Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with protein-losing enteropathy treated with oral equine placenta
By Naoki Fukusima et al.·Published in Open Veterinary Journal·2022·3-3-19 Hoshigaoka, Tarumizu, Kobe, 655-0032, Japan, LY·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Successful treatment of ascites accumulation and diarrhea associated with protein-losing enteropathy with oral equine placenta extract supplementation in a dog: A case report
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old female Chihuahua was brought to the vet with diarrhea and fluid buildup in her abdomen (ascites) that had lasted for two weeks. After diagnosing her with protein-losing enteropathy (PLE), the vet initially treated her with medications, but her symptoms did not improve and she developed liver damage. Eventually, they added equine placenta extract to her treatment plan, along with a lower dose of prednisolone and another medication. This combination helped her recover, and she no longer experienced diarrhea or fluid buildup.
People also search for: dog diarrhea treatment · Chihuahua ascites causes · protein-losing enteropathy in dogs
Abstract
Background: Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is characterized by leakage of serum proteins into the intestinal lumen, indicating hypoproteinemia. Immunosuppressive agents are the mainstay of treatment, but in many cases, patients are forced to taper off early owing to the induction of liver damage. Case Description: An 8-year-old, unneutered female Chihuahua presented with diarrhea and ascites effusion lasting 2 weeks. Based on the results of radiography and blood tests, a diagnosis of PLE was made. Prednisolone (3 mg/kg semel in die [SID]) and MitoMax (200 mg/day) were administered, but ascites accumulation and diarrhea did not improve. Thus, azathioprine (2 mg/kg/day) was added, but there was no improvement and liver damage developed. The liver injury did not improve immediately, but the diarrhea and ascites effusion improved after serum total protein and serum albumin levels increased after they had decreased. Subsequent tapering of prednisolone from 3 mg/kg SID to 1 mg/kg SID, combined with MitoMax (200 mg/day) and equine placenta extract (eqPE) (2 mL/day), resulted in no recurrence of ascites or diarrhea. Conclusion: In canine PLE with prolonged diarrhea and ascites effusion, supplementation with eqPE may be considered as a reasonable additional therapeutic strategy. [Open Vet J 2022; 12(5.000): 774-781]
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.5455/OVJ.2022.v12.i5.24