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Client Library Article
HEMORRHAGIC GASTROENTERITIS
(HGE)
(BLOODY VOMITING AND
DIARRHEA)
| About HGE
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| Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis ( HGE ) is an inflammation of the
stomach and intestines which results is repeated vomiting and
diarrhea both of which becomes bloody as the condition progresses. There are a
variety of risk factors which may result is gastroenteritis which then
progresses to HGE. Risk factors include: eating rancid or spoiled food, dead
animals, foreign material, & toxic plants, stress, and having a high load of
internal parasites in the intestines such as hook or whip worms. Some clinicians
feel HGE is caused by a gastrointestinal virus. |
| Symptoms |
- Acute onset of bloody vomit
- Acute onset of progressively bloody diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Anorexia
- Lethargy
- Progressive dehydration
- Fever
- Eventual hypovolemic shock
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| Diagnosis |
- Physical exam reveals dehydration, abdominal pain, fever, and
usually a high heart rate.
- Blood work usually normal except for severe dehydration.
A CBC (complete blood count) and blood chemistry profile is recommended to
eliminate other causes of bloody diarrhea and vomiting.
- Radiology- (X-rays) usually show dilated loops of intestine
with fluid and gas, but it is not a typical "obstructive pattern" seen
with a foreign body or other GI obstruction..
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| Therapy |
| Generally aggressive supportive care with IV
fluids, antibiotics, anti-ulcer medications will turn these dogs right around in
a day or two, sometimes even within a few hours after getting re-hydrated.
Occasionally a dog will need to be given an anti-emetic (anti vomiting ) drug
as well. The bloody diarrhea usually takes several days to clear up but the
stool should get firmer and less bloody every day. The animal is started back
on small amounts of bland food and water only after not vomiting for more than
24 hours. It generally takes 2-3 days for the dogs to recover and may take up
to a week for the stool to be normal. |
| Prognosis |
| Fair to good with aggressive supportive care. If the
condition has not been promptly addressed, the prognosis is less favorable.
Dogs that present in a weak & shocky condition are at risk to become septic
when bacteria from the compromised gut invades the blood stream causing a
severe bacterial infection which then spreads to the entire body via
the blood. Dogs that become septic have a poor prognosis and die
of multiple organ failure. The key to a favorable outcome is early
aggressive therapy. |
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