Pancreatic torsion in a puppy with an acute abdomen

To describe the treatment of a unique cause of acute abdomen in a puppy.

An 11-week, 5-day-old female intact Alaskan Malamute was presented to an emergency service for an acute onset of vomiting. On evaluation, the puppy was found to have cranial abdominal pain with an otherwise normal physical examination. An inflammatory leukogram with no other clinically significant findings was found on the initial diagnostics. An abdominal ultrasound showed peritoneal effusion and a lobulated structure in the left cranial abdomen. An emergency exploratory celiotomy was performed, during which evidence of torsion was found in the left limb of the pancreas, which was subsequently excised from the abdomen. The puppy was hospitalized overnight and discharged the next day. Histopathology of the pancreas was consistent with torsion.

Pancreatic torsion is a rare but potential cause of acute abdomen in dogs and can be successfully treated with surgical excision.