Gastric dilatation and volvulus in a brown bear (Ursus arctos, Linnaeus, 1758)

Background: Gastric dilatation and volvulus is rarely diagnosed in bears. Only two case reports have been published in two different species in the last thirty years. Objectives:This is a case report of a brown bear diagnosed post mortem with gastric dilatation and volvulus. Materials and Methods: A female European brown bear (Ursus arctos) over 30 years cf age died suddenly in the bear sanctuary in Veresegyhaz, Hungary. The bear weighed around 250 kg-s and was in a bad physical condition. The animal had known joint pain, which made it harder for her to move. The bear died suddenly in the afternoon and was removed from the enclosure before signs of rigor mortis and a pathological examination was undergone during the night. Results and Discussion:The old bear had an extremely worn dentition with the pulp cavity exposed on many teeth. The mucous membrane was deep red and cyanotic and toe injuries caused by ravens could be seen on the lips cf the animal. After opening the abdominal cavity, the extremely enlarged stomach located on the right side of the abdomen became visible, which was located in the mesogastrium behind the small intestines instead of the epigastrium. After lifting the omentum, the 180 degrees clockwise twisted stomach was visible. The vessels of the stomach were dilatated and two vital reactions were visible on the pylorus. The stomach contained food particles mixed with a large amount of gas arid liquid content. The spleen, displaced from its anatomical position, was slightly enlarged and located under the stomach. The small intestines were located behind the liver and in front of the stomach in the epigastrium, and some parts were extremely full of gas and fluid, while others contained only a small amount of fluid. No lesions were visible an the liver and the gallbladder was full of bile. The lungs were collapsed in the chest cavity. No macroscopic changes were visible on the heart. Based on the macroscopic picture seen at the pathological examination the cause of death was gastric dilatation and volvulus.