title: Use of colostomy to manage rectal disease in dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to develop a diverting colostomy technique for use in dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five client-owned dogs presented for diseases requiring diverting colostomy during treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diverting colostomy was performed in five dogs. A ventral approach was used in the first dog and the colon was exteriorized adjacent to the linea alba. The technique used in the next four dogs involved creation of a left flank rod-supported loop colostomy in which the colon was exteriorized through a muscle-separating flank approach to the abdomen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peritoneal leakage of fecal material resulted in the perioperative death of the first dog. The flank colostomies were maintained for times ranging form 3.5 weeks to 7 months. No major complications were observed, but skin excoriation occurred occasionally around the stoma sites in all dogs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diverting colostomy is a technique that is suitable for use in treatment of dogs with obstruction or leakage involving the distal colon or rectum.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606, USA.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hardie
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Gilson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003125:Colostomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome