Hafnia alvei : The unreported pathogen responsible for a sub‐capsular renal abscess in a 1‐year‐old, presumed immunocompetent crossbreed dog with no co‐morbidities

A 12‐month‐old, male neutered Rottweiler cross, weighing 34.0 kg with a 6‐month history of episodes of pyrexia, hyporexia, pollakiuria and left flank pain is described. Ultrasonographic and computed tomography findings combined with clinical signs were consistent with a left renal abscess which was treated 2 days later with a left ureteronephrectomy. Septic peritonitis was assumed intraoperatively upon the discovery of a moderate amount of turbid, straw‐coloured free abdominal fluid and the appearance of the abdominal organs and peritoneum. Histopathology of the kidney confirmed a focally extensive subcapsular renal abscess with concurrent suppurative and lymphoplasmacellular nephritis. Culture of the intra‐capsular fluid and of the renal tissue resulted in heavy growths of Hafnia alvei . The dog spent 8 days in the hospital and made a full recovery; resolution of the presenting signs has been achieved to date. A good prognosis is given cautiously owing to the undetermined aetiology of disease.