Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Protein-losing gut disease in dogs causes low blood protein and needs
By Dossin, Olivier & Lavoué, Rachel·Published in The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice·2011·Department of Clinical Sciences, France·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Protein-losing enteropathies in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A dog with protein-losing enteropathy, a condition where the intestines lose protein, may show symptoms like weight loss, diarrhea, or swelling in the abdomen. This condition is often linked to inflammatory bowel disease or intestinal lymphoma. To diagnose it, vets check for low protein levels in the blood and perform biopsies to identify any underlying issues. Treatment typically involves providing special nutrition and addressing the specific cause of the problem. Close monitoring is crucial to catch any serious complications early on.
People also search for: dog protein-losing enteropathy symptoms · dog weight loss diarrhea treatment · inflammatory bowel disease in dogs
Abstract
Protein-losing enteropathy is common in dogs but rare in cats. In the vast majority of cases, it is associated with inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal lymphoma, or intestinal lymphangiectasia. The diagnosis is based on identification of hypoalbuminemia and ruling out urinary loss and liver failure. Identification of the intestinal lesion with appropriate biopsy method is important to rule out neoplasm or infectious causes. The treatment is based on intensive nutritional support, therapy for the causative condition, and early monitoring of possibly life-threatening complications, such as hypocobalaminemia, massive pleural or abdominal fluid collection, thromboembolism, and hypocalcemia or hypomagnesemia.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21486643/