Rottweiler, female-neutered, 9 years old with anorexia and vomiting

Signalment and anamnesis

• Rottweiler, female-neutered, 9 years old with anorexia and vomiting for 24 hours

For further clarification the following radiographs were taken:

Radiographic description

• The spleen is enlarged and displaced caudally in the mid abdomen
• The shape of the enlarged spleen corresponds to an inverted capital letter C on the lateral image (see figure below)
• The enlarged spleen displaces the stomach cranially, the colon dorsally, and the small bowel loops caudally
• The caudal abdominal contrast detail is slightly reduced and shows diffuse fat-stranding suggestive of scant peritoneal effusion and/or peritonitis
• Multifocally, ventral spondyloses are present along the caudal thoracic and lumbar spine (incidental finding)

Diagnosis

• The shape and dislocation of the spleen are suggestive of splenic torsion
• The reduced abdominal contrast detail is suggestive of hemoabdomen or associated peritonitis due to splenic necrosis and/or rupture

Outcome

• Splenic torsion was confirmed surgically

Discussion

• The rotation of the spleen around its own axis (torsion) restricts venous blood flow, but often allows arterial blood flow to continue, resulting in venous congestion and splenomegaly
• Splenic torsion is often seen in association with gastric torsion but can also occur singularly
• Large, deep-breasted dogs are frequently affected. Clinical signs are nonspecific and often include palpable splenomegaly, anorexia, vomiting, abdominal pain, and anemia
• If left untreated, blood clots form in the vessels of the spleen, leading to necrosis. Acute splenic torsion can lead to hypovolemic shock

Many thanks to Dr. ECVDI Thorsten Rick for this case report!

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