Complications of small intestinal biopsy in hypoalbuminemic dogs

The records of 30 dogs that were hypoalbuminemic and had undergone full-thickness biopsy of the small bowel, and the records of 22 dogs with normal albumin levels and small bowel biopsy, were reviewed. Plasma albumin concentrations for the former group were 30 to 93% of contemporary normals. There were no serious healing difficulties in the hypoalbuminemic dogs during the 7 day postoperative period examined. Nine dogs developed mild to moderate truncal and peripheral edema. The most common occurrences in the dogs with normal plasma albumin levels were edema and seroma formation adjacent to the skin incision. There was one death resulting from peritonitis subsequent to enterotomy dehiscence. Another dog developed peritonitis even though biopsy sites were intact when examined at a second surgery.