These include injuries to the abdominal walls, to the alimentary tract and to the organs within the abdomen. Trauma may result in damage to the liver, spleen, kidneys, or urinary bladder. Apparently small external wounds of the abdominal wall may be far more serious than their appearance suggests. Radiographs and ultrasound can be useful in diagnosis. Diagnosis An exploratory LAPAROTOMY may be necessary to establish the internal effects of such wounds, and also the cause of internal haemorrhage, free intra-peritoneal gas, peritonitis, etc. Obtaining a sample by PARACENTESIS may be useful, although the hollow needle may be blocked by omentum. Use of a catheter and peritoneal lavage has been effective in detecting early intra-abdominal traumatic lesions, rupture of internal organs, etc. in dogs and cats. When a stake or other pointed object has caused a large wound in the abdominal wall, the bowels may protrude through the opening, and if the incision be extensive, evisceration maytake place. When only the wall of the abdomen has been damaged, there may be severe bruising, and haemorrhage into the tissues (see HAEMATOMA). If exposure of the abdominal contents has taken place, or if the organs have been themselves damaged, there is risk of SHOCK, haemorrhage, infection, and PERITONITIS; the latter may cause great pain and usually proves fatal. For this reason the injured animal should receive promptly the expert services of a veterinary surgeon or else be humanely destroyed. Simple WOUNDS or bruises of the abdominal walls are treated in the same way as ordinary wounds.
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