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Background: No studies have appeared in the literature evaluating the intraluminal volume of injected saline in the canine colon for performing leak tests in colotomy incisions., Aim: To determine the volume of the injected intraluminal saline necessary to achieve an intraluminal pressure of 17.3 cm H 2 O in 10 cm colonic segments containing a closed colotomy occluded with intestinal forceps or by digital pressure., Methods: Fresh colon was obtained from 8 canine cadavers and divided into 10 cm segments. A 3 cm antimesenteric colonic incision was performed at each intestinal segment which was closed using a 3-0 polydioxanone suture in a simple continuous pattern. Each colonic construct was occluded with Doyen intestinal forceps or by digital pressure and a leak test was performed by saline infusion. The saline volume needed to achieve a predetermined intraluminal pressure of 17.3 cm H 2 O, following occlusion was recorded., Results: The mean volume of injected saline with the Doyen intestinal forceps occlusion (20.4 ± 8.2 ml) was significantly larger than that of the digital occlusion technique (17.5 ± 6.8 ml) [ p = 0.021]., Conclusion: For 10 cm canine colonic constructs containing a closed colotomy, saline volumes of 20.4 ml with Doyen occlusion and 17.5 ml with digital occlusion can be utilized to achieve intraluminal pressures of 17.3 cm H 2 O., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.