Successful medical management of an acute life‐threatening haemorrhagic crisis related to acquired colonic vascular ectasia in a dog

Abstract

A 7‐year‐old, neutered, male miniature pinscher was presented with a 36‐hour history of acute life‐threatening haematochezia and severe anaemia (haematocrit 4.9%). A diagnosis of acquired colonic vascular ectasia was ultimately made from the characteristic gross morphologic vascular abnormalities visualised during colonoscopy. A combination ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone acetate tablet was prescribed. On recheck 6 weeks after starting hormone therapy, the patient had not had haematochezia for the previous 4 weeks (haematocrit 34%). On the recheck visit 12 months after starting hormone therapy, haematocrit was within reference range (50%) and the patient had not had diarrhoea or haematochezia for the preceding 9 months. This is the first case report describing a successful medical management of an acute haemorrhagic crisis related to acquired colonic vascular ectasia without endoscopic‐assisted argon therapy or colectomy.