Case of the Month

• Intestinal mechanical obstruction/ileus in the distal aspect of the duodenum due to intraluminal foreign material. Obstruction not complete due to the passage of iodine contrast media, but severe due to the duodenal gastric distention, with questionable passage of non-fluid material.

• Thorax within normal limits.

• Exploratory celiotomy after initial stabilization advised.

2 series of survey projections in 3 views and ventrodorsal plus left lateral survey projections of a skeletally mature ferret in normal body condition 6

hours apart from each shoulder, before and after oral administration of iodine-based contrast media.

Musculoskeletal structures:

Mild to moderate subcutaneous emphysema on the dorsal aspect of the thoracic part of the spine, consistent with subcutaneous medication.

Musculoskeletal structures otherwise within normal limits.

Thorax:

Diaphragm delineable. Thoracic volume normal.

Mediastinum, cardiovascular structures, and lung parenchyma within normal limits in the for series of radiographs. In the second series of

radiographs mild generalized cardiomegaly, likely secondary to sedation or infusion and mild increased albuterol radiopacity in the left lateral

projection, not reproducible in the ventrodorsal projection, consistent with positional atelectasis.

Abdomen:

Peritoneal and retroperitoneal detail maintained.

Liver not enlarged.

Splenic head in normal position. Spleen not enlarged.

Kidneys as far as assessable within normal limits with unremarkable size, shape, and contour. Urinary bladder mildly to moderately filled and in

normal position.

Stomach in both studies moderately filled with homogeneous soft tissue opaque material/fluid and gas and moderately distended. Fundus and

antrum in normal position. Duodenum in both studies moderately segmentally distended with homogeneous soft tissue opaque material before oral

contrast media administration and with moderate contrast media accumulation in this region thereafter. Heterogeneous gas and soft tissue opaque

quadratic structure in the distal aspect of the jejunum just aboral to these described segmental distention, consistent with a foreign body. Rest of the

small bowel loops empty or very mildly filled with contrast media and not distended. Colon filled with a small amount of nonformed with

feces/diarrhea.

Intestinal mechanical obstruction/ileus in the distal aspect of the duodenum due to intraluminal foreign material. Obstruction not complete due to the

passage of iodine contrast media, but severe due to the duodenal gastric distention, with questionable passage of non-fluid material.

Thorax within normal limits.

Exploratory celiotomy after initial stabilization advised.