Body System: Cause of Acute Abdomen	Treatment
Gastrointestinal Digestive System
Gastric dilatation	PS
Gastric dilatation/volvulus	DS, DE
Gastroduodenal ulceration	NS
Gastroduodenal perforation	DS, PE
Gastroduodenal rupture	DS, DE
Gastroduodenal dehiscence	DS, DE
Gastroenteritis (viral, bacterial, toxic; i.e., garbage)	NS
Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis	NS
Intestinal obstruction (foreign body, intussusception, neoplasia)	DS, PE
Functional intestinal obstruction; ileus	NS
Intestinal ulceration	NS
Intestinal perforation	DS, DE
Intestinal rupture	DS, DE
Intestinal dehiscence	DS, DE
Intestinal volvulus	DS, DE
Cecal inversion	DS, PE
Obstipation	NS
Colitis	NS
Colonic ulceration	NS
Colonic perforation	DS, DE
Colonic rupture	DS, DE
Colonic dehiscence	DS, DE
Hepatobiliary Digestive System
Acute hepatitis (toxic, infectious)	NS
Hepatic abscess	DS, PE
Hepatic trauma	PS, PE
Hepatic rupture	PS, PE
Hepatobiliary neoplasia	PS, PE
Biliary obstruction (calculi, neoplasia, pancreatitis—abscess)	PS, PE
Biliary rupture	DS, DE
Cholecystitis	PS, PE
Cholangiohepatitis	NS
Pancreatic Digestive System
Acute pancreatitis	NS
Pancreatic abscess	DS, PE
Pancreatic neoplasia	DS, PE
Urinary System
Acute nephrosis (toxicosis)	NS
Acute nephritis-pyelonephritis	NS
Urinary calculi: renal	PS, PE
Urinary calculi: ureteral	PS, PE
Urinary calculi: cystic	PS, PE
Urinary calculi: urethral	PS, PE
Trauma-avulsion-rupture (renal, ureteral, cystic, urethral)	DS, PE
Obstruction (neoplasia, stricture): ureter	DS, PE
Obstruction (neoplasia, stricture): urethra	DS, PE
Renal artery thrombosis	PS, PE
Renal neoplasia	PS, PE
Reproductive System
*Female*
Acute metritis	PS, PE
Pyometra	DS, DE
Uterine torsion	DS, DE
Dystocia	PS, PE
Ovarian cyst	PS, PE
Ovarian neoplasia	DS, PE
*Male*
Acute prostatitis	NS
Prostatic abscess	DS, PE
Prostatic cysts	DS, PE
Prostatic neoplasia	DS, PE
Testicular torsion	DS, DE
Hematopoietic System: Spleen
Splenic mass (hematoma, extramedullary hema- topoiesis, neoplasia, nodular hyperplasia, abscess)	DS, PE
Splenic rupture (mass)	DS, DE
Splenic rupture (trauma)	PS, PE
Splenic torsion	DS, DE
Peritoneum and Mesentery
Peritonitis: septic	DS, DE
Peritonitis: chemical (bile, urine, enzymes)	PS, PE
Parietal peritoneal trauma: blunt	NS
Parietal peritoneal trauma: penetrating	DS, DE
Mesenteric traction: large masses	DS, PE
Mesenteric lymphadenopathy	PS, PE
Mesenteric lymphadenitis	NS
Mesenteric volvulus	DS, DE
Mesenteric avulsion	DS, DE
Mesenteric artery thrombosis	DS, DE
Adhesions with organ entrapment: internal hernias	DS, PE
Abdominal Wall
Trauma	PS, PE
Abscess	DS, PE
Hematoma	PS, PE
Strangulated hernias	DS, DE
Extraabdominal
Intervertebral disk disease	PS, PE
Diskospondylitis	PS, PE
Intoxications (heavy metal)	NS
Thoracic wall disease	PS, PE
Steatitis	NS
Myositis	NS
Hypoadrenocorticism	NS

DE, Definitely requires emergent surgery; DS, definitely surgical; NS, nonsurgical (urgency of medical treatment depends on specific problem and condition of the patient; some nonsurgical acute abdomen cases may eventually require surgery on a nonemergent basis); PE, potentially requires emergent surgery; PS, potentially surgical (some conditions designated as PE may require surgery, although not on an emergent basis).

Modified from Bonagura J: Kirk’s current veterinary therapy XIII, St Louis, 2000, Saunders.