Mesenteric torsion was diagnosed in a 6-year-old male castrated English Mastiff. An exploratory laparotomy was done, but greater than eighty percent of the small intestine was devitalized and the dog was euthanized. Mesenteric torsion is a rare, life-threatening condition causing acute, non-specific clinical signs and requires aggressive medical and surgical management. The patient had peracute clinical signs of hypovolemic shock and hematochezia. Radiographs and an ultrasound showed pathologic dilatation of intestines. Clinical signs paired with radiographic and ultrasonographic findings were suggestive of a mesenteric torsion.
The specific cause of mesenteric torsion is often not established but potential predisposing factors, such as previous gastrointestinal surgery, abdominal tumors and viral infections have been reported. The patient had a history of abdominal surgery four months prior for correction of a colonic torsion, as well as prophylactic colopexy and gastropexy. This case is further evidence that previous gastrointestinal surgery may be a predisposing factor for mesenteric torsion.