Title: Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis

{{Short description|Dog disease}}
'''Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE)''' is a disease of [[dog]]s characterized by sudden [[vomiting]] and bloody [[diarrhea]].  The symptoms are usually severe, and HGE can be fatal if not treated.  HGE is most common in young adult dogs of any breed, but especially small dogs such as the Toy [[Poodle]] and [[Miniature Schnauzer]].&lt;ref name=Ettinger_1995&gt;{{cite book|author1=Ettinger, Stephen J. |author2=Feldman, Edward C. |title=Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine|edition=4th|publisher=W.B. Saunders Company|year=1995|isbn=0-7216-6795-3}}&lt;/ref&gt;  It is not contagious.

==Cause==
The cause is uncertain.  Suspected causes include abnormal responses to [[bacteria]] or bacterial [[endotoxin]], or a [[hypersensitivity]] to food.&lt;ref name=&quot;Merck&quot;&gt;{{cite web |date=2006 |title=Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis |url=https://www.merckvetmanual.com/digestive-system/diseases-of-the-stomach-and-intestines-in-small-animals/acute-hemorrhagic-diarrhea-syndrome-in-dogs |accessdate=2024-04-24 |work=The Merck Veterinary Manual}}&lt;/ref&gt;  Pathologically there is an increase in the permeability of the intestinal lining and a leakage of blood and proteins into the bowel.  ''[[Clostridium perfringens]]'' has been found in large numbers in the intestines of many affected dogs.&lt;ref name=Ettinger_1995/&gt;

==Clinical signs==
Profuse vomiting is usually the first symptom, followed by depression and bloody diarrhea with a foul odor.  Severe [[hypovolemia]] (low blood volume) is one of the hallmarks of the disease, and severe [[hemoconcentration]] (concentrated blood) is considered necessary for diagnosis.  The progression of HGE is so rapid that hypovolemic [[Shock (circulatory)|shock]] and death can occur within 24 hours.&lt;ref name=Ettinger_1995/&gt;  [[Disseminated intravascular coagulation]] (DIC) is a possible [[sequela]] of HGE. As a result, this disease can cause severe damage.

==Diagnosis==
Clinical signs of HGE and [[canine parvovirus]] (CPV) are similar enough that they need to be differentiated.  It may or may not be detected by a high or low [[white blood cell]] count, and there may be a low hematocrit.  A negative fecal [[parvovirus]] test is sometimes necessary to completely rule out CPV.  Other potential causes of vomiting and diarrhea, white foam from the mouth include gastrointestinal [[parasitism|parasite]]s, bacterial infections including ''[[Escherichia coli|E. coli]]'', ''[[Campylobacter]]'', or ''[[Salmonella]]'', [[protozoa]]l infections such as [[coccidia|coccidiosis]] or [[giardiasis]], and gastrointestinal cancer.

==Treatment==
The most important aspect of treatment of HGE is [[intravenous therapy|intravenous fluid therapy]] to replace lost fluid volume.  The vomiting and diarrhea are treated symptomatically and will usually resolve after one to two days.  Antibiotics targeting ''C. perfringens'' are also used but recent studies have shown no difference in outcome or survival rate between patients given antibiotics and those not when no signs of sepsis were present. In other words, if there are no signs of sepsis, antibiotics will not hasten a recovery or improve outcome.  With prompt, aggressive treatment, the [[prognosis]] is good.  There is less than 10 percent mortality with treatment, but 10 to 15 percent of cases will recur.&lt;ref name=Merck/&gt;

==See also==
*[[Gastroenteritis]]

==References==
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[[Category:Dog diseases]]