title: [Sublumbar abscesses in the dog. Retrospective evaluation of 13 patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Presentation of sublumbar abscesses in the dog with regard to diagnostic and therapeutic options as well as prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective evaluation of the data of 13 dogs, which were presented with sublumbar abscesses between 2002 and 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Young to middle-aged and middle to large breed dogs were mainly affected. The time until presentation varied from 1 day to 2 years. Symptoms were generally nonspecific. Computed tomography and sonography were normally applied for diagnosis. All dogs underwent surgery and several wound examinations; only in two cases was a single surgical intervention sufficient. In addition, after being discharged, ambulant post-operative care was usually necessary for a considerable time. In two cases, plant foreign bodies could be identified as a cause of abscess formation, and in one case a prostatic abscess and a putative prostate carcinoma were present. After surgery, 12 of 13 dogs could be discharged. Nine of them showed an unremarkable healing process, one dog had a relapse followed by an unremarkable healing process, and one dog was euthanized at the request of the owners because of a putative relapse. One animal was lost to follow-up. One dog was euthanized after two surgical procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sublumbar abscesses are a rare, but a serious disease in veterinary medicine. Sectional imaging techniques and sonography are suitable for diagnosis. Treatment is often sophisticated and long-standing. However, with adequate treatment, the prognosis with regard to a complete convalescence is favorable. In most cases, the cause of abscess formation remains unclear.
authors: Susanne Kaiser, Klinikum Veterinärmedizin, Klinik für Kleintiere (Chirurgie) der Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Frankfurter Straße 108, 35392 Gießen, E-Mail: Susanne.M.Kaiser@vetmed.uni-giessen.de.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Kaiser
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Thiel
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Michalik
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Kramer
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Sublumbar area; abscess; dog; sublumbar muscles