Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Survival rates in dogs with septic peritonitis from gut and other
By Boules, Matthew et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2025·VCA West Los Angeles, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Retrospective Comparison of Outcomes From Septic Peritonitis of Gastrointestinal Versus Non-Gastrointestinal Etiology in Dogs (2009-2022): 161 Cases.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 161 dogs diagnosed with septic peritonitis (a serious abdominal infection) were evaluated to see how their condition affected their chances of recovery. The study found that about 71% of the dogs survived, and younger dogs with higher protein levels in their blood had better outcomes. Interestingly, there was no difference in survival rates between dogs with gastrointestinal (GI) causes and those with non-GI causes of the infection. Overall, the key factors linked to survival included the dog's age and certain blood test results when they first arrived at the vet.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare characteristics and outcomes of dogs with gastrointestinal (GI) and non-gastrointestinal (non-GI) causes of septic peritonitis. DESIGN: Retrospective study from 2009 to 2022. SETTING: A Midwest veterinary teaching hospital and a West Coast private practice in the United States. ANIMALS: A total of 161 dogs diagnosed with septic peritonitis based on intracellular bacteria or a positive culture from peritoneal effusion. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of 161 dogs included in the study, 114 (70.8%) survived. Dogs that survived were younger (p = 0.011) and, compared with nonsurvivors, had higher total plasma protein (TP) concentrations (p = 0.039), higher serum albumin concentrations (p = 0.0021), and higher systolic blood pressures (SBP) (p = 0.0025) on presentation. Plasma lactate concentration on presentation was not associated with survival (p = 0.097). There was no difference in survival between dogs diagnosed with a GI versus non-GI etiology of septic peritonitis. Dogs with GI etiologies weighed more than dogs with non-GI etiologies (p = 0.0169). There were no differences in age, temperature, heart rate, SBP, PCV, TP, serum blood glucose concentration, plasma lactate concentration, serum albumin concentration, or Acute Patient Physiologic and Laboratory Evaluation-fast scores upon presentation in dogs with GI etiologies compared with dogs with non-GI etiologies. In a subgroup analysis, dogs with hepatobiliary etiologies were older (p = 0.0004) and weighed less (p = 0.003) compared with dogs with GI and other non-hepatobiliary etiologies, but there was no difference in survival (p = 0.958). CONCLUSIONS: This study found no difference in survival to discharge in dogs with GI compared with non-GI etiologies of septic peritonitis. Regardless of the etiology of septic peritonitis, age, TP, serum albumin concentration, and SBP upon presentation were significantly associated with survival.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41267510/