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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Dog with draining skin tract and cough caused by toothpick migration

By Jackson, Andrew H & Degner, Daniel A·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2002·Michigan Veterinary Specialists, United States·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: Cutaneopulmonary fistula in a dog caused by migration of a toothpick.

Species:
dog
Dog coughingStomach & digestionDogs

Plain-English summary

A 6-year-old mixed-breed dog was brought to the vet because he had a persistent cough and a draining sore on his skin. After some tests, the vet discovered that a toothpick had migrated from the dog's stomach to his lungs, creating a connection between the two areas. The vet performed surgery to remove the toothpick and the affected tissue, and the dog's symptoms improved within two weeks after the operation.

People also search for: dog cough and draining sore · foreign body in dog treatment · toothpick in dog stomach symptoms

Abstract

A 6-year-old, neutered male, mixed-breed dog was presented for a chronic draining tract and cough. A contrast fistulogram demonstrated a cutaneopulmonary fistula. Excision of the fistulous tract retrieved a migrating foreign body (i.e., a toothpick) within the tract. Clinical signs resolved 2 weeks following surgery. Foreign body migration is a common problem seen in dogs, resulting in many different clinical syndromes. Definitive surgery depends upon complete removal of the foreign body and the diseased tissue. Sinography is an inexpensive, readily available diagnostic tool that can help define a draining tract and confirm a foreign body.

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12428886/