There is very poor contrast throughout the peritoneal cavity. Contrast may be decreased in the abdomen of a young dog due to the normal presence of peritoneal fluid, but this is quite marked.
There are multiple gas and fluid dilated small bowel loops, while other bowel loops are of normal size. There is a mass effect in the right mid-abdomen causing displacement of bowel loops away from the mass. Multiple small gas lucencies are visible within the area of the mass.
The radiographic diagnosis is mechanical small bowel obstruction. With a mass effect and gas present within the mass, differentials would include an abscess, necrotic bowel mass, foreign body obstruction, and intestinal entrapment.
An abdominal sonogram revealed several dilated devitalized segments of jejunum along with a marked peritoneal effusion (inflammatory exudate). The sonographic diagnosis was mechanical obstruction due to mesenteric volvulus or entrapment of the small bowel.
Surgical exploration revealed incarceration of multiple loops of jejunum through a rent in the mesentery. The patient recovered uneventfully following resection of several loops of necrotic bowel.