Inflammatory disease intestines (IBD) is one of the most common causes of chronic digestive disorders in animals. It most often manifests itself as chronic vomiting, chronic diarrhea and/or weight loss, and these symptoms are not always accompanied by digestive problems.
Basic principle when making a final diagnosis IBD consists of excluding other diseases accompanied by intestinal inflammation.
In some cases IBD can be cured through oral administration of antibacterial drugs with the transfer of sick animals to a diet that has a hydrolyzate base or a single source of protein. At severe course illness or lack of effectiveness of antibiotic therapy, resort to glucocorticoids.
Symptoms
Anorexia in a dog
In typical cases, IBD is chronic and is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea and/or weight loss. Weight loss in a sick animal is not always associated with symptoms of damage to the digestive system. The appetite of patients with IBD is variable: in some there is anorexia, in others it alternates with polyphagia (an eating disorder manifested by increased appetite and gluttony). In IBD, vomiting is also very variable, and it is not specific, and the color of the vomit varies. Based on the characteristics of the manifestation of diarrhea, one can judge whether it is associated with dysfunction thin section the intestine (by infrequent bowel movements and the release of large amounts of feces) or the large intestine (by the very frequent release of small amounts of feces), but in some cases of IBD both types of diarrhea can occur simultaneously.
Owners of dogs with IBD are most often concerned about intestinal flatulence and rumbling in the stomach of their pets.
Melena (black, semi-liquid stool with a characteristic unpleasant smell) and the presence of blood in the vomit in this disease are rare, but the incidence of bloody stools reaches 30%.
Sometimes dogs with IBD experience abdominal pain. This is evidenced both by observations made of animals when palpating their abdomen, and by their spontaneous reactions (looking at their side, howling, discomfort experienced after eating food and what happens without visible reasons salivation).
Differential diagnosis
Laboratory tests exclude diseases caused by metabolic disorders and functional state endocrine glands. Hypereosinophilia is observed in approximately 1/3 of IBD cases; it is more characteristic of eosinophilic than of lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis. The establishment of hypereosinophilia dictates the need for systemic anthelmintic treatment.
Chronic bleeding in the digestive tract can accompany IBD, although with this disease it does not occur nearly as often as with a number of others.
Abdominal radiographic examination dogs
X-ray examination makes it easier to diagnose intestinal obstruction and determine the size of the liver and kidneys, but it is of little use for diagnosing IBD. Contrast (barium) fluoroscopy is used when intestinal obstruction is suspected and when it is not possible to use ultrasound. Both of these methods make it possible to assess the degree of filling of the stomach with feed masses, when it is necessary to exclude the syndrome of impaired gastric emptying.
Ultrasound provides extremely valuable information that allows you to diagnose a number of diseases accompanied by chronic vomiting and diarrhea. In IBD, it does not reveal any specific changes - the only findings in this disease may be thickening of the intestinal wall or enlargement of the mesenteric lymph nodes. However, ultrasound is very useful in a convenient way searching for focal intestinal lesions and performing their fine needle aspiration biopsy.
Final diagnosis
The prognosis for IBD is quite favorable, because... it is not among life-threatening diseases. When IBD is complicated by protein-losing enteropathy or eosinophilic enteritis, in which extensive infiltration of the intestinal wall occurs, the prognosis is poor. The development of histiocytic colitis also serves as a basis for a poor or very cautious prognosis.
Treatment
Usually, immediately after making a presumptive diagnosis of IBD (even before completing the entire complex of differential diagnostic studies described above), a course of antibiotic therapy is prescribed and the animal is transferred to an easily digestible diet.
In addition to changing the diet of a dog with IBD, we recommend systematically using antibiotics for 1 month, which shortens the recovery period.
Prebiotics help change the intestinal environment and stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria.
In some cases, antispasmodic drugs are used.
These drugs should not be discontinued immediately after the animal's clinical condition improves; this is done gradually over several weeks in order to avoid relapse of the disease.
Finally
Whatever treatment regimen is chosen, the owner of an animal with IBD should be aware that this disease often relapses. Therefore, he must strictly adhere to the veterinarian’s instructions regarding the use of medicines and a special diet.
Very often, dogs suffering from IBD show increased sensitivity to sudden changes in diet or addition to it. feed additives. Cure a dog with IBD (especially in severe cases) of this disease), without corticosteroid drugs it is very difficult. For this reason, our recommended treatment regimen for IBD involves antibiotic therapy at the first stage in combination with transferring the animal to a special diet, and if this is insufficiently effective, switching to the use of steroid drugs. If the dog clinical condition after it stabilizes, it begins to deteriorate for an unknown reason (for example, due to sudden change diet), monthly course antibiotic therapy is often very effective way treatment of relapse of the disease.
In cases of recurrent IBD, it is advisable to combine a special elimination diet with 1–2 courses of antibiotic therapy throughout the year.
The owner may mistake his pet for banal poisoning or indigestion, but sometimes these signs indicate that serious illness, like enterocolitis in dogs. Sometimes it is better to take your pet to the veterinarian, because only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis.
Enterocolitis in dogs is characterized by inflammation of the walls of the small and large intestines, as a result of which harmful microorganisms cause necrosis of the mucous membrane and irritation of the organ.
Most common reasons The occurrence of pathology is as follows:
Install exact problem, due to which intestinal inflammation appeared, the doctor should and based on the diagnosis, therapy will be prescribed. Young and old individuals are most susceptible to enterocolitis; the disease is least often diagnosed in middle-aged and mature dogs.
The symptoms of the disease are pronounced and cannot be ignored. These include:
- Diarrhea mixed with mucus, if treatment is not carried out at this stage, then streaks of blood appear in the stool.
- A progressive disease characterized by false urges dogs to defecate.
- As a result of loose stools, irreversible processes occur at the muscular level, and cases of intestinal prolapse are recorded.
- It is not uncommon for a dog to vomit.
- Against the background of diarrhea and vomiting, a sharp decrease in body weight occurs.
- The pet's fur deteriorates, it begins to fall out, the appearance becomes dull, neglected - this is due to instant leaching from the body.
- The dog is suffering from abdominal pain; the owner may notice bloating and flatulence in his pet.
- In some cases, fever and increased symptoms are recorded.
In addition to such signs of enterocolitis, general symptoms ill health – lethargy, apathy, reluctance to go for walks.
Diagnosis of the disease
If one or more symptoms occur, you should go to a veterinary clinic. But before this, the owner is able to independently provide first first aid to your pet. First of all, it is necessary to provide your pet with sufficient water, because diarrhea and vomiting indicate dehydration.
Restore in the body water-salt balance You can use diluted Polysorb. They should feed their pet small doses over an hour. Castor oil will help cleanse your dog's intestines, making it easier for your veterinarian to diagnose the disease.
Upon arrival at the clinic, the doctor will need to answer the following questions:
- Was there a sudden transition of nutrition from one type to another?
- Has the animal had contact with other animals?
- Have you ever taken long trips with your dog?
- Does your animal like to dig into trash cans and trash cans?
- Is it possible to walk on a leash or without it?
The veterinarian must know about all the painful symptoms of the animal, as well as those marked. After a conversation and examination of the dog, tests are prescribed.
A blood test for biochemistry will allow the doctor to assess the condition and possible disturbances in activity internal organs– kidneys, liver, pancreas. The results will show the level nutrients in organism. If there is a deficiency of any element, vitamins may be prescribed. Biochemistry also reveals dehydration. This test is taken in the morning on an empty stomach, but in case of emergency Blood sampling can be done in disregard of these rules.
If you suspect foreign object stuck in the gastrointestinal tract, an x-ray is prescribed. It is this study that can guarantee the presence or absence foreign bodies in organism. There is no need to specially prepare your dog for an x-ray.
The doctor may also order an ultrasound of your pet's abdomen. You need to prepare for this study:
- The dog should not eat for 10-12 hours, as possible flatulence in the stomach will affect the result.
- The intestines are cleansed activated carbon the day before the ultrasound.
- In some cases, a few hours before the examination - this makes it easier to examine the colon.
A modern method for diagnosing diseases associated with the gastrointestinal tract is endoscopy. During this test, the doctor has the opportunity to take tissue for a biopsy. The operation is low-traumatic and is performed under general anesthesia. Microcameras are inserted into the dog's abdominal cavity, while the doctor evaluates the picture visually on the monitor.
Based on the results of tests and studies, the veterinarian makes a diagnosis for the dog and determines subsequent treatment.
Treatment of enterocolitis in dogs at home
Therapy primarily depends on the type of causative agent of the disease. In most cases, the veterinarian will prescribe a special diet for a sick dog. A day or two may be recommended therapeutic fasting, only drinking is allowed. The pet must receive sufficient quantity drinking water– this will prevent dehydration of the body.
If the animal has previously eaten, the doctor can advise special food for dogs with gastrointestinal problems. If the pet is accustomed to natural products, the veterinarian will provide a list of allowed products.
During rehabilitation the following are allowed:
- Lean meat, chicken, turkey.
- Cottage cheese with minimal fat content.
- Decoctions of cereals, oatmeal or rice are suitable.
- Egg yolks.
During rehabilitation the following are prohibited:
- Egg white.
- Products with increased content Sahara.
- Bones.
- Fatty meat and fish.
Prevention of enterocolitis
First of all, prevention consists of selecting a dog that is appropriate for the age and health of the dog. If the animal consumes natural products, then you should give up meat and fish fatty varieties, give preference to broths that are easily absorbed by the body.
Timely vaccinations will protect your dog from a number of infections and bacteria that cause intestinal inflammation.
It is necessary to monitor the dog during a walk, you should not allow the animal to dig through garbage cans, it is not advisable to allow it to come into contact with other animals, they can be carriers of diseases.
Prevention will reduce the risk of enterocolitis, and it is easier to prevent any illness than to treat it later.
IBD is a real syndrome and it is important for the veterinary practitioner to understand this. However, it often turns into an excuse rather than a real diagnosis. More and more evidence is accumulating to show that the main causes of inflammation in dogs and cats with this disease are bacteria and diet. See Antibiotic-Responsive Enteropathy section below.
Elimination diets
An elimination diet for a disease that is responsive to dietary changes is often helpful in cases of malabsorptive disease not associated with protein loss. There is no commercial food that is a suitable elimination diet (hypoallergenic and suitable for screening for non-allergic intolerances) for all dogs. We often see cases in which they did the right thing (i.e., use an elimination diet), but it was so poorly planned and executed that the whole effort was in vain. It is necessary to carefully analyze the history and find out what the patient ate before. However, even if you have determined what food ingredients a patient has previously been exposed to, it can sometimes be difficult to find a diet that will be effective for that particular patient. In some cases, all our well-planned hypoallergenic diets are ineffective, but by chance a certain brand of commercial food is effective.
When placing a patient on an elimination diet, homemade food or commercial food can be used. There are many excellent commercial foods available and they are usually effective. Homemade elimination diets are sometimes effective when commercial diets are ineffective; however, this is very rarely the case. Therefore, you will have to decide what is best for the patient you are treating. Hydrolyzed feeds are usually good, but not always best choice for any patient. Some animals respond better to new protein foods than to hydrolyzed foods, and vice versa. Whatever elimination diet is chosen, it is necessary to expect that the animal will have to feed only this food for at least 3-4 weeks (the absolute minimum) before its effectiveness can be accurately determined. In rare cases, the diet may have to be used for 6-8 weeks before a reaction occurs, but this happens in less than 5% of cases. If the diet appears to be effective (i.e., weight gain occurs and diarrhea resolves), it should be continued for at least the next 3-4 weeks to ensure that changes are due to the diet and not a temporary improvement in the patient's condition. which can happen for many reasons.
Antibiotic-responsive enteropathy
Antibiotic-responsive enteropathy (ARE) appears to be a relatively common problem in dogs. It can best be described as a syndrome in which upper sections small intestine A large number of bacteria are present, and the host reacts to them in such a way that intestinal dysfunction occurs. These bacteria are not always obligate pathogens. On the contrary, they can belong to any species, and E. coli, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus And Corynebacterium are the most common aerobic/facultative aerobic bacteria, while Clostridium And Bacterioides are particularly common anaerobic bacteria. These bacteria appear to be commensals, or they may result from contamination from ingested material that is not eliminated by the host's normal defense mechanisms. The symptoms they cause (if any) are likely to depend on (at least) two factors:
- What bacteria are present?
- How the host organism reacts to them.
The relationship between ARE and IBD is unclear, but it seems very possible that bacteria may be responsible for starting and/or maintaining the intestinal inflammation we call IBD. The term “dysbiosis” has been proposed as a bridge between ARE and IBD. That is, the presence of bacteria that are somehow capable of causing problems (usually intestinal bacteria, such as E. coli), as opposed to the presence of obvious pathogenic microorganisms.
Antibiotic-responsive enteropathy is difficult to definitively diagnose based on laboratory tests. Histopathology and cytology of the intestinal mucosa are extremely insensitive for detecting ARE. Serum concentrations of cobalamin and folate were used to make the diagnosis, and the simultaneous detection of low concentrations of cobalamin and increased concentration Serum folate was considered relatively specific for ARE. However, measurement of serum cobalamin and folate concentrations is a relatively insensitive and nonspecific method for detecting ERA. There are many dogs with chronic disease gastrointestinal tract responsive to the use of antibiotics in which cobalamin and/or folate concentrations are normal. It appears that treatment of ARE is appropriate regardless of whether serum cobalamin and folate concentrations are normal or abnormal, raising the question of whether their measurement is useful in making the diagnosis of this disease. Detection of hypocobalaminemia or low serum folate concentration is useful when trying to detect hidden disease gastrointestinal tract. Supplementation with cobalamin can lead to a marked improvement in the condition of cats and a reduction in diarrhea. In fact, we almost always find that there is nothing wrong with giving any sick cat an injection of cobalamin, regardless of the level of this vitamin in the blood. Severe hypocobalaminemia has always been considered a poor prognostic sign. But if the value of cobalamin supplementation in cats is obvious (in fact, it is almost never harmful to give a sick cat additional cobalamin), then clinical significance administration of cobalamin to dogs with low concentrations Serum cobalamin remains unclear.
Because of the apparent difficulty in diagnosing ARE using laboratory tests, empiric antibiotic therapy is often chosen as a diagnostic tool instead of laboratory tests.
The obvious disadvantages of this approach are:
- the patient’s clinical “reaction” to administered antibiotics can be due to both antibiotics and other reasons;
- If the patient does not respond to an antibiotic, you may have used the wrong antibiotic;
- Even if a patient has ARE, he may also have some other disease (for example, a tumor causing partial intestinal obstruction) that predisposes the patient to ARE.
Since any bacteria can be present in the upper small intestine, the types of bacteria in the upper small intestine can change weekly, and we rarely know which bacteria we are trying to target, antibiotics are indicated wide range actions designed to reduce total number bacteria.
We will never be able to sterilize the gastrointestinal tract. However, since Clinical signs caused by a combination large number bacteria and an impaired host response, simply reducing the number of bacteria is often beneficial. Oral aminoglycosides are generally considered a poor choice for the treatment of ARE because... anaerobic bacteria(which are thought to be the most problematic) are resistant to aminoglycosides. But this opinion is not absolutely correct, since occasionally there are patients who clearly feel better after taking oral amikacin.
Tetracycline is often effective; however, tetracycline is inconvenient to give. Tetracycline must be given separately (i.e. without any food) and ensured that it is washed away with water so that the capsule or tablet does not become lodged in the esophagus and cause esophagitis.
Tylosin powder has also been used and is accepted by many doctors.
Some doctors like to use metronidazole; but I was not impressed with the effectiveness of metronidazole as monotherapy for ARE. However, metronidazole has real benefits for many gastrointestinal disorders, presumably because it effectively kills many anaerobic bacteria.
For treating patients who are very sick and need to know immediately whether they will respond to antibiotics (that is, in the case of patients who are so sick that you cannot wait 2-3 weeks to see if they respond). no treatment), I use a combination of enrofloxacin and metronidazole. This doesn't mean I use this combination for long periods of time. I use this combination when I absolutely need to know if I will get a clinical response within 2-3 next weeks or I'll lose the patient.
Regardless of which drug is used, a trial of treatment should be carried out for (at least) 2-3 weeks before a conclusion can be drawn regarding its effectiveness. Remember that you must not only reduce the number of bacteria, but also give the intestinal lining time to heal. In addition, concurrent use of a high-quality elimination diet can significantly increase the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy, so we routinely use both approaches in our treatment attempts.
If a patient responds to a trial treatment with an elimination diet and antibiotics, then it is probably best to leave nothing for the next 2-4 weeks to ensure that the patient is actually responding to this therapy (as opposed to a patient who has had an accidental temporary improvement for unknown reasons). If the patient feels well during this period, then you can stop taking antibiotics and see if diet alone will be enough to eliminate the symptoms; or slowly reduce the dose of antibiotics to the lowest effective dose (for example, reduce the dose every day or every other day). It all depends on how often they occur clinical symptoms. In cases where symptoms occur every 2 months or less, it is advisable to treat only if the patient has symptoms. If symptoms persistently return several days after you stop taking antibiotics, you may need to continue treatment almost continuously. This second situation is one of two situations in veterinary medicine where I believe it is appropriate to determine the minimum effective dose of an antibiotic. Some patients only need to take an antibiotic every 2-3 days to control symptoms. In some patients, clinical symptoms suddenly reappear after a few weeks or months, in which case a different antibiotic must be used. If the decision is made to stop taking antibiotics, pet owners should be warned that symptoms may recur over time. As for the ARE, there is usually some kind of defect defense mechanisms host organism that allows commensal bacteria to cause clinical symptoms, and this defect is unlikely to disappear. The question is how serious is this defect (that is, will the dog's problems be constant or intermittent)? You should warn clients that they will likely have to deal with the problem again and explain the difference between “cure” and “control” the disease.
It may be a good idea to routinely treat all dogs with chronic small intestinal disease on an ARE regimen, even if you have histologic evidence of IBD or other disease. I treat a dog with an ERA regimen almost always when I diagnose a dog with malabsorptive disease because there is no test for ERA that can reliably rule out this disease, including cobalamin and folate.
Diseases of the digestive tract in dogs are very common; they are largely not a disease, but a symptom of it. Therefore, it is worth distinguishing between the main problems and understanding what they signal.
Main clinical symptoms: diarrhea, anorexia, pain, flatulence, absence of bowel movements, polydipsia, dehydration. Changes in the shape, color, quantity and volume of feces. Sometimes vomiting. Diarrhea is the main symptom of intestinal disease. Diarrhea is considered even once unshaped chair Constipation is the absence of bowel movements for 2 days. Strong smell stool does not indicate the severity of the disease
Enterocolitis
Inflammation of the mucous membrane small intestines- enteritis and colon - colitis. It usually occurs simultaneously. As a primary disease, enterocolitis is rare due to improper feeding and predisposition to allergies in shepherd dogs. In most cases, intestinal inflammation occurs as a secondary process in acute infections, invasive and protozoal diseases, salt poisoning heavy metals, tumor lesions of the intestinal wall and a number of other pathologies.
Due to the variety of factors that determine the development of enterocolitis, it is not always possible to correctly diagnose the disease and carry out timely specific treatment As a result sharp forms diseases become chronic. At the same time, inflammatory changes in the intestinal mucosa decrease, but secretory-motor disorders increase.
Symptoms
Clinically, intestinal disease is always accompanied by diarrhea. In this case, the stool initially has a mushy consistency, mixed with mucus, then becomes watery, containing blood. Severe diarrhea always occurs with tenesmus, and there is a danger of rectal prolapse. Sometimes inflammation develops anus, then the dog vigorously licks this area, sits on the ground and, moving as if “on a sled,” rubs the tissue
Palpation reveals slight rigidity of the abdominal wall, pain and “rumbling” in the intestines, auscultation reveals increased peristaltic noise. When X-ray of the intestine, accelerated passage of contrast masses and a tendency of muscle tissue to spasms are noted. Changes in blood status depend on the severity of the disease.
On outpatient appointment Clinics usually receive a lot of patients with diarrhea. When making a diagnosis, a clear sequence of differential diagnostic and therapeutic actions doctor
Diarrhea that occurs in connection with enterotoxemia (salmonellosis) usually takes on threatening forms and leads to the death of the animal from hemodynamic disorders within 24 hours.
The appearance of blood in feces is an additional differential diagnostic sign noted in plague, leptospirosis, infectious hepatitis, parvovirus enteritis, sepsis, salmonellosis, coccidiosis, giardiasis, hookworm, congestion in the portal vein.
In case of intestinal bleeding, it is necessary to examine the skin, especially in the ears, in order to detect petechiae accompanying hemorrhagic diathesis. In case of bleeding that cannot be treated, it is recommended to feed the animal only carbohydrates for 3-4 days, then re-examine the feces for blood. If there is still blood, examine the rectum and conduct a scatological analysis to detect hookworms. If the research result is negative and the intestinal bleeding A diagnostic laparotomy is performed to exclude a disintegrating tumor.
Intestinal bleeding in combination with jaundice most likely indicates leptospirosis. Prolonged inflammation of the duodenum due to swelling and compression of the opening of the bile duct can also lead to the development of jaundice.
The protracted course of enterocolitis is indicated by a decrease in the animal’s fatness, loss of skin elasticity, dullness and unkempt condition of the coat, especially around the anus.
If a specific pathogen has not been identified and a tumor is not detected, the cause of intestinal inflammation is probably due to improper feeding.
Forecast
Depends on the underlying disease.
Treatment
Firstly, especially in acute catarrh, the animal is denied food for 1-2 days, giving unlimited water and small portions of tea. In the following days, they are allowed to give a little oat broth and minced meat. Milk, sugar, eggs, fat and bones are contraindicated. Drug treatment begins with cleansing the gastrointestinal tract. For this they prescribe Castor oil 1-3 tablespoons inside.
If the inflammation is localized in the large intestine, then a deep enema (water with hydrogen peroxide) is preferable. The further treatment plan is developed in accordance with differential diagnosis: antibacterial therapy- antibiotics (kanamycin, chloramphenicol) and chemotherapy drugs (biseptol, intestopan). If nephritis is detected and leptospirosis is suspected in this regard, 4-fold administration of penicillin with streptomycin is prescribed to treat the latter.
In case of chronic enterocolitis, it is especially important to follow a diet for a long time (1-2 months) and replenish fluid in the body. Character drug therapy there must be more of a recovery plan.
Intestinal coprostasis
Stopping the movement of feces through the intestines with blockage of its lumen occurs quite often as a result of feeding dogs bones and large portions of food. But the cause of the disease is not always improper feeding.
In older males with prostatic hypertrophy, the rectum is compressed by the enlarged gland, which prevents the passage of feces. The diameter of the intestinal lumen may be narrowed due to multiple fractures of the pelvic bones. In such patients, the development of coprostasis is avoided by regular administration of laxatives. Intestinal constipation can occur after enterotomy, with the formation of a stricture of the intestinal tube as a result of an incorrectly performed surgical suture.
Stale feces dehydrated due to the reabsorption of water by the intestinal wall, compacted, forming a lump that finally clogs the lumen.
Symptoms
The animal is noted to be slightly restless, a slight increase in the abdomen in volume, frequent straining and unsuccessful attempts to defecate. The rigidity of the abdominal wall is determined by palpation; in the intestine there is an elongated or round-shaped soft lump that is crushed with the fingers.
Diagnosis
Diagnosed based on the results of an X-ray examination of the intestine with contrast.
Technique of contrast enterocolonography. The animal is given 100-250 ml of liquid barium sulfate suspension orally. The tube of the device is centered on the abdominal area. Pictures are taken in two projections at certain regulated intervals. The duration of gastric emptying is 2 hours. The contrast masses appear completely in the rectum after 6-8 hours, at the latest after 16 hours. The X-ray shows a delay in the contrast masses, a round shadow filling the intestinal lumen and containing mainly bones.
Treatment
In mild cases, antispasmodics are prescribed and castor and Vaseline oil in a ratio of 1:20. In more severe cases Frequent water enemas are given under general anesthesia, and compacted feces are removed with obstetric forceps through the lumen of the anal ring.
Histiocytic ulcerative colitis
The disease is apparently of an autoimmune nature, in which multiple lesions of the mucous membrane of the large intestine are formed. The sign of this disease is mucous, often mixed with blood and usually liquid feces. Unlike many other intestinal diseases, this inflammation is difficult to treat and therefore occurs chronically. In most cases, German boxers under 2 years of age are affected. There are reports of Afghan hounds and some other dog breeds becoming ill. It is believed that there is a genetic predisposition to the disease, but the autoimmune mechanism of occurrence has not yet been definitively proven.
Symptoms
Sick animals have frequent bowel movements - 5-6 times a day. Convulsive tenesmus after defecation is also a symptom of the disease. The stool is liquid, mucous, or mixed with fresh blood, in patches - generally just blood. But the symptoms are different for every dog. Some animals sometimes vomit. Over time, exhaustion and anemia increase.
Rectal examination reveals a thickened mucous membrane, dotted with red dots, containing bleeding areas and flat erosions. Histological examination confirms inflammatory changes in the mucous membrane and reveals the accumulation of histiocytes there. The duration of the disease also makes one think about the diagnosis of the disease.
Mortality in histiocytic ulcerative colitis not tall.
Treatment
Long-term diet, continuous chemotherapy and restriction of the animal’s movements keep the disease within normal limits. The diet involves the inclusion in the diet of foods from which little feces are formed, as well as bran. Chemotherapy consists of lifelong treatment with small doses of corticosteroid hormones and short-term courses of sulfasalazopyridazine.
Proctitis
This is a nonspecific inflammation of the rectal mucosa, associated with inflammation of the anal and circumferential glands, often transforming into one another and manifesting with the same symptoms.
Symptoms
Animals experience pain during defecation, often lick the anus, spin around to reach the anus, sit down and rub against the ground - a forced “sledding” pose. On examination they are found to have purulent discharge from the anus and the formation of paranal fistulas around the perimeter of the anus, which distinguishes this disease from sinusitis (see below).
Treatment
Antibiotics, painkillers and anti-inflammatory rectal suppositories are prescribed.
Paranal sinusitis. This is an inflammation of the paranal sinuses, associated with a violation of their emptying of secretions.
Symptoms
The disease manifests itself in unexpected squats of the animal and “sledding.” This is the result of severe itching and pain. From friction with the ground, growths form on the pelvic limbs. Animals lick the anus and spin in circles. Sometimes there is a delay in defecation.
When the index finger is inserted into the rectum closer to the anus at the lower left and right, a hidden expansion of both sinuses is detected. Large pressure and index finger on the sinus leads to the release of a foul-smelling green-yellow or brown thick pasty secretion from the excretory duct.
The disease can last a long time and over time passes into the abscess stage, when the contents of one of the sinuses break through the tissue to the outside. In this case, a painful, hot, dark cherry-colored swelling with softening in the center forms to the left or right of the anus. Later, the skin breaks and the contents of the abscess flow out. This is repeated many times.
Treatment. In mild cases of the disease, the sinuses are emptied weekly with your fingers. In more severe cases, the sinus cavities are washed with Lugol's solution. To do this, a milk catheter with a truncated cone is inserted into the sinus excretory duct and a solution is supplied through it from a syringe.
Formed abscesses are opened. In case of multiple abscess formation, bilateral sinus resection is performed.
Operation technique. General anesthesia, position of the animal on its stomach with the pelvic area elevated.
A metal button probe is inserted into the sinus. The tissue is cut in the direction of the probe, 0.5 cm away from the inlet. The apex of the sinus is cut and the mucous membrane is grasped with mosquito tweezers. The sinus is separated from the surrounding tissues with scissors, and the sinus is resected. The vessels are ligated and the tissue is sutured. The sinus is resected on the other side in the same way.
Bonding fur around the anus
This disease does not directly belong to the group of gastrointestinal pathologies, but, having an indirect effect, causes the appearance of symptoms characteristic of them. Occurs in young long-haired dogs, especially poodles
Symptoms
The hair around the anus becomes stuck together with feces. As a result, at the moment of defecation, animals experience severe pain, often sit down and push, but cannot recover. Symptoms characteristic of intestinal blockage appear: apathy, anorexia, vomiting. Paresis of the anus occurs. The skin of the paranal area becomes inflamed with the formation of abscesses and necrotic areas. A rectal stricture may develop.
Treatment
Carefully trim the hair stuck together with feces. Treat inflamed areas of the skin with a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide, and apply glucocorticoid and antibiotic ointments externally. Anesthetic suppositories are administered rectally. Once the act of defecation is restored, paresis of the anus goes away on its own. If there are strictures, the anus is forcibly dilated with fingers.
Peritonitis
This is an inflammation of the peritoneum that occurs when an infection (germs, viruses, fungi) spreads through the bloodstream or during the transition pathological process from the abdominal organs. How primary disease Peritonitis is very rare. It occurs acutely and chronically.
Acute peritonitis develops due to lesions of the gastrointestinal tract (perforation of the wall by foreign bodies, rupture of the stomach, perforated ulcer), uterus (perforation of the wall with pyometra, placental necrosis, postpartum sepsis), urinary and gall bladders (perforation, rupture of walls -ki), after laparocentesis and laparotomy with insufficient asepsis.
Chronic peritonitis may persist after an acute process, or may arise immediately as a chronic one, which happens, for example, with tuberculosis or streptotrichosis; may have limited local current(adhesive peritonitis), for example, when adhesions form after surgery, when intestinal sutures are broken, small perforations of the intestinal wall
Symptoms
Inflammation of the peritoneum is roughly indicated by an enlargement of the torso, strenuous walking, and a sudden deterioration in the condition of diseases of the abdominal organs. Acute peritonitis is a generalized disease that occurs with high temperature and very high leukocytosis (100 thousand cells or more per 1 mm3). The abdomen is tucked in, tense and painful.
Urination and defecation are impaired and often absent. Sometimes vomiting, tenesmus, rapid, shallow breathing occur, breast type. The eyes are sunken, the mucous membranes are red, the capillary refill rate is over 2 s. The pulse is rapid, small in filling, even thread-like. The fluid aspirated during laparocentesis is cloudy, serous, purulent or bloody, containing fibrin flakes.
With chronic peritonitis, all of the above signs may not be detected. The animal is apathetic, drowsy, the belly is somewhat enlarged and saggy. Therefore, chronic peritonitis is often diagnosed only during laparotomy (opacity of the peritoneum, thickening, plaque, pinpoint bleeding).
But the blood status is indicative for both courses of peritonitis (accelerated ESR, leukocytosis with a hyperregenerative shift of the nucleus to the left until the appearance of young and young cells).
Peritonitis is differentiated from ascites (blood status, laparocentesis).
Forecast
Always careful.
Treatment
Eliminate the underlying disease. If a lot of pus accumulates in the peritoneal cavity, it is removed by draining it with a gauze strip.
Technique for draining the peritoneal cavity. Local anesthesia, position of the animal on its side, paramedian perforation of the abdominal wall with a length of 2-3 cm.
Through the perforation hole, a sterile, bordered gauze tourniquet 4 m long is inserted into the peritoneal cavity. When pushing the gauze, it is impregnated with an antibiotic solution. The purpose of this procedure is to remove accumulated pus. In this regard, the gauze tourniquet is pulled out every day for 4 days in parts (1 m each) from the wound along with the pus.
Before closing the wound, it is washed as deeply as possible with saline solution with antibiotics. If there is a need to drain the peritoneal cavity after laparotomy, then a gauze tourniquet is passed through the caudal angle surgical wound. However, these measures are necessary very rarely. Usually, the administration of antibiotics in combination with glucocorticoids is sufficient. In some cases, in case of circulatory disorders, intravenous drip infusions of electrolytes, plasma replacement solutions, cardiac glycosides, etc. are performed.
Major intestinal diseases are severe in case of untimely response. The main thing when the first symptoms occur is to provide first aid and contact veterinarian to make a diagnosis in order to begin treatment as quickly as possible. Even a slight malaise can be the beginning of very serious infections or general disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract.
When walking the dog, or cleaning the places where he deposits waste products, you also need to carefully consider the consistency, color, and contents. Of course, this procedure is not a pleasant one, but timely identification of something out of the ordinary will help to help the animal before it becomes irreversible.
Signs of intestinal inflammation in dogs
Very often, dog owners talk about intestinal inflammation based on a single symptom -.
Intestinal inflammation can be infectious.
Non-contagious
- The main non-infectious cause may be . You moved to a new place of residence, changed the dog’s place of residence, a long absence of a beloved owner, etc. all this can cause a decrease in immunity.
- Overheating or hypothermia also affects the body. . The body’s resistance, the ability to resist, decreases, and at this time the virulence of microorganisms (for example, coli), which are in the body in a conditionally pathogenic form, increases, and all together manifests itself with clinical signs.
- Changing food can also lead to inflammation . For a certain type of food, the dog develops the production of certain enzymes. As soon as we, for example, stop introducing food into the diet dairy products, the enzyme stops being released and after a while, the animal will react with an inflammatory reaction.
- It also happens that something seemingly normal and familiar becomes the cause of inflammation. . The whole point may be a low-quality batch, which for one reason or another has undergone bacterial contamination.
- In case of inflammation of non-contagious etiology, as a rule, the temperature does not rise . However, if help is not provided to the animal in a timely manner, the body may not cope on its own.
- The cause of inflammation may be taking antibiotics . If it was carried out, and the course of treatment was delayed, antibiotics suppressed normal work intestinal microflora, killing it, which manifested itself in inflammation. After 2–3 days, the microflora will be restored and everything will return to normal.
Stress is a non-infectious cause.
Infectious
There are a number of microorganisms (for example, salmonella) that, when entering the body of a mammal, choose the intestines as their habitat. Settling between the villous epithelium, they begin to multiply vigorously, releasing waste products into the animal’s body.
A distinctive sign of an infectious onset is an increase in temperature. It is she who says that the body is trying to fight by “burning” the pathogenic microorganism.
Roundworms can cause intestinal inflammation.
This is why it is so important to carry out timely and regular(quarterly) deworming of dogs with complex preparations.
Intestinal inflammation may be caused by roundworms, living in the lumen of the intestines, flat, single-celled microorganisms, such as, (causing isosporosis).
Establishing diagnosis
Ultrasound examination of a dog's intestines.
The diagnosis cannot be made on the basis of any one sign. Only a comprehensive study, including laboratory research, can open the real reason and prescribe the correct treatment.
Based comprehensive research a diagnosis is made.
If it is not possible to contact a qualified specialist, and the dog needs urgent help, you must resort to the drugs available in the emergency veterinary kit.
Treatment
Let's look at various treatment regimens for intestinal inflammation in dogs.
How to treat intestinal inflammation in a dog?
Antibiotics
The first “healer” for the intestines is a group of broad-spectrum antibiotics that kill pathogenic microflora localized in the intestines.
As such, you can use the drug “ Levomycetin " By feeding a large (10+) dog 1/4 tablet 2 times a day, and a small dog 1/6 tablet, the result can be seen the very next day. However, this does not mean that treatment can be stopped. The course of antibiotic therapy should last at least 5–6 days.
Levomycetin fights pathogenic microflora.
Nitrofuran
Of this group of drugs, the most harmless and quite effective is furazolidone.
The drug can cope with intestinal pathogenic microflora, fungi and protozoa, which is why it is successfully used in dog breeding farms. and after mixing with food, it is necessary to administer the drug within 7–9 days.
Anthelmintics
If the cause of inflammation is nematodes or coccidia, and the pathogenic microflora is secondary, then chloramphenicol will help for a while, and then the situation will repeat. In this case, it is necessary to use the Procox oral suspension. She will kill and roundworm and coccidia.
Procox will help get rid of roundworms.
If veterinary drug if you don’t have it on hand, you can use sulfademitoxin, which is good for isosporosis. In this case, the dose must be maintained at 20–25 mg/kg of the dog’s weight and the drug must be administered for 10 days.
If found in fecal matter segments cucumber tapeworm(dipylidiasis) then you can’t do without vacation or drontal.
conclusions
Inflammatory signs may drag on, and it will be more difficult to solve the problem on your own, so do not delay a visit to a veterinarian.
To prevent inflammation from prolonging, you need to contact a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Video about gastrointestinal diseases in dogs
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