Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with chest wound caused by wooden stick under skin
By Brennan, S F et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2004·Department of Small Animal Clinical Studies·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Gastrocutaneous fistula as a result of migration of a foreign body in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 6-year-old female Tibetan terrier was brought to the vet for a non-healing wound on her chest that had been draining fluid for two months. Despite antibiotics, the wound didn't improve, so the vet did imaging tests and suspected a foreign body or bone fragment. During surgery, they found a wooden ice-lolly stick lodged in her skin, which they removed. Although the wound initially reopened, it healed after 10 days. However, a month later, fluid started draining again, leading to the discovery of a gastrocutaneous fistula (an abnormal connection between the stomach and skin). After further surgery to close the fistula, the dog fully recovered.
People also search for: dog chest wound treatment · Tibetan terrier foreign body · gastrocutaneous fistula surgery
Abstract
A six-year-old, female Tibetan terrier was referred for investigation of a non-healing wound on the left caudal thorax. A subcutaneous swelling had initially developed on the chest wall, followed by a draining tract from which seropurulent fluid drained for two months. There had been no response to antibiotic treatment. Following radiographic and ultrasonographic examinations, a bone sequestrum from a fractured rib or a foreign body was suspected. Surgical exploration of the wound identified a sinus tract and a wooden foreign body (an ice-lolly stick) was located in subcutaneous tissues. Partial wound dehiscence of the surgical site occurred postoperatively, but healed after 10 days. One month later, fluid began to discharge from the area again. Further surgical exploration confirmed a gastrocutaneous fistula. Dissection of the fistula and surgical closure of the stomach, body wall and skin led to resolution of all signs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15206476/