Being a very sweet and rambunctious young dog with acute abdominal pain doesn’t always add up to a foreign body. Sometimes it can be a sign of something more ominous and sometimes it’s not what you thought at all.
A positive Murphy Sign during the ultrasound with suspicion of possible foreign body vs. mass vs. other were the clinical differentials for this Case Of the Month.
History of possible dietary indiscretion while on a hike with his owner 48 hrs prior
Intermittently vomiting for 24 hrs
Upon physical examination, the patient exhibited pain in the caudal abdomen and an abnormal structure could be felt on palpation
Radiographs showed an irregular, semi-circular area in the caudal abdomen
The patient was hospitalized on I.V. fluids and supportive care pending ultrasound
Imaging/Sampling:
Radiographs
Abdominal Ultrasound
Above:Murphy Sign – Patient exhibited signs of pain during the ultrasound in area of concern
Ultrasound Interpretation:
A portion of bowel appeared to be thickened and possibly intussuscepted measuring 4.0 cm with variable mural thickening that measured approximately 1.0 cm.
The entire structure measured approximately 4-5 cm with shadowing material.
The structure is likely fluid absorbing or passage of fluid is occurring as there is not a large, obstructive fluid pattern prior to the pathology.
Intestinal mass or intussusception is suspected with embedded luminal material.
