Prevalence of common canine digestive problems compared with other health problems in teaching veterinary hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt

Abstract

Aim: The present study was conducted to ascertain the prevalence of common digestive problems compared to other health problems among dogs that were admitted to the teaching veterinary hospital, faculty of veterinary medicine, Cairo University, Egypt during 1 year period from January to December 2013. Also, study the effect of age, sex, breeds, and season on the distribution of digestive problems in dogs.

Materials and methods: A total of 3864 dogs included 1488 apparently healthy (included 816 males and 672 females) and 2376 diseased dogs (included 1542 males and 834 females) were registered for age, sex, breed, and the main complaint from their owners. A complete history and detailed clinical examination of each case were applied to the aids of radiographic, ultrasonographic, and endoscopic examination tools. Fecal examination was applied for each admitted case. Rapid tests for parvovirus and canine distemper virus detection were also performed.

Results: A five digestive problems were commonly recorded including vomiting, diarrhea, concurrent vomiting with diarrhea, anorexia, and constipation with a prevalence (%) of 13.6, 19.1, 10.1, 13.1, and 0.5 respectively while that of dermatological, respiratory, urinary, neurological, cardiovascular, auditory, and ocular problems was 27.9, 10.5, 3.3, 0.84, 0.4, 0.25, and 0.17 (%) respectively. This prevalence was obtained on the basis of the diseased cases. Age and breed had a significant effect on the distribution of digestive problems in dogs (p<0.001). Gender had an effect on the distribution of digestive problems with significant (p≤0.01) while season had a non-significant effect (p>0.05) on the distribution of such problems.

Conclusion: Digestive problems were the highest recorded problems among dogs, and this was the first records for such problems among dogs in Egypt. Age, gender, and breeds had a significant effect on the distribution of the digestive problems in dogs while season had a non-significant effect on the distribution of such problems. The present data enable veterinarians in Egypt to ascertain their needs for diagnostic tools and medication that must be present at any pet clinic.

Keywords: Egypt; canine; causes; digestive problems; prevalence.

Figure-1

The clinical picture of different digestive problems. (a) Vomiting in 5 month old German Shepherd. (b) German Shepherd puppy suffered from concurrent vomiting with diarrhea as a result of Parvoviral infection. (c) Intestinal intussusception in 3 months old Griffon puppy. (d) 4 months old German Shepherd puppy suffered from generalized weakness, anorexia and dehydration as a result of diarrhea.

Figure-2

Left lateral radiographic views in some digestive problems among dogs. (a) Sharp foreign body inside the intestine of 8 months old German Shepherd. (b) Thickened intestinal loop due to enteritis in 1 year old Great Dane. (c) Radiopaque stool mass in the colon of 10 months old German Shepherd suffered from severe constipation. (d) Radiopaque pinpoint areas with gases formation inside the colon of 7 months old Rottweiler with signs of constipation and history of ingestion of chicken bones.

Figure-3

The ultrasonographic findings in dogs with different digestive problems. (a) Biliary sludge (arrow head) in 3 years old Pit Bull suffered from chronic vomiting. (b) Cholecystitis with edema between the two layers of gall bladder wall (0.4 cm) in 2 years old German Shepherd. (c) Free abdominal fluid (ascites) with presence of floating intestinal loop within fluid in 9 month old Pit Bull suffering from concurrent vomiting with diarrhea. (d) Thickened intestinal wall layers (0.52 cm) in 6 months old German Shepherd with diarrhea. (e) Characteristic view (Bull eye) of the intestinal intussusception in 3 months old Griffon suffered from severe obstipation. (f) 3 years old Rottweiler with severe constipation as a result of benign prostatic hyperplasia (measured 7.28 × 3.91 cm).

Figure-4

Showed the endoscopic findings of gastrointestinal problems in dogs. (a) Gastric ulcer (arrow head) showed a circumscribed area devoid of mucosa with congestion in 5 years old German Shepherd subjected to prolonged treatment with NSAIDs. (b) Dipylidium caninum adult worm within colon (arrow head) in 4-month-old Rottweiler suffered from flea’s infestation and diarrhea. (c) An embedded foreign body in the gastric mucosa of 1-year-old Pit Bull. (d) Colonoscopy showed chicken legs and bones within the colon of 6 months old Golden Retriever suffered from severe constipation and intermittent vomiting.

Figure-5

The different diagnosed parasitic eggs and oocysts in the stool of dogs suffered from digestive problems. (a) Toxocara canis egg (×100). (b) The egg nest of Dipylidium caninum (×100). (c) Ancylostoma spp. egg (×100). (d) Isospora spp. oocysts (×400).