Gastroenteritis, Haemorrhagic
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Signalment
Middle-aged, small-breed dogs such as:
Description
Haemorrhagic gastroenteritis is characterised by acute vomiting and diarrhoea. Gastrointestinal integrity is loss, resulting in a rapid movement of blood, fluid and electrolytes into the intestinal lumen. The aetiology is unknown but it may relate to Clostridium perfringens enterotoxicosis or an immune-mediated reaction. There is usually no history of garbage, chemical or foreign body ingestion.
Diagnosis
Clinical Signs
- Acute and progressive haematoemesis and/or haematochezia, with vomiting preceding diarrhoea
- Critically ill or moribund patient in severe cases
- Depression and anorexia
- Abdominal pain
- Dehydration and hypovolaemic shock occurs over a period of 8 - 12 hours.
- Pyrexia (rare)
- Thrombocytopaenia (severe cases)
- Pre-renal or renal azotaemia (severe cases)
Laboratory Tests
Haematology
- Haemoconcentration with PCV > 60%
- Normal or increased total protein concentrations, but proportionately lower than would be expected from the corresponding increase in PCV due to loss of protein through the intestines.
Other Tests
- Faecal cytology may reveal red blood cells, occasional white blood cells, Clostridium perfringens spores or enterotoxin. Clostridium perfringens spores or enterotoxin can be found in a normal dog, therefore care has to be taken not to over-interpret this.
Diagnostic Imaging
- Abdominal radiograph may reveal fluid and gas filled small and large intestines.
Treatment
- Start treatment prior to a full diagnostic investigations.
- Aggressive intravenous fluid therapy is important for the treatment and prevention of shock.
- Colloidal or plasma are recommended to replace the intravascular deficit due to loss of protein, followed by crystalloids to complete rehydration.
- Clinical improvements should be noted within a few hours but resolution of clinical signs may take a few days.
- A broad spectrum antimicrobials such as ampicillin combined with fluoroquinolone are appropriate against Clostridium perfringens. This is recommended to be given empirically.
- Initially, Nil Per Os should be implemented. Once vomiting has stopped a bland and highly digestible diet such as chicken and rice can be introduced.
Prognosis
Good if presented in a timely fashion. The duration of the disease is normally between 24 - 72 hours. Complete recovery in most cases provided there is no complication such as hypoproteinaemia or sepsis. However, recurrence is possible.
References
- Ettinger, S.J. and Feldman, E. C. (2000) Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine Diseases of the Dog and Cat Volume 2 (Fifth Edition) W.B. Saunders Company.
- Hall, E.J, Simpson, J.W. and Williams, D.A. (2005) BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Gastroenterology (2nd Edition) BSAVA.
- Nelson, R.W. and Couto, C.G. (2009) Small Animal Internal Medicine (Fourth Edition) Mosby Elsevier.