Seven month old Shih Tzu Luna presented at VREC for abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. An ultrasound was conducted to look for potential causes (such as a foreign body.) The ultrasound results lead staff to diagnose Luna with intussusception.
Intussusception occurs when a part of the intestine folds in on itself. It can occur in pets of all shapes and sizes with most cases affecting pets less than a year old. Intussusceptions are most commonly associated with problems that cause inflammation of the intestine (enteritis.) This can include intestinal parasites, infection, intestinal masses, foreign bodies, abrupt diet changes, and more.
After qualifying for the Angel Fund, Luna had exploratory surgery to investigate her intestines further. Our surgeon found a 10 inch segment of her intestines folded onto each other! Luna had an intestinal resection and anastamosis performed to remove the damaged tissue. She recovered uneventfully and after close monitoring went home to a very relieved family.