Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea syndrome in dogs: 108 cases.
- Journal:
- The Veterinary record
- Year:
- 2015
- Authors:
- Mortier, F et al.
- Affiliation:
- Clinic of Small Animal Medicine · Germany
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
This study looked at 108 dogs with a condition called acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea syndrome (AHDS), which is characterized by sudden, severe bloody diarrhea lasting less than three days. The dogs in the study were mostly smaller breeds like Yorkshire terriers and Maltese, and they tended to be younger than other dogs in the hospital. Many of these dogs also experienced vomiting before the bloody diarrhea started, and half of them had blood in their vomit as well. The dogs showed signs of dehydration, but most of them improved quickly within the first two days of treatment. Overall, the treatment was effective, leading to a rapid recovery for the majority of the dogs.
Abstract
No prospective studies including large numbers of dogs with acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea syndrome (AHDS) are published so far. The aim of this case-control study was to describe signalment, history, clinical signs, laboratory values and course of disease in dogs with AHDS. Dogs (108) with idiopathic acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea (<3 days) were prospectively enrolled. Clinical assessment was performed by calculation of the 'AHDS index' (0-18). The hospital population and 21 healthy dogs served as control groups. Dogs with AHDS had a significantly lower body weight (median 9.8 kg) and age (median five years) than other dogs of the hospital population (20 kg; 10 years) (P<0.001). Predisposed breeds were Yorkshire terrier, miniature pinscher, miniature schnauzer and Maltese. The syndrome was more likely to occur during winter. Vomiting preceded the onset of bloody diarrhoea in 80 per cent of dogs and haematemesis was observed in half of those cases. Median AHDS index at presentation was 12 (range 3-17). Haematocrit was generally high (median 57.1 per cent; range 33-76 per cent), but exceeded 60 per cent only in 31.4 per cent of dogs. Haematocrit of 48.1 per cent of dogs was above reference range, as was monocyte (50.0 per cent), segmented (59.6 per cent) and band neutrophil count (45.2 per cent). A rapid clinical improvement occurred during the first 48 hours.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26023146/