Tricobezoar in dog: Case report

Abstract

Trichobezoar is a formation of hair with a gastrointestinal origin resulting from the ingestion of the same. Its occurrence is uncommon in dogs, which may indicate some behavioral disorder if it forms. The Dog in question had the habit of licking the floor as a way of reducing his anxiety, since he spent most of his time alone, without distractions. The present study aimed to show the occurrence of gastric trichobezoar in a dog and the treatment that was instituted. On clinical examination, an area with considerable stiffness in the epigastric region was noted. The most common signs of the presence of trichobezoar are: vomiting, anorexia, cachexia and if it is not diagnosed quickly it can lead to gastric and/or intestinal disruption. Based on this, an ultrasound examination was requested, which found changes consistent with gastric foreign bodies. The animal was referred for exploratory laparotomy and when gastrotomy was performed, the presence of a trichobenzoar composed of human hair was found. Finally, this work concluded that the anxiety disorder presented by the dog led to the formation of a foreign body and that a behavioral reeducation with enrichment of the environment and daily walks is necessary in order to reduce the chances of recurrence of the case.