Preliminary non-comparative evaluation of an adapted colonoscopy preparation protocol for dogs using sodium...

Challenges associated with bowel cleansing protocols for canine colonoscopy include practical applicability and inadequate preparations. This study aimed to describe and evaluate an adapted protocol to simplify colonoscopy preparation in dogs.

A low-residue diet and a reduced volume of sodium picosulphate and magnesium citrate laxative were used orally alongside a saline enema. Forty-eight dogs were included. Dogs received different volumes of the laxative and enema, according to their weight categories (<7 kg, 7‒20 kg and >20 kg). Bowel preparation was evaluated using the following scoring system: 0 for inadequate preparation, 1 for moderate preparation, 2 for good preparation and 3 for excellent preparation. Fisher's exact test was applied to assess the relationship between weight categories and preparation scores.

Two dogs (4%) had a preparation score of 1, 11 dogs (23%) had a score of 2 and 35 dogs (73%) had a score of 3. No dog had a score of 0. Two dogs (4%) experienced nausea. No statistically significant association was found between weight categories and preparation scores (p = 0.46).

The limitations of the study include the lack of a defined bowel preparation scale, no comparison with alternative protocols, no statistical assessment of score validation, the potential effects of anaesthetic drugs on bowel motility and the inability to assess interobserver variability when assigning preparation scores due to the use of a consensus approach.

The present protocol for bowel cleansing in dogs before colonoscopy was both effective and easy to implement, with a low occurrence of adverse reactions.