A Canine Case of Colonic Vascular Ectasia

Abstract

A 7-year-old female miniature dachshund was referred with progressive anemia and hematochezia, and was diagnosed with colonic vascular ectasia, which is characterized by vascular malformation within the colon region. We attempted medical treatment with estrogen-progesterone therapy (ethinylestradiol/norethisterone) and octreotide, but these treatments were not effective. After a subtotal colectomy was used as surgical treatment, the number of blood transfusions dramatically decreased and the anemia improved gradually. At 688 days after surgical treatment, the dog maintained a good quality of life. This is the first case of canine colonic vascular ectasia in Japan, and the accumulation of clinical information is necessary to learn the optimal diagnostic and treatment methods for this disease.