Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook.pdf - Mr. Walnuts

274 •DOG OWNER’S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK
thought to be associated with food allergy or the tissue migration of roundworms
and hookworms.
Treatment: High-dose corticosteroids are used to treat this disease. They
are tapered off as symptoms diminish. The dog should be tested for intestinal
parasites and placed on a hypoallergenic diet.
Granulomatous (Regional) Enteritis
This is a rare disease, similar to Crohn’s disease in humans. There is thickening
and narrowing of the terminal small bowel due to inflammation of surrounding
fat and lymph nodes. Macrophages, which are cells found in tissues
that fight infections, are found on biopsy of the colon. The diarrhea is the
chronic large bowel type (see page 284), containing mucus and blood.
Biopsies are processed with special stains to exclude histoplasmosis and intestinal
tuberculosis.
Treatment: This involves the use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive
drugs to reduce inflammation and scarring. A course of metronidazole
may be of benefit. A strictured bowel requires surgery.
Neutrophilic Enterocolitis
This inflammatory bowel disease produces acute and chronic large bowel diarrhea
(see page 284). The inflammatory infiltrate is composed of mature white
cells in the tissues and blood vessels. Diagnosis is based on a colon biopsy and
stool cultures to exclude bacterial infection.
Treatment: Antibiotics and/or corticosteroids are used to control the disease.
Histiocytic Ulcerative Colitis
This inflammatory bowel disease occurs almost exclusively in Boxers. Signs
usually appear before age 2. Affected dogs develop severe, unrelenting diarrhea
that contains mucus and blood, and corresponding weight loss. The diagnosis
is based on a colon biopsy.
Treatment: Treatment is similar to that described for lymphocytic-plasmacytic
enterocolitis (see page 273).
ACUTE INFECTIOUS ENTERITIS
Enteritis is an infection of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by the sudden
onset of vomiting and diarrhea, rapid pulse, fever, apathy, and depression.
The vomitus and diarrhea may contain blood. Dehydration occurs rapidly.
Dogs under 1 year of age and those over 10 are particularly susceptible to the
effects of dehydration and shock.
The most common cause of infectious enteritis in dogs is parvovirus (see
page 78). Salmonella, E. coli, camphylobacter, and other bacteria are also
responsible for some cases.