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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Dog hit by car diagnosed with intestinal blood flow loss by CT scan

By Johnny Altwal et al.·Published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science·2025·View original on DOAJ

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Original publication title: Acute mesenteric ischemia diagnosed via computed tomography in a dog following vehicular blunt force trauma: a Case Report

Species:
dog

Plain-English summary

A dog was brought to the vet after being hit by a car and developed severe diarrhea that contained blood. Despite efforts to treat the dog, it continued to worsen due to a serious condition called acute mesenteric ischemia, which means the blood flow to the intestines was disrupted. The diagnosis was confirmed using a special imaging test called a CT scan. Unfortunately, because the dog's condition was so severe and the prognosis was poor, the decision was made to humanely euthanize the dog.

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Abstract

Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) refers to a group of vascular disorders that disrupt intestinal blood flow, resulting in intestinal ischemia and necrosis if left untreated. In both humans and dogs, this condition appears to be rare but deadly. There has only been one documented case of traumatic acute mesenteric ischemia in a dog, and the diagnosis was conducted through laparotomy. We present the case of a dog that was struck by a vehicle and subsequently developed traumatic acute mesenteric ischemia, which was diagnosed through computed tomography (CT). The dog presented with profuse hemorrhagic diarrhea, which persisted throughout the hospitalization. The dog’s condition eventually deteriorated as a result of diffuse intestinal ischemia, diagnosed using computed tomography (CT). Due to the anticipated poor prognosis, the dog was euthanized humanely. Traumatic acute mesenteric ischemia in dogs may be an underdiagnosed consequence of vehicular trauma, necessitating further diagnostic investigation in dogs with persistent gastrointestinal signs that are unresponsive to medical therapy.

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Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1562043