Surgical diseases of the stomach in small animals

Abstract

Simple gastric surgery, particularly gastrotomy for foreign body removal, is commonplace in small animal veterinary practice. More involved gastric surgery, such as gastric resections, pyloric surgery and the management of oesophageal hiatal hernias, is carried out less frequently. This article outlines the indications for gastric surgery in dogs and cats, and discusses the preoperative and perioperative considerations. The surgical techniques for commonly indicated procedures, such as gastrotomy and tube gastrostomy, are described in detail, while those used for pyloric surgery are summarised. In addition, the article reviews disorders of the stomach involving the oesophageal hiatus.