|
What
is canine hemorrhagic gastroenteritis?
Hemorrhagic
gastroenteritis (HGE) is a disorder of dogs which is usually fairly abrupt
in onset. The significant signs of HGE are vomiting and/or diarrhea
containing variable amounts of blood. The blood may be bright red (fresh
blood) or dark (digested blood).
How
is HGE diagnosed?
The diagnosis of HGE is
one of exclusion, meaning other possible causes of bloody vomiting and/or
bloody diarrhea must first be considered. Some of these possible causes
include ulcers, trauma, gastrointestinal tumors or obstruction, foreign
bodies, infectious diseases, and coagulation disorders. Evaluation of these
other causes might require such tests as a complete blood count, biochemical
analysis of the blood, urinalysis, x-rays, coagulation tests, fecal
evaluation ultrasound or endoscopic (fiberoptic) evaluation of the
gastrointestinal tract. Because the costs of all these tests could be
significant, it is sometimes prudent to treat the dog for a few days with
supportive care to see if the signs resolve. More details on this are given
below.
HGE is most common in
small breeds of dogs. The blood count of affected dogs is frequently
characterized by an elevated hematocrit (red blood cell count). Most normal
dogs have hematocrits of 37-55%, while dogs with HGE may have hematocrits
well above 60%. The elevated hematocrit provides the veterinarian with an
important clue that the dog may have HGE.
What
causes it?
The exact cause of HGE
remains unknown.
How
is it treated?
Dogs with HGE will
appear profoundly ill and, if left untreated, may die. In most cases, the
disorder appears to run its course in a few days if the animal is given
appropriate supportive care. Intravenous fluid therapy provides the
cornerstone of therapy for HGE. Fluids given under the skin are not
considered adequate to meet the significant fluid requirements of most dogs
with HGE.
If intravenous fluid
therapy is not given, the dog's red blood count will continue to elevate due
to dehydration. Eventually, the blood may become so thick that it flows
very slowly through the blood vessels. In this situation, the dog is a
prime candidate for a potentially fatal clotting disorder called
disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Once DIC has begun, it is
often irreversible and may result in death.
Additional therapy may
include antibiotics and anti-ulcer medication
|