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Dog x-ray showed foreign object, but surgery found nothing. Why?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Poodle | Female | spayed | 60 lbs

We took our dog to the vet yesterday as we thought she had swallowed a large chamois leather whole. The vet said the xrays confirmed the stomach was extended and that there was something there that would require an operation. They opened her up and found nothing. Should it of been quite clear if there was a foreign object in there?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Christie Long, DVM

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on February 5th, 2017

Especially in the case of objects that are not metal or bone, which show up quite obviously on x-ray, it can be difficult to distinguish foreign objects in the stomach on x-rays, and sometimes when the results of the x-rays are equivocal we have to make the decision to go to surgery to find out for sure whether there is a blockage. Sometimes it is helpful to put a contrast agent into the GI tract, such as barium or even air, as they can aid in making the diagnosis. However, sometimes even board-certified surgeons and board-certified radiologists are not certain whether there is something foreign in the stomach, and even they make mistakes. Or sometimes we will go in to the abdomen, open the stomach, and indeed find something foreign, only to find out that it is something (like paper) that would have likely passed normally. It can be a very tough call and unfortunately sometimes we don't get a definitive answer until we go in and look.

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    Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Sometimes a foreign body is suspected on the xrays and when the surgery is done, nothing is found. this is quite a common mistake that can usually be avoided if the xray is sent to a radiology specialist. unfortunately most vets only have basic knowledge in radiology and mistakes as this one are quite common.

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