Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Best first treatments vets use for dogs with diarrhea
By German, A J et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2010·Department of Comparative and Molecular Medicine, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: First-choice therapy for dogs presenting with diarrhoea in clinical practice.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with diarrhea were treated at a veterinary hospital, where various medications were given based on their symptoms. Most of the dogs received antibiotics, while others were treated with steroids or antidiarrheal products like probiotics and adsorbents. The choice of treatment often depended on additional symptoms, such as fever or loss of appetite. Overall, the study found that antibiotics were commonly used, especially in dogs showing signs of fever, while antidiarrheal products were more likely given to those with mucus in their stool.
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Abstract
Computerised referral histories were reviewed for dogs admitted to the University of Liverpool Small Animal Teaching Hospital between January 2000 and December 2008 with diarrhoea among the clinical signs. A total of 371 cases presenting to the referring veterinary surgeon were included in the study, and information was compiled regarding signalment, clinical signs and treatment given at the initial consultation. Various breeds, ages and sexes were represented. Antibacterials were used in 263 (71 per cent) cases, steroids in 71 (19 per cent) cases and miscellaneous antidiarrhoeal products (including probiotics, prebiotics, adsorbents and antimotility drugs) in 98 (26 per cent) cases. Other drugs used included antiemetics (48 of 371 [13 per cent] cases), gastric protectants (37 of 371 [10 per cent] cases) and sulfasalazine (26 of 371 [7 per cent] cases). Antibacterial administration was positively associated with hyperthermia (odds ratio [OR]=2.97, P=0.012) and anorexia (OR=2.17, P=0.0075), but negatively associated with both weight loss (OR=0.55, P=0.036) and tenesmus (OR=0.43, P=0.035). In contrast, use of antidiarrhoeal products was positively associated with the presence of faecal mucus (OR=1.77, P=0.043), and negatively associated with vomiting (OR=0.57, P=0.025) and weight loss (OR=0.52, P=0.033).
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21262629/