Emphysematous splenic torsion in a German shepherd dog

A 9-year-old castrated male German shepherd dog was presented because of a 2-day history of lethargy and anorexia. Abdominal distention and free peritoneal fluid were noted on physical examination, which prompted radiographs revealing a large, soft tissue and stippled gas opaque structure in the right cranial abdomen. Computed tomography was used to further describe the structure and assess for comorbidities in the dog. Both CT and abdominal radiographs supported a diagnosis of emphysematous splenic torsion. The enlarged spleen was surgically extracted, along with sections of necrotic omentum. Four days after the procedure, the dog developed a portal vein thrombus and secondary abdominal effusion, which ultimately led to the decision for humane euthanasia. Veterinarians should know the different imaging modalities used to diagnose splenic torsion and the possible postoperative complications following treatment.