Longitudinal colonic torsion as a cause of tenesmus in an adult Irish Water Spaniel

Abstract

CASE HISTORY: Torsion of the descending colon was diagnosed by barium enema radiography in an adult Irish Water Spaniel which had presented with tenesmus of 24 h duration. Treatment involved exploratory laparotomy, repositioning of the colon, colopexy and repair of a mesenteric rent. No definitive cause of the torsion could be established. The dog made an uneventful recovery from surgery.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Animals presenting with constipation of undetermined cause should have large intestinal obstruction ruled out prior to administering bowel cleansing solutions per os and/or colonic enemas. Colonic obstruction by torsion should be considered as a possible differential diagnosis in all cases of tenesmus.

KEY WORDS:

• Colon
• torsion
• volvulus
• intestinal obstruction
• large bowel obstruction
• canine
• Irish Water Spaniel

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr Ruth Youmans for clinical advice during initial diagnostic investigations, Dr Chris Warman and Ms Urlicha Walker for technical advice on image reproduction for publication and permitting use of their camera and computer equipment, and Mr Condon for permitting post-operative radiography of his dog.