The Difference an X-ray Can Make

Griffin is a 3-year-old Rottweiler cross. He came to the Veterinary Specialty Centre Emergency on a Saturday night. Griffin’s owner said he wasn’t himself all day – he wasn’t eating and then began to vomit.

While at the clinic, Griffin had a physical examination. There was no obvious explanation for his lethargy and vomiting. Blood work and x-rays were recommended to help with his diagnosis.

Thankfully, Griffin’s blood work was normal – ruling out a lot of causes for vomiting and serious illnesses.

But Griffin’s x-rays were suspicious. It looked like he might have a possible obstruction in his intestines. Griffin was admitted to the ICU for fluid therapy and monitoring, with plans to repeat his x rays after 12 hours to see if the picture improved.

Thankfully, Griffin’s repeat x-rays showed an improvement. In the end, Griffin had a bad case of gastroenteritis – inflammation of his gastrointestinal system. This can cause vomiting, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. Fluids, a bland diet, and anti-nausea medication helped Griffin return to himself.