A duodenal diverticulum in a deerhound

A 23-month-old, spayed, female deerhound experienced an acute onset of anorexia and regurgitation. The initial regurgitant contained leaves and grass, but over the next 24 hours, it changed to dark brown granular material consistent with digested blood. Radiography revealed a dilated segment of bowel caudal to the liver, suggesting mechanical or functional intestinal obstruction. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a roughly spherical, 6-cm diameter diverticulum in the proximal duodenum, which was removed by resection and anastomosis. The dog made an uneventful recovery. To date, duodenal diverticula have been reported predominantly in young Boxers. This is the first report of a duodenal diverticulum in a deerhound.