From:
williamsdvm@comcast.net
Date: 2003-01-15 02:56:19 UTC
Subject: RE: septic pertonitus
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <7309197.1042599379181.JavaMail.root@scandium>
Author wrote:
> I recieved a surrender yesterday who was off to the vet this morning. The vet called back with the diagnosis. Septic peritonitus. I have a basic knowlege of what it is but my vet was prepping for surgery on Lucy. Can someone explain what it is and what caused it.
Dear Diana:
Septic peritonitis is generally the end result of bacterial infection of the abdominal cavity. The most common cause is a perforation of the gastrointestinal tract and release of contents into the abdominal cavity. This may be due to an obstruction, or a disease which has resulted in decreased integrity of the wall itself (such as intestinal lymphoma). Soemtimes a gastrointestinal foreign body, such as a string, has the ability to wear a hole in the wall of the intestine due to constant friction against an irritated gut with accelerate contraction.
Occasionally you see septic peritonitis from spread from other infected organs, such as a rupture uterus, a stump pyometra as a sequela from adrenal disease, or a ruptured urinary bladder, but these are not as common.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM