Canine hemorrhagic gastroenteritis sounds terrifying and scary. If the signs and symptoms are not recognized and aggressive treatment is not taken immediately, its sudden and severe onset can be fatal.
The good news is that most dogs never get it. The bad news is that you don’t have much time if your dog gets it. That’s why it’s important to know what to look out for and what crucial actions you need to take to save your dog’s life.
What is HGE?
Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis occurs when the lining of the intestines leaks. What happens is that fluid, red blood cells, and proteins leak from the blood vessels into the intestines, causing nausea, vomiting blood, and profuse, explosive bleeding from the rectum. Your dog may never get it. They may have it once in their life, or it can become a chronic condition.
It is not contagious.
Who gets HGE?
Dogs of any age, breed, or sex can get it. Toy and smaller breeds, eg Dachshunds, Yorkshire Terriers, Miniature Poodles and Miniature Schnauzers between 2 and 4 years of age appear to be the preponderance of treated animals.
What makes this disease so insidious is that the cause is unknown and there is no warning. There are numerous theories including diet, bacterial toxin, intestinal parasites, normal or lower blood protein levels, and possibly even stress. Studies also show that it seems to occur more in the spring.
Signs and symptoms
This disease is proud and progresses rapidly! The symptoms create a horrible mess! A perfectly healthy dog today can be barely conscious in a pool of blood in the morning, then in shock within hours, and dead within 24 hours. It is vital that you know what to pay attention to.
Symptoms include bloody, often explosive diarrhoea, bloody vomiting, both with an unusually foul odor. Most people who have dealt with HGE will agree, comparing it to “raspberry jam” is the best way to describe it.
Other signs and symptoms include flatulence with a musty odor, lethargy, drooling, lack of appetite, dehydration, apathy, depression, shock, and possibly death.
Diagnosis
Your vet will start by removing the most obvious ones. They include parvovirus, obstruction, intestinal intussusceptions (telescoping one part of the intestine into another), intestinal volvulus (twisting of the intestines), gastrointestinal ulcers, corona virus, colitis, venom, hookworms, whipworms, leptospirosis, giardiasis, low platelets, coccidiosis, malabsorption and cancer.
They will also note the absence of fever and the absence of a decrease in white blood cells, as well as normal or lower levels of protein in the blood. Dogs with HGE commonly have a high bundle cell volume (PCV), usually 60% or more, (35-55% is normal). PCV is the measure of blood thickness caused by dehydration.
Treatment
Your vet will ask if you prefer conservative or aggressive treatment. Don’t waste time with conservative treatments. Insist on aggressive treatment. Your dog will remain in the hospital without food or water by mouth for 1 to 4 days. It also includes intravenous treatments with potassium, an anti-inflammatory, and antibiotics to rehydrate, help prevent shock, and prevent sepsis.
Your vet may also change the protein in your diet. That means if you were on a predominantly beef diet, you can switch to chicken and/or lamb and possibly cottage cheese.
Forecast
Your dog’s chance of survival is very good, if it is identified early and treated aggressively. Keep in mind that approximately 10-15% are at risk for more than one episode.
Bottom line: canine hemorrhagic gastroenteritis can be fatal. Know the signs and symptoms, and take immediate and aggressive action. It could be the difference between life and death.