Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with intestinal nerve damage causing poor gut movement
By Aroch, I et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·1997·Department of Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Functional intestinal hypomotility in association with neuronal damage in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A young crossbred dog had been experiencing severe vomiting, loss of appetite, depression, and dehydration for over a year. After being hospitalized, the dog only showed improvement when given total parenteral nutrition, which is a special feeding method that bypasses the digestive system. When the dog was fed normally, it developed a serious condition called gastric dilatation. Tests revealed that the dog's intestines were not moving properly due to damage to the nerve cells that control gut function. Unfortunately, the underlying issue was likely a congenital defect affecting the dog's nerve function in the intestines.
People also search for: dog vomiting and not eating · dog intestinal motility disorder · treatment for dog gastric dilatation
Abstract
A young, crossbred dog with a 13-month history of progressively worsening, recurrent episodes of vomiting, anorexia, depression and dehydration was diagnosed as having a functional hypomotility disorder of the small intestines. During hospitalisation, the dog's condition improved only when total parenteral nutrition was administered. When fed orally, the dog developed severe gastric dilatation. Intestinal motility was minimal, but was induced by neostigmine. Post mortem findings included dilatation of the duodenum and progressive narrowing of the small bowel up to the ileum. Histopathology revealed various grades of neuronal degeneration and necrosis of the myenteric plexuses throughout the small intestine. Microscopic changes resembled those reported in dysautonomia, but were limited to small intestinal myenteric plexuses. A localised congenital neuronal defect causing a lack of parasympathetic tone is suspected.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9097244/