Septic belly infection from grass awns in dogs and cats

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical presentation, management, and outcome of cases treated for septic peritonitis secondary to intra-peritoneal grass awn migration. ANIMALS: Six client-owned dogs and 1 client-owned cat. PROCEDURES: Clinical data of dogs and cats treated surgically for septic peritonitis secondary to an intra-peritoneal grass awn identified during surgery between January 2014 and December 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Data included signalment, clinical presentation, blood test results, diagnostic imaging findings, surgical procedure, postoperative complications, and outcome. Telephone interviews were conducted for long-term follow-up. RESULTS: Six dogs and 1 cat met the inclusion criteria. The most common reported clinical signs were lethargy (= 7), anorexia/dysorexia (= 4), and pyrexia (= 4). The vegetal foreign body was not identified in any case with ultrasound (0/5) and only suspected for one case with a computed tomography scanner (1/4). A grass awn was identified within an omental abscess for each case during surgery. Abscess resection for each case resulted in partial pancreatectomy and a splenectomy for 1 case, and partial gastrectomy for another case. All cases survived to discharge. Only one minor post-operative complication was identified, and no other complication was reported at the long-term telephone interview. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Septic peritonitis secondary to omental grass awn foreign body is an uncommon condition that has a good to excellent prognosis after surgical treatment. Identification of omental grass awn with ultrasound and computed tomography is rare. Therefore, particular care should be given to omental exploration during surgery for septic peritonitis with no underlying cause identified.