Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Long-term results of ultrasound removal of skin foreign bodies in dogs
By Bovis, M D M et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2025·Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Long-term outcome of ultrasound-guided retrieval of subcutaneous foreign bodies in 32 dogs (2015-2022).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 32 dogs with foreign objects stuck under their skin underwent a special procedure using ultrasound to remove these items without major surgery. After following up for an average of about 36 months, all the pet owners reported that their dogs were completely back to normal, and nearly all would recommend this method to others. There were a few minor complications during the procedure, but no long-term issues arose. This approach is a safe and effective alternative to traditional surgery for removing foreign bodies from dogs.
People also search for: dog foreign body removal · ultrasound-guided surgery for dogs · dog skin lump treatment
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe the long-term outcomes associated with minimally invasive, ultrasound-guided removal of subcutaneous foreign bodies in dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted at a single referral hospital from 2015 to 2022. It included dogs diagnosed with extracavitary subcutaneous foreign bodies, treated via ultrasound-guided minimally invasive retrieval with more than 1-year follow-up. Criteria excluded dogs with foreign bodies in less accessible locations, ones needing immediate surgery after removal and those whose long-term information was not available. Long-term outcomes were evaluated through owner questionnaires with a median follow-up of 36.5 months (range from 16 to 98). RESULTS: Long-term follow-up data were available for 32 dogs. The overall rate of complications was 18.8% with three major and three minor complications during the perioperative period; no complications occurred beyond this time. All owners (100%; n = 32) reported full resolution of clinical signs, and 93.8% (30/32) would recommend this treatment instead of surgery to other pet owners. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The use of ultrasound-guided subcutaneous foreign body retrieval offered excellent long-term outcomes and high owner satisfaction. This technique should be considered a viable, less invasive alternative to traditional surgery for extracavitary foreign body removal.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40629520/