Intestinal Obstruction by Coconut Kernel in a German Shepherd Dog – A Case Report

Abstract

A 3.5 years old German Shepherd dog was brought to the clinic with the complaint of not passing stools for 5 days and was suspected for foreign material ingestion. On physical examination, the pet was dehydrated with a distended abdomen. On abdominal palpation, a hard mass was palpable in the cranial abdominal region. A survey radiograph of the lateral abdomen revealed the presence of radio dense material in the cranial abdomen. Twelve hours post-barium radiograph showed narrowed intestinal lumen with gas-filled intestinal loops and it was suspected for intestinal obstruction. Hence, decided for emergency exploratory laparotomy. On exploration, a coconut kernel was obstructing the intestinal lumen, which was retrieved by enterotomy. Seven days post-surgery, the pet recovered uneventfully.