Enterosubcutaneous Fistula in a Dog

An enterosubcutaneous fistula was acutely identified in a 5‐year‐old male castrated Chihuahua with focal abdominal swelling. The fistula was excised via an enterotomy, and the patient recovered with no immediate and long‐term complications to date. The diagnosis was confirmed by abdominal ultrasound, gross intraoperative findings and histopathology. The pathophysiology of this condition is still underdetermined; however, plausible mechanisms include adhesion‐associated fistulation secondary to prior surgical herniorrhaphy and chronic inflammation, chronic incarceration with ischaemic tissue injury, and less likely, chronic foreign body reaction. It is also hypothesised that enterosubcutaneous fistula may be an emerging form of enterocutaneous fistula. Recognising the signs in the early phase may prevent the exposure of luminal content to the external environment.