Emphysematous spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and renal azotemia due to Escherichia coli infection in a Saint Bernard dog

A two-and-a-half-year-old intact male Saint Bernard dog weighing 44 kg was presented to the University Veterinary Hospital (KVASU), Kokkalai, Thrissur, with a history of vomiting, diarrhoea, and inappetence for the past two days. Clinical examination revealed a distended abdomen, with presence of fluid suspected on ballottement. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed mixed echogenic fluid in the peritoneal cavity, gas shadowing, comet-tail artefact and hyperechoic foci with dirty shadowing. Peritoneal fluid was creamy-white in colour on gross examination. Peritoneal fluid triglyceride was normal whereas serum creatinine and ALP were elevated. Microbial culture yielded growth of organisms which was confirmed as Escherichia coli. This article reports a case of emphysematous spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and renal azotaemia due to E. coli infection in a dog. The animal had an eventful recovery.