Intussusception in Dog

. Intussusception in dog is a serious medical condition where one part of the intestine telescopes into another, causing a blockage. Several factors can trigger intussusception in dogs, such as intestinal parasites, enteritis, foreign body ingestion, or rapid changes in bowel motility. Intussusception in dog can occur in all ages, also in any part of the intestine, in some cases it may involve the colon, cecum or the stomach.

Case History

Mini, a 4-year-old female Great Dane, was presented to Dr. Paws Hospital with signs of shock, tachycardia, hyperventilation, and congested mucous membranes, along with a history of acute vomiting, diarrhea, and possible ingestion of a foreign body from the garden. This is where intussusception in dogs started to appear on our differential list. But in this rare and complex case, it didn’t come alone

Diagnostic Imaging

Ultrasonography showed a thickened mucosal layer of the intestinal loop and confirmed the classic ‘target lesion’, which is diagnostic for intussusception in dog. At that point, intussusception in dogs became the primary diagnosis, though we would later discover it was only part of a much larger problem

Radiography revealed intestinal loops filled with radiolucent gases, and plicated loops

Laboratory Exams

Complete Blood Count (CBC) results showed marked neutrophilic leukocytosis, accompanied by lymphopenia and hemoconcentration. These changes indicate systemic inflammation and dehydration commonly seen in dogs suffering from intestinal obstruction

Serum biochemistry results revealed hyperproteinemia and hyperglycemia, both signs of physiological stress and dehydration that Minnie was experiencing. In addition, hypercholesterolemia was noted, along with elevated liver enzymes ALT, ALP, and amylase. Pancreatic lipase was 435 U/L, which is indicative of pancreatitis. These findings further supported the severity of this case of intussusception in dog

Surgical Approach

A ventral midline laparotomy revealed a rare combination of abdominal issues. A classic small intestinal intussusception, confirming our earlier suspicion. Plication of the intestines was also evident, an abnormal folding or accordion-like appearance of the gut, usually caused by a linear foreign body. As the abdomen was further explored, we made an urgent discovery: the stomach was distended and twisted, classic signs of GDV (Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus). This wasn’t just a case of intussusception in dogs. This was a triple threat emergency: intussusception, plication with a foreign body, and GDV all in poor Mini

Our surgical team got to work immediately as follow: the foreign body was carefully retrieved, and the affected intestinal segments were resected, followed by anastomosis. The plication resolved naturally once the foreign body was removed. The GDV was corrected by successfully de-rotating the stomach

This intense surgery addressed all three issues, and Mini’s vitals slowly began to stabilize. Intussusception in dog can be devastating, but with the right care, it doesn’t have to be fatal. Mini’s case is proof that even in the most complex emergencies, there’s room for hope

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the dedicated medical team at Dr. Paws Hospital whose expertise and collaboration made this life saving procedure possible
Special thanks to Prof. Dr. Mohamed Elsaid, for his exceptional ultrasonographic diagnosis, which guided the surgical plan with precision
We also deeply appreciate the efforts of our skilled surgeons: Dr. Ahmed Tarek Barakat, Dr. Nadia Essam and Dr. Reem Salem whose surgical excellence and teamwork played a vital roal in the successful outcome of this intussusception in dog case