Today’s case is an 8-year-old female neutered Mastiff with inappetence, weight loss, and regurgitation. Which organ is enlarged?
Findings
The stomach is markedly dilated with fluid and some mineral opacity material. It occupies the majority of the abdomen, displacing all other organs caudally. The small intestine is normal in size. No abnormalities are noted in the urinary tract. The liver and spleen appear normal.
Differential Diagnosis
Gastric ileus – functional or mechanical.
Diagnosis
Gastric dilation – functional ileus. Presumed due to chronic stretching of the gastric wall.
A gastrotomy was performed, and plant and solid material were removed, which appeared non-obstructive. Biopsy of the stomach and intestine revealed mild chronic lymphoplasmacytic enteritis. A gastrotomy tube was placed, and the gastric distension improved slightly over one month. A gastropexy was also performed because of the risk of torsion.