Gastric dilatation-volvulus in two North American river otters (Lontra canadensis)

Two adult, zoo-housed, North American river otters (Lontra canadensis), a male and a female, presented emergently for profound lethargy. The second case had abdominal distension with tympany, tachypnoea, tachycardia and poor pulse quality noted. A single radiograph from that case showed dilated bowel loops and a caudodorsally-deviated gastric axis but lacked the characteristic compartmentalized gas appearance common in canine gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). Unfortunately, both animals died within approximately an hour before other treatments or surgery could be performed. Necropsy in both cases revealed a 180-degree volvulus of the stomach, resulting in infarcts to the gastric wall. In this first report of GDV in otters, both cases were from the same institution, 10 years apart, which suggests GDV may not be an uncommon presentation in otters. Consequential diagnostic and treatment delays may occur if veterinarians are not aware of the not-so-remote possibility of GDV occurring in otters.