Case 2
A 5-year-old, 33-kg, female golden retriever was referred to the
Veterinary Teaching Hospital for exercise intolerance, dyschezia,
tenesmus, and hematochezia. A colorectal surgery was performed 6 days
earlier using a transanal pull-through procedure for colorectal
carcinoma. A physical examination showed evidence of severe abdominal
pain, mucosal pallor, tachycardia (150 beats/min), and a rectal
temperature of 39.7 °C. Dehiscence of a previous colon surgery with
anastomosis was suspected. Digital intraluminal rectal palpation
confirmed the presence of a partial ventral dehiscence of the colorectal
anastomosis localized approximately 1 cm from the anus. Blood tests were
normal. An abdominal radiographic study in two orthogonal views and
abdominal ultrasonography findings were compatible with moderate
peritoneal effusion. After abdominocentesis, a cytological evaluation of
the fluid showed degenerate neutrophils and intracellular cocci.
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).