Small Bowel Obstruction Induced by Fecal Material in a Dog

A 12-year-old spayed female dog presented with vomiting and anorexia for four days. Radiographic examination revealed that the small intestines were distended with fecal material. Ultrasound examination showed irregular marginated material with moderate shadowing throughout several segments of the small intestines. Proximal to this intestinal material, small intestines were distended with fluid. The patient underwent one-day of hospitalization, and descent of small bowel fecal materials (SBFMs) was confirmed on radiographs. However, surgical removal was performed due to worsening clinical signs and echogenic changes in the mesentery observed on ultrasound. During surgery, intestinal congestion was observed along with congestion and edema in the surrounding mesentery. Two segments of the small intestines were resected, and feces were found within the resected segments. The patient showed rapid recovery postoperatively and experienced no recurrence. SBFM can induce mechanical intestinal obstruction, and if radiographic evidence of SBFM is observed in patients with vomiting, surgical resection would be considered.