Imaging diagnosis of gastrointestinal foreign bodies in dogs and cats: Part 1

Gastrointestinal foreign bodies are encountered relatively commonly in small animal practice and are an important differential diagnosis in patients presented for vomiting. However, the radiographic diagnosis of foreign bodies is not always easy, as other conditions (e.g. pancreatitis and acute gastroenteritis) can cause similar clinical signs, and radiographs are not always conclusive. Therefore, ultrasonography has been increasingly used as an additional imaging modality. But this technique also has its disadvantages. This article aims to outline how radiography and ultrasonography can be best utilised in the diagnosis of foreign bodies, and typical imaging findings and potential pitfalls are discussed.