Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
German Shepherd dog with severe Prototheca colitis and rectal
By Rallis, T S et al.·Published in Australian veterinary journal·2002·Department of Clinical Studies·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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Protothecal colitis in a German shepherd dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 3.5-year-old male German Shepherd was brought to the vet because he had been experiencing severe bloody diarrhea and straining to defecate. The vet found thickening of the rectal lining and signs of infection during a colonoscopy, which revealed abnormal growths consistent with Prototheca, a type of algae that can cause intestinal issues. Despite surgery to remove a blockage and treatment with ketoconazole, the dog's health worsened over the next few months, leading to the difficult decision of euthanasia.
People also search for: German Shepherd bloody diarrhea · dog rectal stricture treatment · Prototheca infection in dogs
Abstract
A 3 1/2-year-old intact male German Shepherd Dog was admitted with a history of protracted haemorrhagic diarrhoea and tenesmus. Clinical evaluation revealed thickening of the rectal mucosa and presence of fresh blood and mucus in the faeces. Severe mucosal granularity and multiple nodules, in addition to a rectal stricture 7 to 9 cm from the anus, were found on colonoscopy. Histopathological evaluation of biopsy specimens identified organisms with morphologic features compatible with those reported for Prototheca spp. Although surgical excision of the rectal stricture was performed and ketoconazole treatment was instituted postoperatively, the dog's clinical condition deteriorated and euthanasia was performed 4 months later.
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/12222600/