COMMON MEDICAL CONDITION IN DOGS

Reuben the Rescue Cat, reviews and recovery. (This is very rare in cats but very common in dogs).

Please read and see about Reuben here for a fantastic insight into Prevention and Treatment of this COMMON MEDICAL CONDITION IN DOGS.

Reuben had intussusception of small intestines.  This is invagination (or telescoping) of one of the intestinal segments into the lumen of an adjacent segment.

Intestinal intussusception is a life threatening condition, but if caught early, most affected dogs make a full recovery with proper treatment.

An intussusception of the intestines occurs when one section of intestine telescopes around another section of intestine. In dogs, the most common location where this happens is in the area where the small intestine joins the large intestine.

Intussusceptions are more common in young dogs than old, though dogs of any age may be affected.

Initially, a dog with an intussusception of the intestines will appear to have an upset stomach. The dog may refuse to eat, or, if it does eat, it will vomit shortly after eating. The dog will be painful when its abdomen is palpated. Diarrhoea may or may not be present. If the intussusception progresses to intestinal rupture, the dog will be extremely painful in the abdomen, have a high body temperature and worsen rapidly. Without prompt surgical treatment, a ruptured intussusception can quickly result in death.

Please click HERE for photographs and schematic diagrams. WARNING : PHOTOS CONTAIN GRAPHIC IMAGES OF SURGICAL PROCEDURES