Gastrointestinal Phytobezoars in Small Animals: A Retrospective Study of 18 Cases

A phytobezoar is a compact mass formed by the accumulation of indigestible food fibers (such as cellulose and lignin) within the stomach and/or intestine. To date, only limited reports describe the clinical management and diagnostic approach to gastrointestinal phytobezoars (GIPs) in dogs and cats. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical features and diagnostic findings obtained through imaging and instrumental investigations in canine and feline cases with GIPs. Medical records of 25 animals diagnosed with GIPs were reviewed, and data on signalment, clinical signs, imaging findings, and follow-up were collected. Seven animals were excluded because the foreign body (FB) consisted of plastic mixed with fibrous material. Eighteen animals (17 dogs and 1 cat) were included: 8 (44.4%) with gastric involvement, 8 (44.4%) with intestinal localization and 2 (11.1%) with both gastric and intestinal localization. The GIP was removed endoscopically in 3 (16.7%) cases, surgically in 7 (38.9%) cases, extracted from the rectal ampulla in 2 (11.1%) cases, and expelled spontaneously through defecation in 6 (33.3%) cases. GIPs are frequently underdiagnosed, as they are associated with nonspecific gastrointestinal signs. Radiography and ultrasonography offer limited diagnostic value, generally suggesting the presence of an FB without definitively confirming it to be GIP. This study contributes to the current literature by detailing the clinical, diagnostic, and interventional features of GIPs in small animals, representing the first report of this condition in veterinary medicine.