Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Duodenal perforation in a puppy with canine parvovirus infection.
- Journal:
- The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
- Year:
- 2022
- Authors:
- Oh, Dayoung et al.
- Affiliation:
- College of Veterinary Medicine and the Research Institute for Veterinary Science · South Korea
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 2-month-old puppy was taken to the vet because she had diarrhea, was vomiting, and had stopped eating. She tested positive for canine parvovirus, a serious viral infection, and was hospitalized for supportive care. Although her symptoms got better at first, she became very tired and started vomiting again after a week. An ultrasound of her abdomen suggested she might have a hole in her intestine, and tests of the fluid in her abdomen confirmed a serious infection. The puppy underwent emergency surgery, which was successful, and she fully recovered.
Abstract
A 2-month-old puppy was brought to a veterinary hospital with diarrhea, vomiting, and anorexia. The test for canine parvovirus was positive, and she was hospitalized for supportive care. Her gastrointestinal symptoms initially improved; however, vomiting and lethargy developed again in the second week of hospitalization. Abdominal ultrasonography results were suspicious of a duodenal perforation. Cytology of the abdominal effusion confirmed septic peritonitis; therefore, emergency exploratory laparotomy was performed. The surgery was successful, and the puppy recovered fully. When symptoms recur or deteriorate in patients with parvoviral infection, surgically curable complications may be disregarded if supportive therapy is continued without additional investigative examinations. This report highlights the usefulness of abdominal ultrasound in conjunction with fluid cytology to identify subsequent complications when the clinical signs of parvovirus deteriorate. Key clinical message: This case report demonstrates duodenal perforation as a complication of parvoviral infection. Abdominal ultrasonography and peritoneal fluid cytology can be crucial for the early recognition of intestinal complications requiring immediate successful perioperative treatment.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34975163/