Clinico-epidemiology, etio-diagnosis and treatment aspects of diarrhoea syndrome in dogs

Eight hundred twenty three cases of diarrhoea syndrome in dogs, observed during a period of 2 years (July, 2006 to June, 2008), were investigated using diagnostic tools such as patient data, clinical symptoms, faecal floatation test, faecal cytology, haemogram, abdominal radiography, abdominal survey ultrasonography, and serum biochemistry as per clinical suspicion in these cases. Prevalence of diarrhoea syndrome was found as 8.23 per 100 canine patients. Eight hundred twenty three diarrhoeic cases were observed in both sexes (males 72.05 %, female 27.67 %), of 19 breed (Pomeranian 31.95 %, German shepherd 15.67 %, Non-descript 12.15 %, Labrador 12.02 %, Great Dane 5.95 %, Doberman 5.1 %, Rottwieller 3.52 %, Lhasa apso 2.91 %, Boxer 2.55 %, Pug 1.45 %, Cocker spaniel 1.21 %, Mastiff 1.21 %, Golden retriever 0.97 %, St. Bernard 0.97 %, Dachshund 0.72 %, Dalmatian 0.72 %, Irish setter 0.12 %, Chowchow 0.12 % and Spitz 0.12 %) and of different age groups (New born to one month 8.26 %; > 1 month to 4 month 26.12 %; > 4 months to 1 years 23.20 %; > 1 years to 6 years 28.18 % and > 6 years 14.21 %) round the year with more prevalence in May (17.25 %), January (14.94) and July (12.90 %). Of 823 diarrhoeic cases, 299 (36.33 %) were with vomiting and 109 (13.24 %) were with frank blood in faeces. Etiological investigations revealed that 38.15, 4.73, 8.26, 0.60, 0.85, 0.60, 0.36, 0.97, 1.12 and 44.22 percent cases were of parasitic, enteric protozoan, haemorrhagic gastroenteritis, dietary, garbage intoxication, chronic colitis, hepatobilliary, blood protozoan/rickettsial, drug induced or unidentified etiology respectively. Ancylostomes sp., Dipylidium sp., Toxocara sp., mixed infections (Toxocara and Ancylostoma; Ancylostoma and Dipylidium), flukes, Trichuris and Strongyles contributed to 55.77, 22.9, 14.3, 4.4, 1.9, 0.95 and 0.63 % cases of parasitic etiology. Amongst diarrhoea of protozoan etiology Coccidia sp. (66.6 %) and Giardia duodenalis (33.33 %) were detected.

Gluten allergy, milk intolerance and garbage intoxication were the cause of diarrhoea of dietary origin. Ivermectin, doxycycline and ciprofloxacin oral administration was found associated with diarrhoea in 10 dogs. In 44.22 % cases (possibly of bacterial origin) exact etiology could not be identified for the want of culture and serological facilities at our hospital. However, therapeutic response to metronidazole and/or antibiotics suggested their microbial origin. Therapeutic management of diarrhoea syndrome comprised of fluid therapy (cases with STT > 2 seconds); antiemetics (diarrhoea with vomiting); H₂ blocker (diarrhoea with vomiting); hepato-stimulant (diarrhoea with hepatobilliary disorder); anthelmintics (diarrhoea caused by parasites); trimethoprim - sulpha (diarrhoea caused by coccidiosis); Tinidazole (diarrhoea caused by giardiasis); metronidazole, Vit. K, Ascorbic acid, Vit. B complex, loperamide (haemorrhagic gastroenteritis); change in diet (gluten allergy and milk intoxication); metronidazole + antiemetic + chloramphenicol (garbage intoxication); sulphsalazine (chronic colitis), babesicidal/antirickettsial (diarrhoea with blood protozoan/rickettsial infection) and ceasation of drugs with oral lactobacillus (Drug induced diarrhoea) in standard dose schedule.