Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Outcome after removing over half the small intestine in dogs and cats
By Gorman, Stephanie C et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2006·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Extensive small bowel resection in dogs and cats: 20 cases (1998-2004).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 13 dogs and 7 cats underwent surgery to remove a large portion of their small intestine, mostly due to foreign bodies causing blockages. While two dogs sadly had to be euthanized shortly after surgery due to complications, the majority of the pets recovered well. In fact, 10 dogs and all 7 cats were able to go home, and most had good outcomes over the long term. The study found that the amount of intestine removed did not affect the chances of recovery, which can be reassuring for pet owners facing similar situations.
People also search for: dog foreign body surgery recovery · cat intestinal surgery outcome · extensive small bowel resection in pets
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine outcome in dogs and cats that underwent extensive (ie, > 50%) resection of the small intestine and identify factors associated with outcome. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 13 dogs and 7 cats. PROCEDURE: Medical records were reviewed, and follow-up information was obtained. RESULTS: In all 7 cats and in 8 of the 13 dogs, extensive intestinal resection was performed because of a foreign body. Mean+/-SD estimated percentage of intestine that was removed was 68+/-14% (range, 50% to 90%). Two dogs were euthanized 3 days after surgery because of dehiscence of the surgical site and development of septic peritonitis; 1 dog died of acute respiratory distress syndrome 5 days after surgery. The remaining 10 dogs and 7 cats were discharged from the hospital, and follow-up information was available for 15 of the 17. Median survival time was 828 days, and 12 of the 15 animals for which long-term follow-up information was available had good outcomes. However, none of the factors examined, including percentage of intestine resected, were significantly associated with outcome. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Most dogs and cats that underwent extensive resection of the small intestine had a good outcome. The amount of intestine resected was not associated with outcome. These data may be useful in providing prognostic information in cases of extensive small intestinal resection.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16448366/