CT diagnosis and management of mesenteric torsion in a dog

An eight-year-old, 35 kg, female spayed Doberman Pincher dog was presented with peracute abdominal distention and severe abdominal pain associated with vomiting. Radiographs showed segmental gas and fluid-distended small intestines and loss of serosal detail. Abdominal ultrasound revealed segmental hypomotile, fluid distended small intestines and high amount of gas in the intestinal lumen. CT showed signs consistent with a segmental mesenteric torsion. Exploratory laparotomy and en bloc enterectomy of the torsioned necrotic segment of the jejunum (50 per cent approximately) was performed. The patient was discharged 1 week after surgery with some sporadic vomiting and diarrhoea, which resolved with medical treatment within a week.