Plus-Hex CLINICAL
In total, 464 ml of Hartmann ' s was administered to the patient over the two fluid boluses. Afterwards, the patient ' s fluid plan was altered so he received Hartmann ' s plus potassium( dose: 20 mmol KCl / 1l Hartmann ' s) at 4 ml / kg / hour for 24 hours following the epoc results.
Radiography
The referring veterinary practice had taken radiographs of the patient ' s thorax and abdomen. The abdominal radiograph( Figure 1) showed very distended intestines and a distended stomach. The intestines appeared to be filled with air.
Figure 2. Ultrasound image showing the stomach distended with gas / fluid( circled).
Figure 1. Abdominal radiograph taken by the referring veterinary practice, showing apparently gas-filled intestinal loops.
Ultrasonography
The patient was not able to stand but was amenable to being positioned on the table for abdominal ultrasonography, following clipping of the ventral abdomen.
Figure 3. Ultrasound image showing the jejunum( anechoic) distended and with a thickened wall( circled).
Anechoic areas are the‘ black’ areas on an ultrasound image and occur with fluid, which reflects minimal ultrasound. Hypoechoic areas are darker areas and hyperechoic areas are bright [ 12 ].
Ultrasonography( Figures 2 – 4) showed the marked presence of gas / fluid in the gastrointestinal tract and the distended stomach( Figure 2).
There was echogenic linear foreign material within the small intestine( Figures 3 and 4). Distal to the linear material, intestinal dilation was reduced. There was no evidence of intussusception or intestinal plication.
Lymph nodes were slightly enlarged and rounded. The mesentery had a small pocket of fluid( visible as an anechoic area) between intestinal loops.
Figure 4. Ultrasound image of the small intestine showing linear material( blue circle) with acoustic shadowing( yellow circle).
Volume 40( 6) • December 2025
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