Computed tomographic diagnosis of nongastrointestinal foreign bodies in dogs.

Abstract

Clinical data and computed tomography (CT) studies were reviewed for 13 dogs with confirmed nongastrointestinal foreign bodies. Locations of foreign bodies were the nasal cavity, thoracic wall, retropharyngeal region, and cerebellum. Types of foreign bodies included small plant components, blades of grass, wooden sticks, cloth fibers, and a needle. Foreign bodies in five dogs were not identified on CT, and secondary reactions resembled neoplastic or fungal disease. In eight dogs, foreign bodies were recognized by their shape and/or internal architecture. In two dogs, three-dimensional reformatting helped demonstrate foreign bodies in relation to palpable bony landmarks.