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What is the differential diagnosis of chronic diarrhea in a young dog with stool negative for whipworm and giardia. Blood results pending. Behavior normal. Has had 2 tx. with panacur. Flagyl in between and 2 days after d/cing the flagyl, there is a recurrence of diarrhea. Dog is 8 months and this has been going on since he was 2-3 mo. old
Dear Oxford,
First I need to determine if it is large bowel or small bowel.
Has he lost any Weight?
How many times a day does he defecate?
Is there any vomiting?
Is there any blood or mucous in the stool?
He has bowel movements twice a day. There is no vomiting. When his bowel movement is loose, it has mucous and then it turns watery and there is no mucous. At this point, the owner then starts the flagyl that successfully treats the diarrhea
What kind of food are you feeding him?
What blood tests are pending?
Is he thin or under weight?
He is getting canned ID at this point. The owner said they are testing kidney, liver (sounds like a CMP) and on Fri. they are doing some blood test for the intestine that takes a few days and I do not know what it is.
Thank you.
Last question.
Has he lost weight or is he abnormally thin?
He is a white golden. His parents weigh between 75 and 80 pounds and he weighs 66 1/2 pounds. He is gaining weight slowly and correction, he was 9 months yesterday. He is thin.
I am going to type for a few minutes now.
It sounds like he has small bowel diarrhea.
Here are the differential diagnosis:
PRIMARY SMALL BOWEL DISEASE
1. Inflammatory bowel disease (ex. lymphoplasmacytic enteritis, eosinophilic enteritis, and granulomatous enteritis) It is very responsive to metronidazole.
www.VeterinaryPartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=598 More on IBD
2. Lymphangiectasia
3. Infection (ex. histoplasmosis, salmonella, clostridium perfringens, and phythosis)
Have a sample of the feces sent off for culture and sensitvity.
4. Partial obstruction (ex. foreign body, intussusception, or a mass)
5. Small intestine bacterial overgrowth
6. Gastroduodenal ulcers
7. parasites (ex giardia, coccidia, worms)
MALDIGESTION
1. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (ex juvenille pancreatic atrophy and chronic pancreatitis)
www.VeterinaryPartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1627 more on EPI
2. Hepatobiliary disease
DIETARY
1. Dietary intolerance or food allergy
METABOLIC DISORDERS
1. Hypoadrenocorticism www.VeterinaryPartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=608
2. Uremia
3. Drug administration
If you need any of these conditions explained further, I would be happy to. It sounds like you are a MD yourself or in the medical field and I did not want to insult you.
Experience: DVM 14 years. Compassionate, Caring, Experienced.