"Diarrhea of unknown cause" is not a diagnosis but a starting point: a dog whose diarrhea has no obvious explanation after the history and physical exam. Most acute cases settle with supportive care, while diarrhea that lasts three weeks or longer needs an ordered work-up that removes parasites and non-intestinal disease first, then uses treatment trials and, when needed, biopsy.
Key facts
Diarrhea of unknown cause at a glance- Species and system: dog; gastrointestinal (small intestine, large intestine or both).
- Acute vs chronic: chronic means signs for 3 weeks or longer.
- Common causes of chronic diarrhea: parasites (whipworms, Giardia), chronic inflammatory enteropathy (food-responsive, immunosuppressant-responsive, non-responsive), EPI, protein-losing enteropathy, lymphoma, and non-GI disease such as hypoadrenocorticism.
- Key tests: fecal flotation and Giardia antigen, CBC, chemistry, urinalysis, serum TLI, cobalamin and folate, abdominal ultrasound, elimination diet trial, intestinal biopsy.
- Antimicrobials: not recommended for mild or moderate acute diarrhea, and not a routine trial in chronic diarrhea.
- Zoonotic potential: some causes (Giardia, Salmonella, Campylobacter) can infect people; not reportable.
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention, control and public health
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 4 tables, 2 figures, 3 self-test questions and 22 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.