Vol. 8, Issue 5, Part B (2023)

Author(s): M Vigneswari, N Gurunathan, S Tina Roshini and N Aruljothi

Abstract: The study included six dogs affected with megacolon presented with the history of constipation over the period of one to two months, intermittent vomiting, tenesmus and decreased appetite. Clinical examination revealed distended abdomen, hard and pain on palpation of abdomen. Rectal examination revealed hard faeces at the pelvic inlet. Radiographic findings of lateral abdominal radiograph revealed stool retention and markedly dilated colon extending from the epigastric region to the pelvic canal with a diameter up to 20-30 cm. Based on the history, clinical and radiographic findings, all dogs were diagnosed as megacolon. Preoperatively, all the dogs were treated with fluid therapy and followed by prophylactic antibiotic using inj. Cefotaxime @ 50 mg/kg b.wt intravenously and inj. Ranitidine Hcl @ 0.2 mg/kg b.wt subcutaneously. Manual evacuation of the colon using warm water enemas and gentle extraction of faeces was removed but failed to evacuate completely. All the animals were subjected for colostomy with manual extraction of faecal mass and colopexy was performed under general anaesthesia. Postoperatively, fluid therapy, antibiotic and analgesics were administered for one week and enabled normal defecation in all the dogs.