“Winning (success) takes work!”

“The will to win is not nearly as important as the will to prepare to

win.”-Bobby Knight

Diseases of SIOften involves impairment of absorptive surface of SI (what is that?)

• Acute Diarrhea—one of the most commonly seen types of diarrhea

– Causes—(often accompanies acute gastritis)• Diet change• Stressful situations• Drug therapy

– Signs • Acute onset of diarrhea• ± vomiting• Normal appearance otherwise

– Dx• Fecal to r/o parasites• CBC (dehydration), Chem panel to r/o metabolic diseases

Acute Diarrhea• Rx

– Fluids for dehydration, electrolyte imbalance (SQ, IV, PO)– NPO x 24 h; water OK if no vomiting– Intestinal absorbants/coating agents – Loperamide—opiod receptor inhibitor that slows gut motility– Antibiotics (?)– Bland diet after 24 h

• Hills I/D• Boiled chicken/rice

Parasite Diarrhea• Signs

– Diarrhea– Wt loss– Poor hair coat– Listlessness

• Dx– Fecal exam

• Tx– Anthelmintics for parasites: Fenbendazole/pyrantel– Antiprotozoal medication for Giardia, Coccidia

Giardia

Viral Diarrhea

• Parvovirus• Canine distemper virus• Coronavirus• Feline panleukopenia virus

ParvovirusSeen mainly in young, unvaccinated puppies

• Signs– Diarrhea, usually with blood– Vomiting– Febrile– Anorexia, depression

• Dx—ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test

• Rx– IV fluids– Antidiarrheal therapy– Antibiotics (Gram neg)– Keep warm

Parvovirus (coyote)

Parvovirus • Client info

– Sick animals will infect other unprotected animals– Parvo can be fatal– Vaccinate for protection

Diseases of LIFunction is to reabsorb water, electrolytes; store feces

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)– Signs• Diarrhea with wt loss• ↑ frequency of defecations, ↓ volume• Tenesmus• ↑ mucus

– Dx• Fecal to r/o parasites• Chem panel to r/o metabolic causes• Biopsy of LI wall

– ↑ lymphocytes and plasma cells

Inflammatory Bowel Disease• Rx

– Sulfasalazine—a sulfa drug with anti-inflammatory effects• Most effective against colitis

– Prednisone– Metronidazole, Tylosin– Mesalamine—a metabolite of Sulfasalazine in LI (actions unknown)– Hypoallergenic diet

• Hill’s d/d, z/d, i/d• Homemade diets

• Client info– Treatment is often prolonged – Goal of Rx is to control symptoms, not cure disease– Animals with IBD need to be taken outside frequently for BM’s

IntussusceptionCause usually unknown; can result from parasites, FB, infection,

neoplasia• Signs

– Vom/diarrhea with or without blood– Anorexia, depression

• Dx– Palpation of sausage-like mass in cranial abdomen

• Rx– Surgical reduction/resection of necrotic bowel– Restore fluid/electrolyte balance– Restrict solid food x 24 h after Sx; then bland diet

x 10-24 d• Client info

– Recurrence is infrequent– Px depends on amt of bowel removed– Puppies should be treated for parasites to prevent

intussusception

Intussuception

MegacolonUncommon in dogs, more common in cats (mostly idiopathic)Associated with Obstipation (intestinal obstruction, severe constipation)

• Signs– Straining to defecate

• Must be distinguished from straining to urinate in male cats– vomiting– Weakness, dehydration, anorexia– Small, hard feces or liquid feces

• With or without blood, mucus

Greater than length of lumbar vertebrae

Megacolon• Dx

– Palpation of distended colon filled with hard, dry feces– Radiographs show colon full of feces– Rectal palpation assures adequate pelvic opening

• Rx– Warm water enema

• Animals can become hypothermic– Manual removal under anesthesia

• Mucosal surface is delicate– Client info

• Encourage water intake – Salt food– Always provide adequate supply

• High-fiber diet