Canine hemorrhagic gastroenteritis sounds scary and scary. If 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 receives it. That is why it is important to know what to watch out for and what crucial actions to take to save your dog’s life.
What is HGE?
Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis occurs when the lining of the intestines leaks. What is happening is that fluid, red blood cells, and proteins are leaking from the blood vessels into the intestines, causing nausea, bloody vomiting, and profuse, explosive bleeding from the rectum. Your dog may never get it. They may contract it once in their lifetime or it may become a chronic condition.
It is not contagious.
Who gets HGE?
Dogs of any age, breed, or gender can get it. Toy and smaller breeds, eg Dachshunds, Yorkshire Terriers, Miniature Poodles and Miniature Schnauzers between 2 and 4 years old seem 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 happen more in the spring.
Signs and symptoms
This disease is fierce and progresses rapidly! The symptoms create a horrible mess! A perfectly healthy dog today may 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 watch out for.
Symptoms include bloody, often explosive diarrhea, bloody vomit, both with an exceptionally foul odor. Most people who have tried HGE will agree, comparing it to “raspberry jam” is the best way to describe it.
Other signs and symptoms include foul-smelling flatulence, lethargy, drooling, poor appetite, dehydration, listlessness, depression, shock, and possibly death.
Diagnosis
Your vet will start by removing the most obvious ones. They include parvovirus, obstruction, intussusception (extending one part of the intestine to 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 notice the absence of fever and no decrease in white blood cells, as well as normal or lower levels of protein in the blood. Dogs with HGE commonly have a high cell volume (PCV), usually 60% or more (normal is 35-55%). PCV is the measure of the thickness of the blood caused by dehydration.
Treatment
Your vet will ask if you prefer a conservative or aggressive treatment. Don’t waste time with conservative treatment. Insist on aggressive treatment. Your dog will remain in the hospital, without food or water by mouth for 1-4 days. It also includes intravenous potassium treatments, an anti-inflammatory, and antibiotics to rehydrate, help prevent shock, and prevent sepsis.
Your vet can also change the protein in his 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.