Case 1
A 6-year-old, 12-kg, female mixed-breed dog underwent a transanal-rectal
pull-through surgery for adenocarcinoma of the colon.
Three days after surgery, the dog was presented to the Veterinary
Teaching Hospital of the University of Teramo with a history of weakness
and dysorexia. A physical examination showed evidence of tachypnea (44
breaths/min), mucosal pallor, abdominal pain, and hyperthermia (40.3
°C). Dehiscence of a previously placed anastomotic suture was suspected.
Digital rectal palpation confirmed the presence of a partial
ventral-left-lateral dehiscence of the colorectal anastomosis localized
approximately 1.5 cm from the anus. Laboratory findings showed mild
hypoalbuminemia (2.4 g/dL; reference range, 2.8-3.7 g/dL) and
leukocytosis (22 × 103/mm3;
reference range, 6-17 × 103/mm3).
The packed cell volume was 39% (reference range, 35-55%), and total
protein level was 6.7 g/dL (reference range, 6-7.5 g/dL). Lateral and
dorsoventral abdominal radiographs showed decreased serosal surface
visualization with a ground-glass appearance in the caudal abdomen. The
ultrasound examination showed a moderate amount of free peritoneal fluid
with hyperechoic fat in the caudal abdomen. Fluid samples were collected
by ultrasound-guided abdominocentesis. Degenerate neutrophils and
vegetable material were found among the cytological findings.
The dog was hospitalized for surgical revision. During the
hospitalization, the dog received maintenance fluid therapy with
lactated Ringer’s solution (4 mL/kg/h), methadone (0.2 mg/kg, every 4
hours, administered
according to the Glasgow pain scale), and metronidazole-spiramycin (10
mg/kg, every 12 hours, administered orally).