Chronic emesis in a dog associated with idiopathic, smooth muscle hyperplasia of the ileo–caeco–colic junction

Abstract

An 11‐year‐old, male, neutered American bulldog presented with a 3‐month history of intermittent vomiting and concurrent hyporexia. Abdominal ultrasonography identified concentric thickening of the tunica muscularis at the ileo–caeco–colic junction, which was confirmed with computed tomography. An exploratory coeliotomy was undertaken, where a solitary caecal mass was identified. An end‐to‐side enterocolostomy was performed and resected tissue submitted for histopathology. Histopathology was consistent with diffuse smooth muscle hyperplasia of the tunica muscularis. Two months later, the patient re‐presented with profuse watery diarrhoea. Low vitamin B12 was identified on biochemistry, and supplementation was commenced. In the following 3 months, no further clinical signs were reported.