Page 1009 - Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th Edition

Chapter
55

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Introduction to Small

Intestinal Diseases

Deborah J. Davenport
Rebecca L. Remillard

“From the gut, comes the strut, and where hunger reigns,
strength abstains.”
Francois Rabelais

include the levels of key nutritional factors of commercial foods
CLINICAL IMPORTANCE marketed for patients with small intestinal diseases. For com-
parative purposes, these tables also include the recommended
Disorders of the small intestine are encountered frequently in levels of key nutritional factors for patients with small intestin-
veterinary practice. A number of acute and chronic enter- al diseases. Box 60-1 discusses the use of certain oligosaccha-
opathies are recognized (Tables 55-1 and 55-2 and Boxes 55-1 rides in small intestinal disease.
through 55-3) and must be distinguished from diseases of other
organ systems resulting in gastrointestinal (GI) signs. Typical MECHANISMS OF DIARRHEA
clinical manifestations of small intestinal disease include diar-
rhea, weight loss, poor body condition, vomiting, borborygmus An understanding of normal gut physiology and the common
and flatulence. Table 55-3 lists breed-associated small intestin- pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for diarrhea in com-
al disorders. panion animals allows for a rational approach to evaluation and
Diarrhea is defined as a change in the frequency, consistency treatment of patients with small intestinal disorders. There are
or volume of bowel movements and stools. Diarrhea is the most four major mechanisms for diarrhea: 1) osmotic, 2) altered
common manifestation of small intestinal disease.The diarrhea mucosal permeability, 3) abnormal motility and 4) secretory
associated with small intestinal conditions differs from that (Moon, 1978).
typically associated with large intestinal disorders (Table 55-4).
Chapters 56 through 60 include feeding plans for patients Osmotic Diarrhea
with small intestinal disorders. Tables in those chapters list the Osmotic diarrhea, also referred to as diarrhea of malabsorption,
key nutritional factors for such patients as well as tables that is the most common cause of diarrhea in dogs and cats (Moon,