Mobile Ultrasound Guides Surgical Planning for Intestinal Foreign Body

Buddy, 1-year-old male desexed Labrador
Service: Abdominal ultrasound for suspected intestinal obstruction
Referring vet: General practice clinic (urgent same-day request)

Buddy was the sort of Labrador who usually bounded into the clinic with full-body enthusiasm, but on this particular morning, he arrived subdued, head lowered, and stomach tight. He had been vomiting repeatedly despite maropitant, and his refusal to eat was especially concerning for a dog (who ordinarily inhaled meals!)

The referring vet noted persistent vomiting, inappetence, mild abdominal pain and growing lethargy. With anti-emetics failing, the question became familiar but urgent:

Is this gastro, or is something obstructed?

Because the clinic needed clarity quickly, they contacted SA Veterinary Sonography for an urgent abdominal ultrasound for suspected intestinal obstruction. For foreign body cases, early visualisation often determines whether the patient stabilises or spirals while you search for answers.

When the sonography team arrived, Buddy was stable and cooperative, though clearly uncomfortable. The referring vet had already framed the clinical question around one priority: “Is there a gastrointestinal obstruction, and if so, where exactly is it?”

A focused abdominal ultrasound was performed, and the findings were decisive:

• A strongly shadowing object was lodged in the small intestine (jejunum).
• A clear obstructive pattern was present, with a dilated intestine proximal to the object and a normal intestine distal to it.
• No free abdominal fluid or complicating features were noted.

The scan confirmed the obstruction and identified its precise location, providing the vet with immediate and actionable information.
Recommendation: Proceed to surgery.

The ultrasound findings allowed the clinical team to move from suspicion to certainty within minutes. With obstruction confirmed and localised, the vet was able to:

• Prepare for surgery without hesitation
• Refine the surgical approach
• Communicate a clear plan to Buddy’s owners
• Avoid unnecessary delays or exploratory guesswork

This is a textbook example of how collaboration works:

The vet remains the case leader, and SA Veterinary Sonography provides the diagnostic clarity to support rapid, confident action.

Buddy was taken to surgery shortly after the scan, without losing critical time.

Surgery confirmed the obstructive foreign body, which was removed successfully. Buddy recovered quickly, and by the next day, he was back to eating and behaving like his usual, cheerful self. No further vomiting occurred, and no follow-up imaging was required.

In the hands of experienced professionals, abdominal ultrasound is a highly efficient, minimally invasive, and reliable tool for diagnosing gastrointestinal foreign bodies. It can save time, reduce unnecessary radiographic cycles and clarify the surgical plan early.

The clinic initiated the case by calling for an urgent scan. Communication remained tight and efficient:

• The vet provided history and concerns.
• SA Vet Sonography confirmed availability and attended promptly.
• Findings were discussed immediately.
• Surgery proceeded without delay.

The vet later noted that having the exact location of the obstruction before entering surgery made the procedure smoother, the decision-making clearer, and the overall experience less stressful for everyone involved, including Buddy’s family. Cases like this highlight how early ultrasound clarity can support confident, well-timed intervention in busy general practice.

If you’re working through a similar case or would like a second opinion on a suspected obstruction, we’re always happy to discuss the options or arrange in-clinic imaging.