Use of Colostomy to Manage Rectal Disease in Dogs

Objective — The purpose of this study was to develop a diverting colostomy technique for use in dogs. Study Design — Clinical case series. Animals — 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 from 3.5 weeks to 7 months. No major complications were observed, but skin excoriation occurred occasionally around the stomasites in all dogs. Conclusion — Diverting colostomy is a technique that is suitable for use in treatment of dogs with obstruction or leakage involving the distal colon or rectum.