Successful conservative management of a dog with postoperative bile peritonitis after cholecystectomy

Summary An 11‐year‐old, female, spayed chihuahua was diagnosed with septic bile peritonitis secondary to gall bladder rupture. Surgical treatment consisted of cholecystectomy, placement of an abdominal drain and an oesophagostomy tube. The dog developed aspiration pneumonia alongside a recurrent bile peritonitis postoperatively. The recurrent bile peritonitis was managed conservatively and resolved within 4 days. No recurrence was reported by the owner at an 8‐month follow‐up. This is the first case report of a dog with postoperative bile peritonitis being successfully managed conservatively, surviving to discharge with a good medium‐term outcome.