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Veterinary surgeons

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Initial presentation - one extremely depressed ferret; weak, listless and with an enlarged, painful abdomen.

X-rays show loops of gas in the bowel and an enlarged, fluid filled stomach.

An exploratory laparotomy is undertaken. Initial examination shows excess amounts of fluid and reddened, inflamed organs and fat.

Further inspection reveals a firm mass in the small intestine. Note the gas filled loops of intestine “upstream” of the obstruction.

The bowel wall is incised and the foreign body eased out.

Contamination from bowel contents is contained with a swab and directed away from the open abdomen.

The bowel wall is closed with dissolving sutures

The abdomen is thoroughly flushed with saline to remove any contamination...

... and the abdomen and skin are closed, again using dissolving sutures.

A few days later - a proper ferret once again!!!

And the culprit - a small piece of plastic, non-slip mesh used to secure a food dish