Diagnosis and Treatment of Renal Torsion in a Dog

A 4-year-old female spayed dog was presented with increased abdominal volume. Physical examination and blood work were unremarkable.Computed tomography (CT) revealed a fluid-filled abdominal mass consistent with an extremely enlarged and distorted right kidney, torsion of the renal vascular pedicle, prerenal caudal vena cava thrombosis, and distal stenosis of the right ureter. Renal torsion was confirmed on surgery. Patient recovered well from nephrectomy and had an excellent long-term prognosis. This is the first report of renal pedicle torsion in a dog. Lack of relevant clinical signs combined with CT identification of a twisted renal pedicle, extreme hydronephrosis, and renal fibrous atrophy on histopathology supported a diagnosis of chronic renal torsion.