Hge

[lynzy420]

What is this HGE? Sounds very scary. Anyone?

[Nancy1999]

Just call me Dr. Google!

Hemorrhagic GastroEnteritis, and it is a disease of dogs. The most notable sign seen with HGE is a very sudden onset of bloody diarrhea in a previously healthy dog. Vomiting, not eating (anorexia), and listlessness are also seen. Dehydration is not usually clinically seen on initial presentation, but shock can develop quickly without treatment.

What causes HGE?
At this time, the exact cause of this disease is unknown. There are many theories - diet, a bacterial infection or bacterial toxin, virus, reaction to an intestinal parasite, etc. - but nothing has been proven. Stress may play a role in the development of HGE. Dogs that have an episode of HGE may be prone to another occurrence. Many dogs never experience HGE.

What breeds/ages/gender of dog are more susceptible?
Toy and miniature breeds of dogs, ages 2 to 4, are the types of dogs most commonly seen, but HGE can affect any breed, gender, and age. There is no gender predilection (HGE occurs equally in males and females. Bloody Diarrhea - Hemorrhagic GastroEnteritis (HGE) in Dogs

[Yorkiemom1]

Dr.Google sums it up nicely.......it is horrific and the operative phrase from above is, "......BUT SHOCK CAN DEVELOP QUICKLY WITHOUT TREATMENT". Shock is usually cirrculatory collapse from the hemorrhaging, and the prognosis at this point is not good. That vet that ignored the crisis our LilBit's baby was in, really missed the call on this one....and it cost a life. Even if it WASNT HGE, it was serious enough to require immediate attention, certainly after the appearance of blood........

[kjc]

Just to add: A dog can die within the day the first symptoms are seen, without treatment. Some die with treatment. An in-house blood test, PCV (Packed Cell Volume) over 70, treatment should be initiated. Can take a day to a week on IV fluids and meds, no food to stabilize a dog and return it to health.

There are no warning signs, one minute your dog can be fine, the next he's having a bout of projectile bloody diarrhea (mostly blood), and he'll go downhill from there, unless he is rushed to the vet and treatment is started.

[yorkietalkjilly]

That's one reason when vomiting and diarrhea are concerned, I just go to the vet first. I'd rather pay for a useless visit than take the chance.

[My lil friend]

This is how I lost Bunkey. He was healthy at age 9yrs and then had what appeared to be a tummy bug. Did anti diarrhea/vomiting meds and anti-biotics. This happened 3 times from Aug to Nov. Then he was fine and doing well. Another bout in Jan,more meds. He was fine until early March,one night he suddenly had a bit of blood in his stool and would be going to the vet the next am,we started meds again. That evening he had a short seizure,back to the vet. The next night he had a huge seizure in my den,all of my other dogs ran away (they knew),Bunkey passed away before anything else could be done for him. He has been gone 15 months and I still ask myself what else I could of done. He was gone so suddenly.
Because I own Bunkey's twin and half brothers I am on constant poop watch.

[Sweet Girls]

When my girl just had it, I had noticed she was a little "off", but as she is prone to pancreatitis, started treating for that...but it went bad quickly. It was honestly the scariest thing I have ever been through (and as an ECE, I've seen my share of vomiting and diarrhoea...but she had a bout in the crate on the way to the hospital, and my entire car smelled like blood. In one of the blogs I read, it was said that owners liken it to seeing their animals covered in blood and in a "slaughter house". That is not an exageration...although it took the vet a day or so to diagnose (HGE is determined by ruling everything else out), my girl exhibited symptoms that appeared perfectly in keeping with everything I had read. When I went to visit her, her second night in the hospital, I had to call her twice to get her to lift her head and look at me...but then as I lay down beside her she snuggled in...I'll never forget that night, nor will I ever take her presence here with me for granted ever again....She's better now (pretty well back to normal), but I'm going to work on building her immune system and keeping her stress to a minimum...

[lynzy420]

This is very scarey stuff. Miss Mini had bloody diahrrhea when I got her home here...I remember she had to stay in hospital...I am so glad I took her to the vet right away. Now I will have to check her binder "3 inch" to see if I can find the diagnosis at that time...

Since this is so deadly would it be good to have a sticky regarding this? I never ever heard of this before...

Also, can any age dog get it or is it just common in young dogs? Let me rephrase that = can Miss Mini at 7 yrs of age or older get that? Also, if she did have it as a pup is she susceptible to it again?

[kjc]

Seems to be more common in younger dogs (2-4 Year olds)... my Peek a Boo had 2 bouts 2 months apart at 6 years of age. He's been fine since... he's 15 now. It should always be suspect no matter what age if those symptoms appear. Seems if they get it once, they are more likely to get it again, so it's good to be very aware of it.

[Yorkiemom1]

Anytime I see blood...even streaks of blood....in stool, I am making a mad dash to the vet. I have never had this happen to me...I guess just because I am aware that it exists, makes me crazy over reacting....but I want to be ahead of the game...my motto of crisis PREVENTION rather than crisis MANAGEMENT.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

Anytime I see blood...even streaks of blood....in stool, I am making a mad dash to the vet. I have never had this happen to me...I guess just because I am aware that it exists, makes me crazy over reacting....but I want to be ahead of the game...my motto of crisis PREVENTION rather than crisis MANAGEMENT.

I agree with you, it so much easier to prevent things or even "nip them in the bud", than it is to cure them.

[MelBow]

My little Gidget, at 6 lbs, has been a handful. The fist year was a trying time fining a food she would eat. I truly believe we tried everything on the market! She has dealt with HGE 3 times now and we lashes feel so bad for her. That just has to be painful. She will be 3 years old on May 27th and we are hopeful she will soon outgrow this horrible thing. She had the bloody poop on Friday and I have learned a lot from the occurrences. Still had meds left over from the last occurrence just a little over a month ago. She’s recovering well. Hope this awful thing just goes away.

[Dayswalters]

I’m glad she’s feeling better. I have had some serious problem with bloody diarrhea with one of my dogs this last year. She has had to be hospitalized twice but my vet never mentioned HGE so I don’t know if that was the cause. She did get better as well and I hope it never happens again.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by MelBow

My little Gidget, at 6 lbs, has been a handful. The fist year was a trying time fining a food she would eat. I truly believe we tried everything on the market! She has dealt with HGE 3 times now and we lashes feel so bad for her. That just has to be painful. She will be 3 years old on May 27th and we are hopeful she will soon outgrow this horrible thing. She had the bloody poop on Friday and I have learned a lot from the occurrences. Still had meds left over from the last occurrence just a little over a month ago. She’s recovering well. Hope this awful thing just goes away.

One of my fosters had the same issue...she actually was in ICU during one episode. They put her on Hill's ID Low Fat and she has been fine for a long time now. She is a long term foster due to multiple medical issues. You might want to speak with your vet about whether or not a low fat diet might benefit Gidget. Royal Canin also has a prescription GI diet