Small Intestine Part I

Question 1

What is the order of the SI?

Answer 1

duodenum –> jejunum –> ileum

Question 2

The SI digests food by secreting water and mucous; digestive enzymes: peptidases, nucleases, disaccharidases; bile acids; pancreatic enzymes. But what is it’s MAIN job?

Answer 2

Absorption of nutrients

Question 3

What are known as the “mucosal immune system”?

Answer 3

Villi

Question 4

The villi contain the lamina propria and enterocytes. Tell me more about the enterocytes.

Answer 4

• turnover in 3 days from base of crypts

- microvilli membrane/ brush border -nutrients absorbed

Question 5

What do the crypt cells in the villi do ?

Answer 5

• secretory capacity

- make undifferentiated epithelial cells - most of these are enterocytes which migrate from crypt up to tip of villi

Question 6

T/F In GI dz, nutritional support is vital.

Answer 6

True!

Question 7

Enterocytes main energy requirement is ______

Answer 7

Glutamine

Question 8

If glutamine is absent what happens?

Answer 8

1. decline in villi structure
2. loss of epithelial integrity
3. decreased immune fxn
4. decreased absorptive fxn

Question 9

Dietary indiscretion, diet change, infection, meds, stress (boarding, car rides, dr appt), secondary to pancreatitis all cause ______ enteropathy.

Answer 9

acute enteropathy

Question 10

Food allergy or hypersensitivity, inflammatory bowel dz, lymphangiectasia, infections (including SIBO, parasites), neoplasia and secondary to EPI all cause _______ enteropathy.

Answer 10

chronic enteropathy

Question 11

Acute Hemorrhagic Diarrhea Syndrome (AHDS) has marked hemoconcentration, marked fluid shifts, typically requires hospitalization, hypovolemic shock before clinical evidence of dehydration and affects what kind of dogs?

Answer 11

Small breed dogs over exposed

Question 12

PCV is typically 35-40 but in AHDS, it can get up to how high?

Answer 12

60-80

Question 13

What are some important clinical signs to remember about AHDS?

Answer 13

• hematemesis and hematochezia!!

- very very bloody diarrhea; copious and frequent

Question 14

In, AHDS, the PCV > 60% and the TS is?

Answer 14

TS not as high as expected (GI loss)

Question 15

How do we tx AHDS?

Answer 15

IVFs: aggressive IV fluids
Antibiotics: Unasyn or Metro (bc worried about bacterial translocation)
Gastroprotectants
Antiemetics 
Nutrition 

Prognosis is good w aggressive supportive care
-unless severe hypoproteinemia or signs of sepsis