Chronic Diarrhea Diagnosis Flashcards
what is the clinical presentation of IBD in general?
varied
intermittent to chronic severe
middle aged to older animals
what are the clinical signs of IBD in the dog?
diarrhea (acute or chronic, SI or LI)
PLE
hypoproteinemia that may lead to peripheral edema in large breeds or ascites in small breeds
GSD predisposed
what are the clinical signs of IBD in the cat?
vomiting (clear fluid/bile)
more intermittent than with dogs, acute or chronic
stress plays a role
triaditis
hairballs
PLE (rare)
hematochezia, weight loss, lethargy
How is IBD diagnosed?
- can only be made after eliminating any other causes of inflammation in the GI tract and ID of histological changes
- interpretation of biopsy report: mild/moderate/severe cell infiltration, villus atrophy or fusion, fibrosis, epithelial erosion, lymphangiectasia
- decreased cobalamin in cats
- mild to mod increased ALT and AST
what are the differential diagnoses for IBD?
- EPI (dogs)
- food responsive disease
- antibiotic responsive disease
- intestinal tumors (particularly diffuse, intestinal lymphoma)
- hyperthyroidism
- Giardiasis in cats and dogs
- FIP in cats
- pancreatitis
- drug reaction
- colon fungal infection
describe the pathogenesis of lymphangiectasia
- small intestinal disorder of the dog
- dilatation of mucosal and submucosal intestinal lymphatics
- could be anatomic or physiologic obstruction of lymphatic drainage from the intestine
- as lacteals dilate, they absorb lipid and lipoprotein and eventually rupture, releasing the lymph into the intestinal lumen
what are the clinical signs of lymphangiectasia?
diarrhea
weight loss
edema
ascites
pleural effusion
pan-hypoproteinemia
how is lymphangiectasia diagnosed?
clinical and lab findings with an exclusion of hepatic or renal causes
may visualize dilated lymphatics on endoscopy or laparotomy
how does the pathogenesis and treatment of histiocytic ulcerative colitis differ from other forms of IBD?
form of LI disease
characterized by hematochezia and tenesmus
infectious in nature
never use steroids
what are the clinical signs of lymphoplasmacytic colitis in dogs and cats?
tenesmus and mucus in feces with frequent urgency (sometimes accidents)
what is the treatment for lymphoplasmacytic colitis in dogs?
dietary therapy, initially (high fiber, new protein)
prednisone when other treatments don’t work
what is the treatment for lymphoplasmacytic colitis in cats?
sulfasalazine 7-10 days
prednisone when other treatments don’t work
