Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Boxer dog collapsing with black stool had intestinal neuroendocrine
By Tappin, S et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2008·Division of Companion Animals, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: An intestinal neuroendocrine tumour associated with paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia and melaena in a 10-year-old boxer.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 10-year-old female boxer was brought to the vet after experiencing episodes of collapse and black, tarry stools (melaena) for five weeks. Tests showed that her collapsing episodes were linked to a heart issue called paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia. The vet found a gastric ulcer and a mass in her intestines, which was surgically removed and identified as a neuroendocrine tumor. After surgery, the dog's symptoms improved significantly, and at a follow-up six weeks later, she showed no further issues and was doing well 18 months post-surgery.
People also search for: boxer dog collapse · black stools in dogs · neuroendocrine tumor treatment in dogs
Abstract
A 10-year-old female neutered boxer was presented with a five-week history of episodic collapse and melaena. Twenty-four-hour electrocardiograph (Holter) analysis revealed the collapsing episodes to coincide with episodes of paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia. Investigation of the dog's melaena revealed a gastric ulcer which was treated medically and an ileocaecal mass which was surgically excised. Histopathological examination of the mass was consistent with a neuroendocrine (carcinoid) tumour. The patient's recovery after surgery was unremarkable. At six-week follow-up, there had been no further episodes of melaena or collapse and repeat Holter analysis did not show any significant abnormalities. In this dog the gastric ulceration and paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia could be attributed to a paraneoplastic syndrome as a result of circulating vasoactive substances released by the tumour; this is supported by the evidence that all clinical signs resolved after surgical excision of the mass and the dog was clinically well 18 months after surgery.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17617158/