[bugaboosmom]

CANINE HEMORRHAGIC GASTROENTERITIS by Dale A. Heisler, DVM from the AVMA. "There are very few people that have owned Yorkshire Terriers for any length of time that have not experienced this disease. One of my own dogs had this several years ago, so I speak from personal experience. Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE) is a peracute (excessively sudden) hemorrhagic enteritis (intestinal infection) characterized by vomiting that may include blood, severe bloody diarrhea and rapid dehydration. The blood may be bright red(fresh blood) or dark (digested blood). A common description of the stool is "like raspberry jam". The exact cause of this disease is unknown, although entertoxemia (toxins in the blood that have been produced by the intestine and absorbed) by the bacteria Clostridium. This disease is common in toy and miniature breeds. The hallmark is a very sudden onset. Water and electrolyte loss into the intestinal tract are often dramatic. Onset of shock is very possible. Not eating, depression, abdominal pain are all common signs. Rarely is there a fever. Diagnosis is based upon history and clinical signs on a previously healthy animal. Other causes for these signs are ruled out, which include, GI ulcers, GI Tumors, obstructions and foreign bodies, infectious diseases and clotting defects. The most effective diagnostic tool is the complete blood count (CBC).There is a marked elevation of the red blood cell count. Normally it is 35-50% while in HGE the count can be 60-80%. Levels this high can be fatal due to slugging of the blood or DIC(Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation). Once DIC starts it may be impossible to reverse. The reason for this high count is that the a large portion of the fluid portion of the blood is in the intestinal tract. Intensive IV fluid therapy is needed in this case. Antibiotics are given because of the possible role of clostridial infection and the potential for septicemia. Short acting glucocorticoids are given to dogs in shock. Injections to control vomiting are given if needed. Patient monitoring is done by checking red blood cell count every 6 hours. the rate of fluid therapy is adjusted as needed. Withholding food and water for 1-2 days is also necessary. The prognosis is good if adequate supportive care is given and very early on the disease. This is a disease that can affect the animal more than once in its lifetime. Since the exact cause of HGE is unknown, little can be done to prevent this.