SA acute GI disease Flashcards
What are the difference in acute + chronic Vomiting + diarrhoea in SA?
*Acute = self limiting
*Chronic = requires specific diagnosis + treatment
What are viral causes of diarrhoea in dogs?
Coronavirus + Rotavirus
*Unlikely distemper + parvo as vaccinated
How can you treat acute GI problems?
*Usually self limiting
*Give easily digestible food + low fat - chicken + rice
*or starve - rest GI - Not young dogs (hypoglycaemia)
If an animal with acute GI problems are dull what should you do?
*Blood tests
- Haematology (PCV, WBC)
- Biochemistry (liver enzymes + pancreas)
*Imaging - radiographs, ultrasound
Where in the intestine problem is likely to see blood + mucus in diarrhoea?
*Large intestines
*SI = loads of watery faeces
What are the categories of acute V+D?
*Non fatal / self-limiting
2 to extra-intestinal / systemic disease
*Severe potentially life threatening = enteric infection, AHDS/HGE, intestinal obstruction
What can cause a self limiting acute diarrhoea?
*Parasites
*Dietary indiscretion
2 to pancreas, kidney + liver porblems or endocrine
What are severe enteric infections?
*Parvovirus
*Bacterial
*Acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea syndrome / haemorrhagic gastroenteritis
*Surgical disease - intussuseption, volvulus, incarceration, stricture, foreign body
What is the most important part of supportive tx?
*Prevent dehydration
What is seen with large intestine diarrhoea?
*Normal to increased volume
*Frequent defecation
*Tenesmus - rectal cramping
*Blood + mucus
*No weight loss
*Whipworms + protozoa
What is seen with small intestine diarrhoea?
*Large volume
*Normal frequency
*Weight loss
What are the causes of acute gastritis other than inflammatory?
*Dietary indiscretion, garbage intoxications
*Foreign material
*Hairballs in cats
*Certain drugs
*acute systemic disease
How do you diagnose diarrhoea cause?
*History
*Physical exam
*Minimum data base
*Imaging
*Response to Tx
*Reassess if persists for >48hrs
What can be ruled out with imaging?
*Obstructions / other surgical Dz
*intussusception
*Foreign bodies
How should a diarrhoea case be treated?
*Treat specific cause if identified
*Maintain hydration
*Reassess if persist for >48hrs
What are licenced centrally acting anti-emetics?
*Maropitant
*Metoclopramide
What are other anti-emetics (anticholinergics)?
*Atropine
*Methylscopolamine
What are gastric mucosal protectants?
*Cimetindine - ONLY LICENCED - least effective
*Omeprazole
*Sucralfate
*Antacids - aluminium hydroxide
Why are NSAIDs good / bad?
*Good = anti-inflammatory + analgesic
*Bad = damage GI mucosa
What are antidiarrhoeals (absorbents / protectants)?
*Kaolin-pectin
*Activated charcoal
*Bismuth salts
Why shouldn’t you use antibiotics initially?
*Upset natural gut flora = diarrhoea + promote resistance
When would you use antibiotics?
*Haemorrhagic diarrhoea
*Diarrhoea + pyrexia
*Known bacteria infection
How would you remove gastric foreign bodies?
*Induce vomiting - apomorphine / xylazine (non-corrosive poison)
*‘Natural’ passage - if failure to pass in 48hrs = surgery
What age / breed does canine acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea syndrome affect? AHDS
*All ages
*Toy + minature predisposed
What are clinical signs of AHDS?
*Sudden onset of vomit + blood
*Diarrhoea in a few hours + blood
*Depression
*Shock
Marked haemoconcentration - increased PCV (60-80)
How would you treat AHDS?
- Vigorous Fluid therapy - maintain PCV <50
*Protectants, antibiotics + withhold food + water
What is the prognosis of AHDS?
*If untreated = rapid death - shock + circulatory failure
*If treated = low mortality
