Case of the Month: "Dude" Carruthers

Dude is an 11 year old Labrador that came to us for the first time about 2 weeks ago with a history of decreased appetite, intermittent vomiting and approximately 20 pound weight loss for about a week. With two dogs in the house, and the kids feeding the dogs, the symptoms could have started even a little sooner.

Concerned for his age and the severity of the symptoms, we began a diagnostic workup, fearing serious disease of cancer. All his tests came back normal. His x-rays showed a two inch round object that was consistent with a foreign body or mass in his stomach. Because of his age and the severity of his symptoms suggesting a guarded prognosis, we started with a conservative approach of a bland diet and stomach medications, but the poor appetite and vomiting continued.

We tried inducing vomiting to see if he could bring up the possible foreign body, to no avail. We discussed possible abdominal exploratory surgery, but elected to try endoscopy to look inside his stomach first...all appearing normal, which no sign of a tumor or foreign body.

Still being suspicious and hoping for an answer and hopefully a cure, we went to a surgery and found a large chestnut wrapped in plastic that was filling a large segment of his intestines. He has recovered well from surgery, and one week later, is back to his usual self again!