Treatment of the foreign body induced occlusive ileus in dogs

The records of 123 cases, treated at the Clinic for Surgery, Orthopaedics and Ophthalmology of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, from January 1981 to December 1998 were analysed. Analysis included the incidence of ileus caused by foreign bodies, and the distribution of patients by sex, age, breed, duration of illness, site of obstruction, types of foreign bodies and the interrelation between these parameters. Results of our research show that the number of patients with foreign body induced ileus is increasing. Males ingested foreign bodies more often than females. Foreign body induced ileus was more frequently found in animals under the age of 2 years. Foreign bodies were mostly ingested by mongrels, but also by popular dog breeds such as Dobermann, Poodle, German Shepherd and Cocker Spaniel. Most of these ileus cases were treated in June and October and the predominant clinically signs included anorexia, dehydration, abdominal tenderness and absence of defecation. The most common site of small intestine obstruction by foreign bodies was the jejunum, the most effective treatment being enterotomy. Dogs mostly ingested stones, and plastic and rubber objects. Treatment was more successful in dogs below 2 years of age. Patients that died post-surgically died mostly during the first day after surgery. Key words: foreign bodies, ileus, digestive system, dog * Contact address: