Case 9

Signalment

Tupper is an 8-year-old castrated male bulldog.

History

Tupper has had intermittent diarrhea for about 10 months. He eats a high-quality commercial dry dog food that the owners buy at a specialty pet store. His appetite is good except when the bouts of diarrhea occur, and then he does not eat for a few days and acts somewhat lethargic. Another veterinarian has treated Tupper for diarrhea with metronidazole in the past. He seemed to respond, but the diarrhea always eventually recurred.

The owner also reports that Tupper has a history of skin allergies and periodically receives prednisone (5 mg/day) for a few days at a time. He has not received the prednisone for over a month. Tupper lives with a Bengal cat that is in good health. Tupper does not have access to toxins or plants in the yard, and no recent environmental changes, travel, or other medical problems have occurred. Tupper is current on vaccinations and receives a monthly heartworm preventive.

QUESTION 1

For each of the following signs, choose if it is more often associated with large or small bowel diarrhea.

a) Tenesmus

-Large bowel diarrhea

- Small bowel diarrhea

b) Hematochezia

-Large bowel diarrhea

- Small bowel diarrhea

c) Vomiting

-Large bowel diarrhea

- Small bowel diarrhea

d) Weight loss

-Large bowel diarrhea

- Small bowel diarrhea

e) Urgency

-Large bowel diarrhea

- Small bowel diarrhea

f) Increased volume

-Large bowel diarrhea

- Small bowel diarrhea

g) Increased frequency

-Large bowel diarrhea

- Small bowel diarrhea

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