1. “Winning (success) takes work!”
“The will to win is not nearly as important as the will to prepare to
win.”
-Bobby Knight

2. Diseases of SI
Often involves impairment of absorptive surface of SI (what is that?)
Acute Diarrhea—one of the most commonly seen types of diarrhea
Causes—(often accompanies acute gastritis)
Diet change
Stressful situations
Drug therapy
Signs
Acute onset of diarrhea
± vomiting
Normal appearance otherwise Dx
Fecal to r/o parasites
CBC (dehydration), Chem panel to r/o metabolic diseases
Diarrhea: increase in frequency, fluidity and volume of defecation.

3. Acute Diarrhea Rx
Fluids for dehydration, electrolyte imbalance (SQ, IV, PO)
NPO x 24 h; water OK if no vomiting
Intestinal absorbants/coating agents
Loperamide—opiod receptor inhibitor that slows gut motility
Antibiotics (?)
Bland diet after 24 h
Hills I/D
Boiled chicken/rice

4. Parasite Diarrhea Signs Dx Tx Diarrhea Wt loss Poor hair coat
Listlessness Dx
Fecal exam Tx
Anthelmintics for parasites: Fenbendazole/pyrantel
Antiprotozoal medication for Giardia, Coccidia
Giardia: metronidazole and coccidia: Albon

5. Giardia

6. Viral Diarrhea Parvovirus Canine distemper virus Coronavirus
Feline panleukopenia virus

7. Parvovirus Signs Dx—ELISA (enzyme-linked Rx
Seen mainly in young, unvaccinated puppies
Signs
Diarrhea, usually with blood
Vomiting
Febrile
Anorexia, depression
Dx—ELISA (enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay) test Rx
IV fluids
Antidiarrheal therapy
Antibiotics (Gram neg)
Keep warm

8. Parvovirus (coyote)

9. Parvovirus Client info
Sick animals will infect other unprotected animals
Parvo can be fatal
Vaccinate for protection

10. Diseases of LI Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Signs Dx
Function is to reabsorb water, electrolytes; store feces
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Signs
Diarrhea with wt loss
↑ frequency of defecations, ↓ volume
Tenesmus
↑ mucus Dx
Fecal to r/o parasites
Chem panel to r/o metabolic causes
Biopsy of LI wall
↑ lymphocytes and plasma cells
LI: Cecum, colon and rectum.

11. Inflammatory Bowel DiseaseRx
Sulfasalazine—a sulfa drug with anti-inflammatory effects
Most effective against colitis
Prednisone
Metronidazole, Tylosin
Mesalamine—a metabolite of Sulfasalazine in LI (actions unknown)
Hypoallergenic diet
Hill’s d/d, z/d, i/d
Homemade diets
Client info
Treatment is often prolonged
Goal of Rx is to control symptoms, not cure disease
Animals with IBD need to be taken outside frequently for BM’s

12. Intussusception Signs Dx Rx Client info
Cause usually unknown; can result from parasites, FB, infection, neoplasia
Signs
Vom/diarrhea with or without blood
Anorexia, depression Dx
Palpation of sausage-like mass in cranial abdomen Rx
Surgical reduction/resection of necrotic bowel
Restore fluid/electrolyte balance
Restrict solid food x 24 h after Sx; then bland diet
x d
Client info
Recurrence is infrequent
Px depends on amt of bowel removed
Puppies should be treated for parasites to prevent intussusception
Commonly at ileocolic junction. Telescoping causes partial blockage, compromises blood supply and nissue necrosis.

13. Intussuception

14. Megacolon Signs Straining to defecate vomiting
Uncommon in dogs, more common in cats (mostly idiopathic)
Associated with Obstipation (intestinal obstruction, severe constipation)
Signs
Straining to defecate
Must be distinguished from straining to urinate in male cats
vomiting
Weakness, dehydration, anorexia
Small, hard feces or liquid feces
With or without blood, mucus
Greater than length of
lumbar vertebrae
Relates with hypothyroidism, pelvic deformities. Possible defect in neurostimulation of colon to evacuate the feces.

15. Megacolon Dx
Palpation of distended colon filled with hard, dry feces
Radiographs show colon full of feces
Rectal palpation assures adequate pelvic opening Rx
Warm water enema
Animals can become hypothermic
Manual removal under anesthesia
Mucosal surface is delicate
Client info
Encourage water intake
Salt food
Always provide adequate supply
High-fiber diet