Diagnosis of digestive system diseases

What it involves

The digestive system “speaks” through only a few signs — vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, weight loss — yet there are dozens of possible causes: from a dietary error, through parasites and a foreign body, to pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), liver disease and cancer. Diagnosis consists of narrowing this list down in an orderly way.

We have all the tools on site: a laboratory (blood count, biochemistry, pancreatic lipase, faeces), abdominal ultrasound with assessment of the thickness of the intestinal walls and pancreas, X-ray to look for obstruction, and a flexible endoscope to view and take biopsies from the stomach and intestines without opening the abdomen.

The result is a diagnosis or — if the signs are mild — the safe exclusion of serious disease, and a treatment plan that often begins with diet.

When it is used

A single episode of vomiting or a day of diarrhoea in an animal that is otherwise well usually does not require extensive diagnostics. Tests are needed when the signs last longer than 2–3 weeks, recur, are accompanied by weight loss, blood in the faeces or vomit, or when the animal is clearly weak.

Patients with a suspected swallowed foreign body, a bloated abdomen, persistent vomiting or lethargy are examined immediately (during opening hours — please call before you come).

Indications: symptoms that should prompt a visit

• A dog has been vomiting several times a week for over a month, although it eats normally.
• A cat has chronic loose diarrhoea and is losing weight despite a good appetite.
• Blood or mucus appears in the faeces, and the animal often strains without passing anything.
• A dog suddenly vomits everything it eats and does not pass faeces — possible obstruction.
• The animal has abdominal pain: it adopts the “prayer position” and will not lie down.
• A cat vomits hairballs more often than once a week.
• A puppy has foul-smelling diarrhoea and a bloated abdomen.

Conditions for which we use it in particular

Diagnostics beforehand

We start with a history (diet, treats, access to rubbish, worming) and a clinical examination with palpation of the abdomen. The first laboratory stage is a blood count, biochemistry with electrolytes, a pancreatic lipase test, and a faecal test for parasites and Giardia. For cats we add a thyroid test, and for both species, if needed, vitamin B12 and folate.

The second stage is imaging: abdominal ultrasound assesses the intestines, pancreas, liver and lymph nodes; X-ray is best when obstruction or a foreign body is suspected. If the results point to disease of the intestinal wall, we plan a gastroscopy or colonoscopy with biopsies (histopathology sent out to an external laboratory).

How it proceeds

Aftercare

After some of the tests we start treatment straight away: diet, antiparasitic drugs, gastroprotective medication. After an endoscopy the animal may be drowsy for several hours; give it a light, easily digestible meal in the evening.

We discuss the histopathology results at a follow-up visit and then agree long-term treatment. Please call immediately if there is vomiting with blood, black tarry faeces, marked lethargy or a bloated abdomen.

Frequently asked questions