April Pet of the Month
"Sheba" Brandt
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Sheba at home relaxing in her blanket. |
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Sheba Brandt, a spayed 8 year old Elkhound/Shepard mix female, was presented for intermittent anorexia and vomiting and slow movements for a 2
week duration. She had eaten part of a turkey carcass but had vomited that early in the illness.Sheba had one degree
of fever, a tender abdomen, and was very painful upon rectal examination, but no stool was evident in the lower bowel. Plain radiographs (X-rays) revealed bone fragments throughout the G. I.
Tract with a gas pattern suspicious for an obstruction. A barium series confirmed an obstruction.
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Sheba posing for her own personal family photo shoot. |
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An exploratory surgery revealed peritonitis, and adhesions from a bowel perforation of several days duration in two areas of the Jijunum
(part of the small intestine). Four feet of intestine was removed and the bowel Anastimosed (reattached surgically).Upon examination of the blockage a silver dollar sized plastic
shamrock was found perforating the intestine, along with several bone fragments. With additional IV fluids, antibiotics and the luck of the Irish, Sheba made a full recovery. |
