Dried apricots causing food engorgement and gastric obstruction in a dog

Authors: Soh R, Hickey M
Publication: Australian Veterinary Practitioner, Volume 49, Issue 3, pp 63-66, Sep 2019
Publisher: Australian Veterinary Association

Animal type: Dog
Subject Terms: Alimentary system/gastroenterology, Animal remedies/veterinary medicines, Clinical examination, Surgery
Article class: Clinical Report

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Abstract:

CASE REPORT: A female spayed Pug-cross was presented for unproductive retching and trembling after eating approximately 200 g of dried pitted apricots 6 h prior. Conservative management with intravenous fluids and pain relief was unsuccessful. The patient was taken to surgery and on their removal the apricots were found to be too engorged to pass through the pylorus, thereby causing a gastric obstruction. The patient made a full recovery and was discharged after 3 days in hospital.

CONCLUSION: Dehydrated apricots are hygroscopic in nature because of their high sugar content and have the potential to expand within the gastrointestinal tract and cause obstruction, rather than being broken down by gastric acid as initially expected. This is the first reported case of dehydrated fruit causing both food engorgement and gastric outflow obstruction in a dog.

KEYWORDS: dogs; dried fruit; food engorgement; foreign body; gastrointestinal obstruction; gastrotomy

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