What can I feed my dog with HGE? Here’s the Answer

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If your dog has been suffering from vomiting, diarrhea or a combination of both, your poor pooch just might have a case of gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis in dogs is a common condition that typically involves diarrhea and may be accompanied by vomiting. It can also have a bloody component referred to as hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE) or Acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome (AHDS). Though common, gastroenteritis can be frustrating, scary and — depending on its cause and its effects on the individual dog — challenging to manage.

Gastroenteritis has many faces. It can present as diarrhea alone (anywhere from mildly soft stool to watery feces) or diarrhea with vomiting. Less often, it can manifest as vomiting alone, though if the condition is confined to the stomach itself, veterinarians may refer to it as gastritis.

Gastroenteritis is further separated into two types — acute and chronic. Acute gastroenteritis comes on suddenly. Chronic gastroenteritis occurs over the course of weeks, months or even years. Acute gastroenteritis usually goes away by itself; in other cases, it will progressively worsen until veterinary treatment is provided.

Gastroenteritis in dogs can have many potential causes. Anything that alters a dogs microbiome significantly can lead to the condition. Heres a list of possible causes:

  • Ingestion of spoiled or raw foods, or of non-food items
  • Viruses (parvovirus, distemper, etc.)
  • Intestinal parasites
  • Changes in intestinal flora
  • A food allergy or sensitivity
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) ulcers
  • GI cancers
  • Foreign bodies
  • Intestinal obstruction
  • Genetic disease or predisposition
  • Unfortunately, its usually difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of the condition. However, this doesnt mean that your dog cant be cured. In fact, most veterinary treatment is successful.

    Gastroenteritis in dogs typically starts with soft stool that becomes progressively wetter. Later on, you may notice mucus in the stool, your dog straining to produce a bowel movement and/or defecation in the house. Here are other common signs:

  • Explosive and/or frequent bowel movements
  • Tarry feces
  • Large volumes of watery stool
  • Blood in feces
  • Lethargy
  • Restlessness
  • Abdominal pain
  • Nausea (drooling, swallowing frequently)
  • Vomiting
  • Dogs may display one or many of these signs, depending on the diseases severity and progression.

    Since the cause is unknown, it is difficult to give advice on prevention. However, reasonable suggestions are to feed a high-quality commercial diet, refrain from giving your dog extra foods or treats your dog is not accustomed to, use parasite preventive medications as directed by your veterinarian, and generally provide a low-stress environment. Keywords

    If intravenous fluid therapy is not given, the dog’s red blood cell count will continue to elevate because of dehydration. In this situation, the dog is at risk for a potentially fatal clotting disorder called disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Once DIC has begun, it is often irreversible and may result in death.

    The diagnosis of AHDS can be challenging and may ultimately require intestinal biopsies in persistent cases. Because there are so many possible causes of AHDS, evaluation usually requires a complete blood count (CBC), biochemical analysis of the blood, urinalysis, radiographs (X-rays), coagulation tests, fecal evaluation, and ultrasound or endoscopic examination of the gastrointestinal tract.

    Dogs with AHDS will appear severely ill and, if left untreated, may die. In most cases, the disorder appears to run its course in a few days if the dog is given appropriate supportive care. Intravenous fluid therapy with potassium and electrolyte supplementation provides the foundation of AHDS therapy. Subcutaneous fluids (fluids given under the skin) are not usually considered adequate to meet the significant fluid requirements of most dogs with AHDS. Most dogs are not fed during the first 24 hours of treatment and are often given antibiotics to combat potential secondary intestinal infection.

    Additional therapy for AHDS may include gastrointestinal protectants, such as sucralfate (Carafate®, Sulcrate®), and anti-vomiting medications, such as maropitant (Cerenia®). In severe cases, plasma (the liquid portion of blood) or colloids may be needed to correct severely low blood protein levels. Probiotics and pain medications are also sometimes used in the treatment of this condition.

    What can I give my dog with gastroenteritis ? | Health FAQs