6 tables, 2 figures, 3 self-test questions and 16 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
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