Clinical characteristics of dogs with food-responsive protein-losing enteropathy

In-hospital mortality in dogs with protein-losing enteropathy and associated risk factors

BACKGROUND

Risk factors associated with negative outcomes in dogs with protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) are well documented. However, mortality before hospital discharge and associated risk factors are not well described.

HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES

Report the percentage of dogs with PLE that do not survive to hospital discharge and identify associated risk factors.

ANIMALS

One-hundred and seven dogs presented to a referral hospital and diagnosed with PLE caused by inflammatory enteritis, intestinal lymphangiectasia or both.

METHODS

Retrospective cross-sectional study assessing hospital records. Data on in-hospital mortality and cause were assessed, and presenting signs, treatments prescribed, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, serum albumin, globulin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations, and histopathologic findings were compared between survivors and non-survivors.

RESULTS

In-hospital mortality was 21.5% with the most common causes including financial limitations, failure to improve and aspiration pneumonia. Factors associated with mortality during hospitalization included longer duration of hospitalization (P = .04), longer duration of clinical signs (P = .02) and an increase in serum CRP concentration after 1-3 days of in-hospital treatment (P = .02). Higher mortality was identified in Pugs (odds ratio [OR], 4.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41-17.2; P = .01) and was a result of presumptive aspiration pneumonia in 5/6 of these dogs.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Protein-losing enteropathy in dogs has substantial mortality during hospitalization. Monitoring for improvement in CRP concentration after treatment during hospitalization may help predict survival to discharge. Pugs have increased in-hospital mortality because of aspiration pneumonia; measures to prevent, recognize, and promptly treat this complication may improve outcomes in this breed.

Peripheral and intestinal T lymphocyte subsets in dogs with chronic inflammatory enteropathy

BACKGROUND

Dysregulated T lymphocyte response is thought to play a key role in chronic intestinal inflammation (CIE).

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the presence of changes in peripheral and intestinal T lymphocyte subsets and to describe potential immune and inflammatory biomarkers in dogs with CIE.

ANIMALS

Sixteen healthy dogs and 26 dogs were diagnosed with CIE.

METHODS

Prospective case-control study evaluating peripheral and intestinal T lymphocytes using flow cytometry and inflammatory markers obtained from complete blood cell counts.

RESULTS

Dogs with CIE had higher peripheral activated T helper (Th) lymphocytes (87/μL [18-273] CIE, 44/μL [16-162] healthy control (HC, P = .013) and regulatory T cells (Treg; 108/μL [2-257] CIE, 34/μL [1-114] HC, P = .004). In the intestinal epithelium, CIE dogs presented lower percentages of Th (4.55% [1.75-18.67] CIE, 8.77% [3.79-25.03] HC, P = .002), activated Th cells (0.16% [0.02-0.83] CIE, 0.33% [0.05-0.57] HC, P = .03) and CD4/CD8 ratio (0.08 [0.02-0.39] CIE, 0.21 [0.07-0.85] HC, P = .003). Conversely, higher percentage of activated T cytotoxic cells (20.24% [3.12-77.12] CIE, 12.32% [1.21-39.22] HC, P = .04) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) producing T lymphocytes (7.36% [0.63-55.83] CIE, 1.44% [0.00-10.56] HC, P = .01) within the epithelium was observed. In the lamina propria the percentage of Treg lymphocytes was higher (6.02% [1.00-21.48] CIE, 3.52% [0.18-10.52] HC, P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Systemic and intestinal immune alterations occur in dogs with CIE suggesting that blood IFN-γ producing T lymphocytes and the systemic immune-inflamation index (SII) could potentially serve as biomarkers for the disease.

Updating the Classification of Chronic Inflammatory Enteropathies in Dogs

Chronic inflammatory enteropathies (CIEs) in dogs are currently classified based on response to sequential treatment trials into food-responsive (FREs); antibiotic-responsive (AREs); immunosuppressant-responsive (IREs); and non-responsive enteropathies (NREs). Recent studies have reported that a proportion of NRE dogs ultimately respond to further dietary trials and are subsequently misclassified. The FRE subset among CIEs is therefore probably underestimated. Moreover, alterations in the gut microbiota composition and function (dysbiosis) have been shown to be involved in CIE pathogenesis in recent research on dogs. Metronidazole and other antibiotics that have been used for decades for dogs with AREs have been demonstrated to result in increased antimicrobial resistance and deleterious effects on the gut microbiota. As a consequence, the clinical approach to CIEs has evolved in recent years toward the gradual abandonment of the use of antibiotics and their replacement by other treatments with the aim of restoring a diverse and functional gut microbiota. We propose here to refine the classification of canine CIEs by replacing the AREs category with a microbiota-related modulation-responsive enteropathies (MrMREs) category.

Pre-illness dietary risk factors in dogs with chronic enteropathy

BACKGROUND

Dietary factors have been extensively studied as potential triggers of inflammatory bowel disease in humans. Scant literature exists regarding diet as a pre-illness risk factor in dogs with chronic enteropathy (CE).

HYPOTHESIS

To evaluate possible pre-illness dietary risk factors in dogs with CE.

ANIMALS

Ninety-five client-owned dogs; 48 with CE (25 presumptive and 23 confirmed) and 47 without a history of signs of gastrointestinal disease.

METHODS

Retrospective case-control questionnaire-based study at a veterinary referral teaching hospital in the United Kingdom. Diet history was obtained relating to the onset of initial presenting signs for all dogs. The main diet consumed underwent ingredient analysis and caloric distribution calculation using a guaranteed analysis convertor software. Length of time the main diet was fed and adherence to the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Global Nutrition Committee guidelines was also recorded.

RESULTS

The frequency of the main diet containing no carbohydrate was greater for controls (5/47 dogs, 11%) vs the combined presumptive and confirmed CE dogs (0/48 dogs, 0%; P = .05). Fewer dogs with confirmed CE were fed a main diet containing red meat as the primary protein source (2/23 dogs, 9%) vs controls (15/47 dogs, 32%; P = .03). A main diet moisture percentage of ≤14% as fed was significantly associated with confirmed CE in logistic regression analysis (OR 5.71 [95% CI: 1.18-27.69]; P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

The presence of dietary carbohydrate, protein source, and dietary moisture content, or factors related to moisture content such as preservatives, might play a role as potential pre-illness dietary risk factors in dogs with CE.

Randomized controlled trial of hydrolyzed fish diets in dogs with chronic enteropathy

BACKGROUND

The role of diet in the pathogenesis and treatment of chronic enteropathies (CE) in dogs is unresolved.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the ability of diets composed of hydrolyzed fish, rice starch, and fish oil without (HF) or with prebiotics, turmeric, and high cobalamin (HF+) against a limited ingredient diet containing mixed nonhydrolyzed antigens and oils (control) to resolve clinical signs and maintain serum cobalamin and folate concentrations in dogs with nonprotein losing CE (non-PLE). To determine the ability of hydrolyzed fish diets to support recovery and remission in dogs with PLE.

ANIMALS

Thirty-one client-owned dogs with CE: 23 non-PLE, 8 PLE.

METHODS

Randomized, blinded, controlled trial. Diets were fed for 2 weeks; responders continued for 12 weeks. Nonresponders were crossed over to another diet for 12 weeks. Response was determined by standardized clinical evaluation with long-term follow-up at 26 weeks. Concurrent medications were allowed in PLE.

RESULTS

Nineteen of 23 (83%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 60%-94%) non-PLE CE responded clinically to their initial diet, with no difference between diets (P > .05). Four nonresponders responded to another diet, with sustained remission of 18/18 (100%; 95%CI, 78%-100%) at 26 weeks. Serum cobalamin concentration was increased (P < .05) and maintained by diet. Serum folate concentration decreased posttreatment (P < .05) but was restored by dietary supplementation. Hydrolyzed fish diets supported weight gain, serum albumin concentration, and recovery (P < .05) in dogs with PLE.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Changing diet, independent of antigen restriction or supplemental ingredients, induced long-term remission in dogs with non-PLE CE. Serum cobalamin and folate concentrations were maintained by diet. Hydrolyzed fish diets supported clinical recovery and remission in PLE.

Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Canine Intestinal Lymphangiectasia: A Comparative Review

Intestinal lymphangiectasia was first described in the dog over 50 years ago. Despite this, canine IL remains poorly understood and challenging to manage. Intestinal lymphangiectasia is characterized by variable intestinal lymphatic dilation, lymphatic obstruction, and/or lymphangitis, and is a common cause of protein-losing enteropathy in the dog. Breed predispositions are suggestive of a genetic cause, but IL can also occur as a secondary process. Similarly, both primary and secondary IL have been described in humans. Intestinal lymphangiectasia is definitively diagnosed via intestinal histopathology, but other diagnostic results can be suggestive of IL. Advanced imaging techniques are frequently utilized to aid in the diagnosis of IL in humans but have not been thoroughly investigated in the dog. Management strategies differ between humans and dogs. Dietary modification is the mainstay of therapy in humans with additional pharmacological therapies occasionally employed, and immunosuppressives are rarely used due to the lack of a recognized immune pathogenesis. In contrast, corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapies are more commonly utilized in canine IL. This review aims toward a better understanding of canine IL with an emphasis on recent discoveries, comparative aspects, and necessary future investigations.

Incidence of relapse of inflammatory protein-losing enteropathy in dogs and associated risk factors

BACKGROUND

Dogs with inflammatory protein-losing enteropathy (iPLE) that attain remission may be at risk of subsequent relapse.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the incidence of relapse of iPLE in dogs that have previously attained complete clinical and biochemical remission and identify associated risk factors.

ANIMALS

Seventy-five client-owned dogs diagnosed with iPLE.

METHODS

Medical records of dogs diagnosed with iPLE based on histopathology of intestinal biopsy specimens between March 2010 and March 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Variables were recorded from the time of investigation at histopathologic diagnosis and subsequent follow-up information was obtained from the records of referring veterinarians.

RESULTS

Twenty-three dogs (31%) achieved sustained remission without documentation of relapse for at least 2 years. Nineteen dogs (25%) achieved remission, but then subsequently relapsed within 2 years of histopathologic diagnosis, and 33 dogs (44%) never achieved remission with disease-associated death occurring a median of 19 (range, 3-114) days after histopathologic diagnosis. Dogs that achieved remission and subsequently relapsed had significantly higher poor dietary compliance, as defined by frequent scavenging or changing from the recommended diet compared to dogs with sustained remission (P = .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Inflammatory PLE is associated with a high rate of relapse in dogs. Ensuring owners adhere to dietary recommendations might help prevent subsequent relapse in dogs with iPLE that attain initial remission.

Home-cooked diets cost more than commercially prepared dry kibble diets for dogs with chronic enteropathies

OBJECTIVE

Nutrition plays a fundamental role in the management of canine chronic enteropathies (CCEs). Dog owners may elect to feed home-cooked diets (HCDs) rather than veterinary commercially prepared diets (CPDs) because of perceived lower costs. There is a paucity of data comparing costs of these options. We hypothesize there will be differences in costs between complete and balanced HCDs and nutritionally comparable CPDs.

SAMPLE

6 Home-cooked diets.

PROCEDURES

Six HCD recipes (2 highly digestible, 2 limited antigen, 2 low-fat) were formulated by 2 board-certified veterinary nutritionists to mimic the nutritional and ingredient profiles of veterinary CPDs for management of CCEs. The cost (in US$ on a per 100 kilocalorie [kcal] basis) of each recipe was determined via collection of ingredient prices from 3 grocery stores combined with supplement prices from online retailers. Prices of CPDs were obtained from a national online retailer. Maintenance energy requirements of 1.6 X (70 X BWkg0.75), where BWkg represents body weight in kilograms, were calculated for 3 dog sizes (5, 20, and 40 kg), and costs of feeding maintenance energy requirements with HCDs versus dry and canned CPDs were compared with a Kruskal-Wallis test and post hoc testing.

RESULTS

The median costs of all dry and canned CPDs and HCDs were $0.29 (range, $0.18 to $0.46), $1.01 (range, $0.77 to $1.20), and $0.55 (range, $0.35 to $1.14), respectively. Feeding complete and balanced HCDs cost more than feeding dry CPDs (P < .001), but not canned CPDs (P > .99).

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Dry CPDs cost the least for nutritional management of CCEs. There is a wide range of costs for both CPDs and HCDs.

Canine chronic enteropathy—Current state-of-the-art and emerging concepts

Over the last decade, chronic inflammatory enteropathies (CIE) in dogs have received great attention in the basic and clinical research arena. The 2010 ACVIM Consensus Statement, including guidelines for the diagnostic criteria for canine and feline CIE, was an important milestone to a more standardized approach to patients suspected of a CIE diagnosis. Great strides have been made since understanding the pathogenesis and classification of CIE in dogs, and novel diagnostic and treatment options have evolved. New concepts in the microbiome-host-interaction, metabolic pathways, crosstalk within the mucosal immune system, and extension to the gut-brain axis have emerged. Novel diagnostics have been developed, the clinical utility of which remains to be critically evaluated in the next coming years. New directions are also expected to lead to a larger spectrum of treatment options tailored to the individual patient. This review offers insights into emerging concepts and future directions proposed for further CIE research in dogs for the next decade to come.

A Preliminary Study of Modulen IBD Liquid Diet in Hospitalized Dogs with Protein-Losing Enteropathy

Modulen IBD is an enteral liquid diet that can induce remission rates similar to glucocorticoids in children with inflammatory bowel disease. The Modulen IBD liquid diet has not been previously investigated in dogs. Our study aimed to describe the use of the Modulen IBD liquid diet in hospitalized dogs with inflammatory protein-losing enteropathy (PLE), including its tolerance and effects on appetite and gastrointestinal signs, and laboratory parameters during hospitalization. Of the 14 dogs hospitalized for PLE that had an esophagostomy feeding tube placed at the time of endoscopy, 5 were eligible and prospectively enrolled. The Modulen IBD liquid diet was supplemented with whey powder isolate and a multivitamin/mineral blend to ensure the diet was complete and balanced for canine adult maintenance and had a macronutrient profile desirable for PLE. All five dogs tolerated tube feedings with the Modulen IBD liquid diet, allowing an increase of 75 to 100% of the resting energy requirement (RER) by day 3 to 4. The diet was administered without glucocorticoid in all five dogs. All five of these dogs had a resolution of anorexia allowing the voluntary intake of a commercial hydrolyzed protein diet prior to the use of glucocorticoids. Of these five dogs, three (60%) had stable or improved serum albumin concentrations (median % increase: 10.3, range: 0−31.1), four (80%) had improved or normalized serum globulin concentrations (median % increase: 12.9, range: 5.1−66.2) and four (80%) had improved or normalized serum cholesterol concentrations (median % increase: 31.5, range: 4.8−63) 2−3 days after initiating the diet. However, there were no significant differences in these selected biochemical parameters pre- and post-feeding with the diet (p > 0.080). In conclusion, the Modulen IBD liquid diet, fed via an esophagostomy feeding tube was well-tolerated in-hospital and resolved anorexia in all dogs and helped to improve selected biochemical parameters in some dogs. Further studies are needed to assess the long-term effects of feeding this diet on the rate of serum albumin increase and remission in dogs with inflammatory PLE.

2022 Update of the Consensus on the Rational Use of Antithrombotics and Thrombolytics in Veterinary Critical Care (CURATIVE) Domain 1- Defining populations at risk

OBJECTIVES

To expand the number of conditions and interventions explored for their associations with thrombosis in the veterinary literature and to provide the basis for prescribing recommendations.

DESIGN

A population exposure comparison outcome format was used to represent patient, exposure, comparison, and outcome. Population Exposure Comparison Outcome questions were distributed to worksheet authors who performed comprehensive searches, summarized the evidence, and created guideline recommendations that were reviewed by domain chairs. The revised guidelines then underwent the Delphi survey process to reach consensus on the final guidelines. Diseases evaluated in this iteration included heartworm disease (dogs and cats), immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (cats), protein-losing nephropathy (cats), protein-losing enteropathy (dogs and cats), sepsis (cats), hyperadrenocorticism (cats), liver disease (dogs), congenital portosystemic shunts (dogs and cats) and the following interventions: IV catheters (dogs and cats), arterial catheters (dogs and cats), vascular access ports (dogs and cats), extracorporeal circuits (dogs and cats) and transvenous pacemakers (dogs and cats).

RESULTS

Of the diseases evaluated in this iteration, a high risk for thrombosis was defined as heartworm disease or protein-losing enteropathy. Low risk for thrombosis was defined as dogs with liver disease, cats with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, protein-losing nephropathy, sepsis, or hyperadrenocorticism.

CONCLUSIONS

Associations with thrombosis are outlined for various conditions and interventions and provide the basis for management recommendations. Numerous knowledge gaps were identified that represent opportunities for future studies.

Dietary management of chronic enteropathy in dogs

Chronic idiopathic enteropathy is a clinical condition defined by the exclusion of infectious, metabolic or neoplastic causes of gastrointestinal signs and is categorised by a response to treatment including management with diet change, immunosuppressant medication or interventions that directly target the microbiome (e.g. antibiotics, faecal transplantation or probiotics). Animals that fail these therapies are categorised as non-responsive or refractory chronic idiopathic enteropathy. This specific categorisation implies that nutritional intervention is only needed for a subset of patients with enteropathy. However, often dogs with chronic idiopathic enteropathy are malnourished, have nutrient malabsorption or have gastrointestinal inflammation that occurs as a result of a breakdown in tolerance to luminal antigens including microorganism or dietary components. Thus, all dogs with chronic idiopathic enteropathy benefit from a nutritional assessment and targeted nutritional intervention. Among dogs presenting for chronic idiopathic enteropathy, the response rate to diet alone is roughly 50% in the referral population giving the impression that the overall response could be even higher especially when more than one nutritional intervention is attempted and strict adherence is maintained. The objectives of this review article are to outline the nutritional approach to a dog with chronic idiopathic enteropathy, including the nutritional assessment, and to highlight areas for nutritional intervention.

Immunosuppressant-Responsive Enteropathy and Non-Responsive Enteropathy in Dogs: Prognostic Factors, Short- and Long-Term Follow Up

Simple Summary

Chronic intestinal inflammation in dogs is a challenging disease to manage. Most studies about prognostic factors and follow-up data are only available for small populations or with short-term follow-up. The aim of this study of 165 dogs with chronic intestinal inflammation was to identify clinical and haematological factors associated with mortality, clinical response and relapse, with long-term follow-up. Nine per cent of dogs did not respond to therapy at 1 month follow-up. Most dogs with chronic intestinal inflammation had a good clinical course in most cases, and the non-response or relapse rate was 9–11%. A reduction of body condition (loss of weight), lower serum albumin concentration and presence of lacteal dilatation on intestinal histology at diagnosis were identified as factors associated with a decreased response rate, higher mortality and lower chance of achieving long-term remission.

Abstract

A multicentre prospective study was performed to assess whether clinical, hematobiochemical, endoscopic and histopathological parameters were associated with mortality, clinical response and relapse of disease in short- and long-term follow-up of a total of 165 dogs with chronic inflammatory enteropathy, of which 150 had immunosuppressant responsive enteropathy (IRE), and 15 had non-responsive enteropathy (NRE) dogs. Clinical severity (CCECAI) was evaluated from presentation (T0) to 18 months (T18) from diagnosis. T0 body condition score (BCS), selected haematological parameters and endoscopic and histopathological scores were evaluated. Presence/absence of histopathological duodenal lesions was recorded. Responders were evaluated using CCECAI at T1. Relapse was evaluated from T3 to T18. Long-term responders included dogs who responded at T1 and showed no relapse. Dogs were divided into responders/non-responders, survivors/non-survivors and relapsed/non-relapsed. At T1, 15/165 dogs (9%) were considered NRE. Sixteen dogs (11%) were considered relapsed at T3, 8% at T6 and 10% at T12, and none of 96 dogs relapsed at T18. NREs showed significantly lower BCS than IREs. Non-survivors showed a significantly lower serum albumin concentration and BCS than survivors. Non-responders, relapsed or non-survivors had higher presence of lacteal dilatation compared to long-term responders. Dogs with IRE showed a good clinical course with a low relapse rate, with only a few dogs in the NRE group. Reduction of BCS, albumin and lacteal dilatation at diagnosis may be considered negative prognostic factors for response, mortality and long-term disease remission.

The effect of assisted enteral feeding on treatment outcome in dogs with inflammatory protein-losing enteropathy

BACKGROUND

The effect of assisted enteral feeding on treatment outcome in dogs with protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is unknown.

OBJECTIVES

To determine if dogs with inflammatory PLE that had an enteral feeding tube placed had better outcome vs dogs with inflammatory PLE without a feeding tube.

ANIMALS

Fifty-seven dogs with inflammatory PLE.

METHODS

A retrospective study at a UK referral hospital identified dogs with inflammatory PLE using a standard diagnostic criterion. Positive outcome was defined as survival greater than 6 months or death unrelated to PLE and negative outcome as death related to PLE within 6 months of diagnosis. Several variables were assessed to identify factors for positive outcome using logistic regression.

RESULTS

Thirty-five (61%) and 22 (39%) dogs had a positive and negative outcome at 6 months, respectively. Of the 21 dogs that had a feeding tube placed within 5 days of gastrointestinal biopsy, 16 (76%) had a positive outcome and 5 (24%) had a negative outcome. Dogs treated with dietary treatment alone (P = .002) and dogs with an enteral feeding tube (P = .006) were significantly associated with a positive outcome. When stratified by treatment, assisted enteral feeding was significantly associated with a positive outcome in dogs treated with concurrent immunosuppressive treatment (P = .006), but there was insufficient data to evaluate dogs treated with dietary treatment alone.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Assisted enteral feeding in dogs with inflammatory PLE could be associated with improved treatment outcome, especially in those receiving immunosuppressive treatment, and should be considered in the treatment plan of these dogs.

Prospective evaluation of a change in dietary therapy in dogs with steroid-resistant protein-losing enteropathy

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical effect of dietary alteration as a sole change to therapy in dogs with steroid-resistant protein-losing enteropathy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Prospective study. Eligible enrolled dogs received dietary alteration as sole change to their therapeutic plan. Canine Chronic Enteropathy Clinical Activity Index and serum albumin were monitored for the 3-month study period. Long-term follow-up data were also available for some of the study participants.

RESULTS

Fifteen dogs were eligible for enrollment over the study period. Twelve were enrolled, 10 remained in the study at 30 days, nine completed the 3-month study period. Following dietary alteration, eight of 10 dogs achieved complete remission, one dog achieved partial remission and one dog had no response. Seven of eight dogs achieving complete remission have remained in remission up to 4 years following study. In dogs with complete remission, median Canine Chronic Enteropathy Clinical Activity Index score was 11.5 and 4, and median serum albumin concentration was 15 g/L and 26 g/L at 0 and 14-28 days, respectively.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Dogs with protein-losing enteropathy with previous lack of response to a combination of dietary therapies, glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive medications can achieve remission following a dietary change. Improvement is likely to be seen within 14 to 30 days. A change in dietary approach may be an alternative to further immunosuppression or anti-inflammatory strategies in some dogs with difficult to treat protein-losing enteropathy.

From Bench Top to Clinics: How New Tests Can Be Helpful in Diagnosis and Management of Dogs with Chronic Enteropathies

In this article, we review different tests that have been researched in dogs with chronic enteropathy. The usefulness of these tests either to assess etiology, to differentiate between treatment response, or to monitor treatment response is discussed. The tests are divided in those that are commercially available and those that hold promises for further development.

Blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a diagnostic marker in dogs with chronic enteropathy

Few routinely available biomarkers are clinically useful in assessing dogs with chronic enteropathy (CE) and aid in CE subclassification. The diagnostic potential of the blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has not been evaluated in canine CE. We evaluated the NLR in 93 dogs with CE (no steroid treatment for ≥2 wk prior) and tested for an association with clinical, clinicopathologic, and histologic characteristics and also with CE subclassification. NLR was significantly higher in CE dogs with severe clinical disease than dogs with mild clinical disease (p = 0.047). Hypoalbuminemia (p < 0.001), but not hypocobalaminemia, was associated with higher NLRs. NLR was correlated with fecal alpha₁-proteinase inhibitor concentrations (ρ = 0.47) and the serum-to-fecal alpha₁-proteinase inhibitor ratio (ρ = -0.48; both p < 0.001) but not with serum or fecal inflammatory markers nor with the overall histologic score (all p > 0.05). Dogs with steroid- or other immunosuppressant-responsive (IRE) or nonresponsive enteropathy (NRE) had significantly higher NLRs (median: 7.3) than dogs with food-responsive enteropathy (FRE; median: 3.0; p = 0.003), and a NLR ≥5.5 best distinguished both groups of dogs. No difference in NLR was detected between dogs with IRE and dogs diagnosed with NRE. These findings suggest that leukogram changes (i.e., NLR) could be clinically useful in canine CE, and that neutrophils might play a role in the systemic inflammatory response associated with canine CE. The NLR can be easily assessed on routine hematology and can potentially aid in the subclassification of dogs with CE based on the response to treatment.

Prognostic value of small intestinal dilatation in dogs with protein-losing enteropathy

To date, little is known about the prognostic significance of ultrasonographic findings in dogs with protein-losing enteropathy (PLE). The aim of this retrospective study was to examine the prognostic value of ultrasonographic findings in dogs with PLE. A total of 26 dogs with PLE were included: 20 dogs with chronic enteropathy and 6 dogs with gastrointestinal lymphoma. The presence of small intestinal dilatation was associated with shorter survival time in dogs with PLE (P=0.003). The presence of hyperechoic intestinal mucosal striations was associated with longer survival time in dogs with PLE (P=0.0085). The results of the current study indicate that the presence of small intestinal dilatation might be associated with poor prognosis in dogs with PLE.

Acute Ulcerative Enterocolitis With Severe Protein Loss Due to Mucosal Invasion With Enterococcus spp. in a Dog With Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency: A Case Report

We describe an unusual case of severe acute protein-losing enteropathy in a dog, which presented with a systemic inflammatory response syndrome. This dog's condition could not be categorized as any well-known canine intestinal condition. Instead, components of several enteropathies like acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome (AHDS), chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE), and ulcerative and granulomatous colitis were present. Thorough investigations identified concurrent exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) and hypocobalaminemia. On histopathology, marked diffuse chronic-active ileitis and ulcerative colitis with fibroplasia and neovascularization were present. Intestinal biopsy cultures identified E.coli and multiresistant Enterococcus spp. The latter was identified as mucosally invasive using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Protracted clinical signs following the acute presentation required intensive care including enteral and parenteral feeding for a successful outcome, but eventually stabilized with antibiotics and immunosuppressive doses of glucocorticoids. This case highlights a potentially previously unrecognized condition, suspected to be a form of CIE manifesting acutely after bacterial mucosal invasion. In this case, this might have been facilitated by EPI-induced dysbiosis. The use of FISH and mucosal culture in this context provided important clinical information and should be considered more frequently in CIE and non-responsive AHDS.

Canine Protein Losing Enteropathies and Systemic Complications

Canine protein-losing enteropathies occur commonly in small animal practice, and their management is often challenging with a long-term survival rate of only about 50%. Recent studies have investigated prognostic factors that may determine outcome in individual cases. In particular, systemic complications such as hypercoagulability, vitamin D3 deficiency, and tryptophan deficiency may play an important role and should be investigated in severely affected cases in order to maximize outcome.

Clinical characteristics of dogs with food-responsive protein-losing enteropathy

Background

In dogs with protein‐losing enteropathy (PLE), data on the clinical characteristics of food‐responsive PLE (FR‐PLE) remain scarce.

Objective

To determine the clinical characteristics of FR‐PLE in dogs responsive to ultralow‐fat diet (ULFD) management.

Animals

Thirty‐three dogs diagnosed with PLE based on standard diagnostic criteria.

Methods

Retrospective review of medical records. Clinical findings were compared between dogs with FR‐PLE (FR‐PLE group) and those with immunosuppressant‐responsive PLE (IR‐PLE) or nonresponsive PLE (NR‐PLE) (IR/NR‐PLE group). The area under the curve (AUC) of a receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the ability of factors to differentiate the FR‐PLE and IR/NR‐PLE groups. Survival time was compared between the FR‐PLE and IR/NR‐PLE groups.

Results

Twenty‐three dogs responded to ULFD management and were diagnosed with FR‐PLE. The canine chronic enteropathy clinical activity index (CCECAI) was significantly lower in the FR‐PLE group than in the IR/NR‐PLE group (P < .001). The AUC of CCECAI for differentiating the FR‐PLE group was 0.935 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.845‐1.000) with an optimal cutoff value of 8 (sensitivity, 0.826; specificity, 0.889). Survival times were significantly longer in the FR‐PLE group (median, not reached) than in the IR/NR‐PLE group (median, 432 days; P < .001).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Dogs that respond to ULFD management and are diagnosed with FR‐PLE are expected to have a favorable prognosis. Clinical scores, specifically the CCECAI, could be useful for differentiating FR‐PLE from IR‐PLE or NR‐PLE.