Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog hit by car diagnosed with intestinal blood flow loss by CT scan
By Altwal, Johnny et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2025·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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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 in after being hit by a car and showed signs of severe diarrhea that contained blood. Despite efforts to treat the dog, it was diagnosed with traumatic acute mesenteric ischemia, a serious condition where blood flow to the intestines is disrupted. Unfortunately, the dog's health continued to decline, and due to the poor prognosis, the decision was made to euthanize the dog to prevent further suffering. This case highlights the importance of checking for serious internal injuries in dogs that have experienced trauma, especially if they show ongoing gastrointestinal symptoms.
People also search for: dog diarrhea after car accident · signs of intestinal problems in dogs · traumatic injury in dogs treatment
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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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40313626/