Radiological diagnosis of pneumoperitoneum in a dog due to perforation of the intestinal wall

Pneumoperitoneum is an urgent condition that requires immediate surgical intervention regardless of the cause. This article presents a three-year-old mixed-breed dog that was diagnosed with pneumoperitoneum by radiological examination. In daily clinical practice, radiological imaging of the abdominal organs is performed with two standard projections (lateral and ventrodorsal). In most cases, however, a pneumoperitoneum cannot be diagnosed with these projections. This article therefore presents radiological imaging with a horizontal X-ray beam, which can be used to diagnose pneumoperitoneum with certainty. It also presents the radiological signs that veterinarians need to look for to diagnose this pathological condition.