Ultrasonographic features of intestinal intussusception in 10 dogs

Records of dogs that had abdominal ultrasonography and surgical or pathological diagnosis of intestinal intussusception between February 1992 and June 1997 were reviewed retrospectively. Ultrasound images were reviewed with respect to appearance of the intussusception, suspected location, evidence of predisposing cause and concurrent lesions. Ten intussusceptions were found, affecting a variety of breeds. The mean (range) age of affected dogs was 2·5 (0·3 to seven) years (four females and six males) and the reported duration of clinical signs, 48 (one to 150) days. Intussusceptions were jejunojejunal (five dogs), ileocolic (three), caecocolic (one) and colocolic (one). A concentric ring sign was identified ultrasonographically in each dog and anatomical location predicted correctly in five instances. Additional ultrasonographic findings associated with intussusceptions included intestinal neoplasm in two dogs, enlarged abdominal lymph nodes in two, multiple mesenteric cysts in one and intestinal foreign body in a further dog. Thus, ultrasonography enables accurate diagnosis of intestinal intussusception and is a useful method for searching for concurrent or predisposing lesions.