Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Digital treatment for inflammatory rectal strictures in dogs and cats
By Lamoureux, A et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2017·Université, France·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Treatment of inflammatory rectal strictures by digital bougienage: a retrospective study of nine cases.
Plain-English summary
A group of four dogs and five cats were treated for rectal strictures, which caused symptoms like constipation and difficulty passing stool. The pets underwent a procedure called digital bougienage, which involves gently stretching the affected area, and were also put on a special diet high in psyllium to help with their bowel movements. Follow-up information showed that all but one of the pets completely recovered and no longer had issues. This treatment was effective and minimally invasive, making it a good option for pets with similar problems.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Inflammatory rectal strictures in dogs and cats have been rarely reported. The aim of this study was to describe nine cases and their treatment by digital bougienage. METHODS: Medical records of dogs and cats referred for constipation, dyschezia or tenesmus and diagnosed with an inflammatory rectal stricture were obtained from the database of two referral centres between 2007 and 2014 and reviewed. RESULTS: Four dogs and five cats met the inclusion criteria. Four of the five cats were purebred kittens. Three cats and two dogs had a history of diarrhoea and two dogs had a history of bone ingestion. Digital rectal examination revealed rectal strictures in all cases. Histopathology revealed a lymphoplasmacytic infiltration in all four dogs and in two cats. All cases were treated by digital bougienage. A psyllium-enriched diet was prescribed in all cats and in two dogs. A complete resolution of clinical signs was reported in all eight cases for which follow-up information was available. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Benign rectal strictures associated with gastrointestinal inflammation should be routinely included in the differential diagnosis of constipation, tenesmus and dyschezia, especially after an episode of acute or chronic diarrhoea. The treatment described here is simple, minimally invasive and effective in the long term.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28245059/