Antibiotics are often prescribed for dogs with gastrointestinal (GI) signs. In fact, three studies surveying veterinary prescribing habits in the U.K. showed that antimicrobials were prescribed as first-choice therapy in 50% or more of dogs presenting with acute diarrhea.

While antibiotics can certainly be beneficial or even lifesaving for some dogs with GI disease, for others these drugs are unnecessary and may even be harmful.

. As antimicrobial resistance becomes an ever-pressing concern in modern human medicine, there has been a growing movement in veterinary medicine to promote appropriate and judicious use of antibiotics.

 Oral administration of antibiotics may lead to the rapid development of resistant strains in the GI tract; cross-resistance to other antimicrobial agents can also occur.

 Opinions vary about the short- and long-term effects of antibiotics on the microbiome, which plays an important role in health and immunity, but it’s clear that concern is warranted (Figure 1). In one study, metronidazole was shown to cause a transient decrease in pathogenic bacteria and an increase in beneficial bacteria,

 but a different study showed that the fecal dysbiosis index was significantly increased in healthy dogs receiving metronidazole, indicating significant alterations in the microbiome structure and diversity, with some changes remaining up to 4 weeks after the completion of antibiotic administration.

(The fecal dysbiosis index is a polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay that quantifies the abundances of various bacterial groups, with values < 0 indicating a normal fecal microbiota and values > 0 indicating dysbiosis.)

Fenbendazole has no significant effects on the microbiome of healthy dogs,

 but tylosin, another commonly prescribed medication for GI disease, can have prolonged effects.

 In one study, healthy dogs receiving standard doses of oral tylosin had significantly increased fecal dysbiosis indices, persisting for at least 2 months in some dogs.

 Although none of the dogs in these studies had (or developed) GI signs, the effects of antibiotics on the microbiome warrant further investigation.

While we know antibiotic use affects the microbiome, we do not know the potential long-term consequences. Links have been found in humans between antibiotic exposure early in life and the development of various diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease and allergies.

Thus, it is reasonable to be concerned that antibiotic use in our own patients—especially young, growing dogs—might suffer similar consequences.

 in dogs has many possible causes, but a primary bacterial etiology is uncommon. Although diarrhea is often self-limiting, antibiotics are sometimes prescribed by practitioners in an effort to expedite recovery.

Studies evaluating whether antibiotics have a discernible effect on time to resolution of diarrhea in dogs have had mixed results. One study failed to identify a significant difference in time to recovery in dogs treated with metronidazole compared with placebo,

 and another found that metronidazole hastened resolution of diarrhea by about 1.5 days (both groups in this study recovered quickly).

 A large, retrospective observational study found that dietary modification and nutraceuticals (which included probiotics) were positively associated with resolution of acute diarrhea, but no such association was found with pharmaceutical agents (including antibiotics).

Given that there is minimal (if any) proven benefit of antibiotic use in dogs with uncomplicated acute diarrhea, there is no basis to support the routine prescription and use of antibiotics in these cases.

has a tropism for rapidly dividing cells, including those of the intestinal crypt epithelium, which leads to a severe enteritis. This, paired with the neutropenia that classically occurs with this disease, places patients at risk for bacterial and endotoxin translocation, which can result in bacteremia, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) or multiorgan dysfunction. For this reason, broad-spectrum antibiotics are warranted in neutropenic patients suffering from canine parvovirus infection.

Typically, a beta-lactam antibiotic (ampicillin 22 mg/kg IV three times daily) is used, alone or in conjunction with enrofloxacin (5-10 mg/kg/day IV); see Table 1. Enrofloxacin may cause cartilage damage in young, growing animals, but this is rare with standard doses. Aminoglycosides can also be considered in well-hydrated dogs, but its use carries a risk of acute renal failure.

Table 1. Indications, antibiotic agents, and doses for treating GI disease in dogs

 (AHDS), formerly known as hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, is associated with a small intestinal overgrowth of 

although it should be noted that this organism is present consistently in the feces of healthy dogs. The netF toxin gene produced by 

 might play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease. Although there is no significant difference in 

 encoding for the alpha toxin or enterotoxin between dogs with AHDS, parvovirus, or healthy controls, a significantly greater number of dogs with AHDS have the netF toxin gene.

 While the presence of netF gene in fecal samples supports 

–associated AHDS, there is no difference in outcome between netF-positive and netF-negative dogs. It should also be noted that there is a 10% to 12% prevalence of this gene in nonspecific diarrhea cases and healthy controls, and about 50% of dogs with AHDS are netF negative.

There is no significant difference in the recovery and outcome of dogs treated with or without amoxicillin/clavulanic acid,

 and in a study evaluating the effects of a probiotic on the clinical course of AHDS, dogs made a rapid recovery without antibiotics.

For this reason, unless evidence of sepsis exists (such as fever or toxic change of neutrophils on a leukogram), antimicrobials are unlikely to be necessary for the treatment of this syndrome.

Dogs with AHDS that do not receive antibiotics have a good prognosis and rapid recovery, despite roughly one-third of these patients meeting two or more SIRS criteria.

 This suggests that standard SIRS criteria alone may not be strict enough to guide appropriate use of antimicrobials.

(ARD) describes a chronic (> 3 weeks) enteropathy for which no underlying cause is found and which is completely responsive to antibiotic treatment. Classically, ARD is seen in young, large-breed dogs, with German shepherds being overrepresented. It is characterized by chronic intermittent diarrhea as well as weight loss, a variable appetite, and possible vomiting.

The diagnosis is based on a positive response to therapy, exclusion of other diseases (e.g. exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in a young German shepherd with weight loss and diarrhea) and a demonstration of disease relapse when antibiotics are withdrawn. Excluding other diseases is important as many of them may improve temporarily with antibiotics; thus a positive response to therapy does not negate the need for appropriate workup.

About two-thirds of dogs with chronic enteropathies have food-responsive enteropathies, with ARD and steroid-responsive diarrhea making up the remaining third.

 Dogs with food-responsive diarrhea have better outcomes than dogs with either ARD or steroid-responsive disease. Therefore, an antibiotic trial should be considered only after a strict diet trial (hydrolyzed protein or novel protein diet) for a minimum of 3 weeks with no response.

The antibiotics recommended for treatment of ARD are metronidazole (10-15 mg/kg PO twice daily) and tylosin (25 mg/kg PO once or twice daily). Some dogs respond specifically to tylosin,

 so it may make more sense to look to tylosin before metronidazole in an antibiotic trial for a chronic enteropathy. Response to therapy should be quick (within 2 weeks), and dogs with a positive response to tylosin at 25 mg/kg/day might respond to doses as low as 5 mg/kg/day.

 Thus, dose reduction can be considered following a positive response to the standard dose.

As noted earlier, ARD is definitely diagnosed when relapse occurs following antibiotic withdrawal and clinical signs resolve when the antibiotic is re-introduced.

 That said, not all dogs require lifelong therapy and periodic withdrawal of antibiotics should be attempted to determine whether ongoing therapy is necessary.

 is characterized histologically by granulomatous inflammation with periodic acid-Schiff–positive macrophages. This disease classically is seen in young boxer dogs or French bulldogs.

 Patients usually present with a combination of colitis, hematochezia and weight loss.

With the use of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH; Figure 2), mucosally invasive 

 was identified as the likely cause of this disease. Long-term remission is associated with eradication of the bacteria.

Typically, it is treated with a long course of fluoroquinolones, such as enrofloxacin (5-10 mg/kg/day for six to eight weeks). This disease has been identified in a variety of other breeds and even in cats, with reported remission with fluoroquinolone therapy.

 to fluoroquinolones has been demonstrated. Therefore, bacterial culture and sensitivity testing of the tissue is recommended. Due to the potential for the development of antimicrobial resistance, empiric therapy for this disease is not recommended.

(and/or their toxins) are often detected today using fecal PCR panels, which allow for the identification of organisms such as 

Clostridium difficile, C. perfringens, Campylobacter 

 regarding enteropathogenic bacteria offers a more detailed discussion on this topic.

As these organisms can be found in both healthy animals and in those with diarrhea, interpretation of the results of these panels can be confusing. For some organisms, identification of enterotoxin genes may be more helpful. Enterotoxin genes are produced by both 

 and are found more frequently in dogs with diarrhea than in those without.

Clinically, many of these cases will present as self-limiting diarrhea that does not require antimicrobial therapy. In fact, overuse of antibiotics in these scenarios may promote drug-resistant organisms.

Conversely, if a patient presents with systemic signs of illness (e.g. fever, toxic changes or a degenerative left shift) and is diagnosed with an enteropathogenic bacteria, appropriate antibiotic therapy may be warranted.

 spp., antimicrobial therapy is not indicated in nonclinical or mildly affected dogs. This recommendation remains the same even with an immunocompromised owner. In this case, appropriate husbandry and hygiene become the more important aspects of management.

Despite the frequency of antibiotic use for GI disease in dogs, there are relatively few indications for prescribing antimicrobials in this context (Table 2). Overuse could result in antimicrobial resistance and may have long-reaching effects on the host microbiome. Therefore, in the absence of evidence to support their use, antibiotics should be avoided in systemically healthy animals. For systemically ill animals, clinical judgment should be used until more specific criteria are developed.

Table 2. When to use (or avoid) antibiotics

1. German AJ, Halladay LJ, Noble PJ. First-choice therapy for dogs presenting with diarrhoea in clinical practice. 

2. Jones PH, Dawson S, Gaskell RM, et al. Surveillance of diarrhoea in small animal practice through the Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET). 

3. Singleton DA, Noble PJM, Sanchez-Vizcaino F, et al. Pharmaceutical prescription in canine acute diarrhoea: a longitudinal electronic health record analysis of first opinion veterinary practices. 

4. Lappin MR, Blondeau J, Boothe D, et al. Antimicrobial use guidelines for treatment of respiratory tract disease in dogs and cats: Antimicrobial Guidelines Working Group of the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases. 

5. Weese JS, Blondeau J, Boothe D, et al. International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases (ISCAID) guidelines for the diagnosis and management of bacterial urinary tract infections in dogs and cats.

6. Marks SL, Rankin SC, Byrne BA, et al. Enteropathogenic bacteria in dogs and cats: diagnosis, epidemiology, treatment, and control. 

7. Schmidt VM, Pinchbeck G, McIntyre KM, et al. Routine antibiotic therapy in dogs increases the detection of antimicrobial-resistant faecal 

8. Igarashi H, Maeda S, Ohno K, et al. Effect of oral administration of metronidazole or prednisolone on fecal microbiota in dogs. 

9. Suchodolski JS, Olson E, Honneffer J, et al. Effects of hydrolyzed protein and metronidazole on the fecal microbiome and metabolome in healthy dogs. 

10. Fujishiro MA, Lidbury JA, Pilla R, et al. Evaluation of the effects of anthelmintic administration on the fecal microbiome of healthy dogs with and without subclinical Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium canis infections. 

11. Suchodolski JS, Dowd SE, Westermarck E, et al. The effect of the macrolide antibiotic tylosin on microbial diversity in the canine small intestine as demonstrated by massive parallel 16S rRNA gene sequencing. 

12. Manchester AC, Webb CB, Blake AB, et al. Long-term impact of tylosin on fecal microbiota and fecal bile acids of healthy dogs. 

13. Kronman MP, Zaoutis TE, Haynes K, et al. Antibiotic exposure and IBD development among children: a population-based cohort study.

14. Ni J, Friedman H, Boyd BC, et al. Early antibiotic exposure and development of asthma and allergic rhinitis in childhood. 

15. Ungaro R, Bernstein CN, Gearry R, et al. Antibiotics associated with increased risk of new-onset Crohn's disease but not ulcerative colitis: a meta-analysis. 

16. Shmalberg J, Montalbano C, Morelli G, et al. A randomized double blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial of a probiotic or metronidazole for acute canine diarrhea. 

17. Langlois DK, Koenigshof AM, Mani R. Metronidazole treatment of acute diarrhea in dogs: A randomized double blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial. 

18. Unterer S, Busch K, Leipig M, et al. Endoscopically visualized lesions, histologic findings, and bacterial invasion in the gastrointestinal mucosa of dogs with acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome. 

19. Sindern N, Suchodolski JS, Leutenegger CM, et al. Prevalence of

 netE and netF toxin genes in the feces of dogs with acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome. 

20. Unterer S, Strohmeyer K, Kruse BD, et al. Treatment of aseptic dogs with hemorrhagic gastroenteritis with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid: a prospective blinded study. 

21. Ziese AL, Suchodolski JS, Hartmann K, et al. Effect of probiotic treatment on the clinical course, intestinal microbiome, and toxigenic Clostridium perfringens in dogs with acute hemorrhagic diarrhea. 

22. Moberg FS, Bjornvad CR, Lorentzen C, et al. Dogs with acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea syndrome not receiving antibiotics have a good prognosis despite initial high AHDS-score and systemic inflammation. Presented at the 29th European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine–Companion Animals Congress, September 2019.

23. Volkmann M, Steiner JM, Fosgate GT, et al. Chronic diarrhea in dogs - retrospective study in 136 cases. 

24. Allenspach K, Culverwell C, Chan D. Long-term outcome in dogs with chronic enteropathies: 203 cases. 

25. Westermarck E, Frias R, Skrzypczak T. Effect of diet and tylosin on chronic diarrhea in beagles. 

26. Kilpinen S, Spillmann T, Westermarck E. Efficacy of two low-dose oral tylosin regimens in controlling the relapse of diarrhea in dogs with tylosin-responsive diarrhea: a prospective, single-blinded, two-arm parallel, clinical field trial. 

27. Kilpinen S, Spillmann T, Syrja P, et al. Effect of tylosin on dogs with suspected tylosin-responsive diarrhea: a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blinded, prospective clinical trial. 

28. Manchester AC, Hill S, Sabatino B, et al. Association between granulomatous colitis in French bulldogs and invasive 

 and response to fluoroquinolone antimicrobials. 

29. Mansfield CS, James FE, Craven M, et al. Remission of histiocytic ulcerative colitis in boxer dogs correlates with eradication of invasive intramucosal

30. Craven M, Mansfield CS, Simpson KW. Granulomatous colitis of boxer dogs. 

31. Leal RO, Simpson K, Fine M, et al. Granulomatous colitis: more than a canine disease? A case of Escherichia coli-associated granulomatous colitis in an adult cat. 

Author disclosure: Dr. Lidbury is affiliated with the Gastrointestinal Laboratory at the Texas A&M University that offers the canine fecal dysbiosis index and fecal enteropathogen testing on a fee-for service basis.

Articles

Antimicrobials may be prescribed due to convenience, habit, or good intentions, but in the absence of evidence to support their use, they should be avoided in systemically healthy animals. Here’s why.

Antibiotics in canine GI disease: when to use and when to ditch

My daily route to work is a nine-mile stretch of road that is so flat and treeless that you can see the lights of towns 15 or 20 miles away on a dark night. The people here drive pickups and talk about tractors and horses. A “night on the town” means a 60-mile trip to Lubbock to take in some barbeque and a movie. It’s who we are and what we do, and I guess I just figured the whole world was that way.

A few years back I was asked to join an advisory board for a pharmaceutical company. This was, of course, quite an honor and it meant spending some time in the northeastern United States. The plane tickets arrived complete with hotel reservations and papers for a car rental. They were even footing the bill for my wife Kerri to come along.

The hotel was so big that it could sleep almost as many people as there are in my hometown of Lamesa. The company spared no expense: a hotel room with two bathrooms, unlimited room service, little pieces of candy on the pillow, a newspaper delivered to your room every morning and unbelievable dining experiences.

On our first night there, we were told that a car would pick us up and take us to a restaurant for dinner with the other advisory board members. I told Kerri that we might want to dress up a little. She put on a nice pant suit and I slipped into a pair of khakis with a pressed wrangler 20X shirt. A man met us in the hotel lobby and drove us about three blocks in a limousine to a French restaurant.

When we were seated with the others on the advisory board—all of whom were wearing suits or evening dresses—

 was the word that kept coming to mind as they brought us menus and filled our water glasses. Our dinner companions were strangers to us, and none looked like they’d be able to discuss tractors or horses.

I opened the menu and saw French … the entire menu was written in French. I don’t read French at all. I sat there for a minute trying to think if I even knew one word in French. Nope, not even a cuss word. Kerri made the discovery about the same time I did and started kicking me gently under the table.

Not wanting to appear any more ignorant than I already felt in my khakis and white socks, I smiled politely and pointed to two items on the menu as the waiter graciously jotted down our order.

“What did you get us?” my wife whispered from the corner of her mouth as the tuxedo-clad waiter moved on to collect everyone else’s orders. “I have no idea,” I whispered back. “Just smile and eat it when it gets here!”

About 20 minutes later, the food arrived. My plate was adorned with two brown piles of something surrounded by some green leaves. Kerri’s was red and, when it arrived, the waiter struck a match to it and the food burned brightly for about 15 seconds until the flames burned out.

As bad as the conversation was, the food was worse. I could barely choke it down. When no one was looking, Kerri slipped hers off the plate and into her purse. I had no choice but to eat mine because, well, her purse was already full.

When the evening finally ended, I asked the waiter on the way out what we had eaten. He smiled and said that Kerri had eaten some kind of raw fish and I had eaten “ze liver from ze duck.”

What are the odds of pointing to two things on a menu and getting raw fish and duck liver? I don’t know, but it kinda makes you wish for nine miles of flat road and a 60-mile trip to Lubbock where you can read the menu and wear white socks.

Bo Brock, DVM, owns Brock Veterinary Clinic in Lamesa, Texas. His latest book is 

Crowded in the Middle of Nowhere: Tales of Humor and Healing From Rural America

Being out of your element can be an interesting—and sometimes unpleasant—experience.



What’s for supper?

About 20% of adults worldwide are allergic to cats, but a breakthrough new feline diet may help decrease the wheezing, sneezing, itching and other signs of allergy in the people who love them. After more than a decade of research, the Purina Institute has announced the imminent launch of Pro Plan LiveClear, the first and only cat food that can reduce the allergens in cat hair and dander.

Most people who are allergic to cats are reacting to the protein Fel d 1 that all cats produce to varying extents in their salivary and sebaceous glands. The protein is transferred to the cat’s hair and skin during grooming and eventually shed into the environment.

Pro Plan LiveClear, which will be available in April, is formulated with a protein sourced from eggs that contains an anti Fel d 1 antibody, according to a company release.

 revealed that 47% fewer allergens were found in the hair and dander of cats eating Pro Plan LiveClear starting in the third week of daily feeding.

 The same study also found that active Fel d 1 production decreased in 97% of cats (with individual variability).

“As the cat eats the kibble coated with the specific egg powder, it neutralizes Fel d 1 in the cat’s mouth,” says Ebenezer Satyaraj, PhD, director of molecular nutrition at Purina and lead study investigator. “Rather than neutralizing 100% of the cat’s Fel d 1, or altering the cat’s production of the allergen, we’re simply lowering the levels to reduce the total allergen load in the hair and dander that is spread to the household,” he says,

 adding that feeding Pro Plan LiveClear should be done in conjunction with—not instead of—other allergen-reduction strategies.

Importantly, the diet doesn’t neutralize all of the Fel d 1 or alter the cat’s production of it. And based on the principle of allergen load reduction, that’s OK.

Cat safety was a key consideration when developing this novel diet, according to Jason Gagné, DVM, DACVN, Purina’s director of veterinary technical communication.

“Because scientists do not know precisely why cats produce Fel d 1, our goal was to neutralize the protein [without impacting the cat’s physiology] rather than inhibit its production,” Dr. Gagné says in the release.

He also noted that the egg product ingredient coating the LiveClear kibble is completely safe for cats to eat.

 “The ingredient’s action occurs in the mouth, but once swallowed, it is digested like any other protein,” he says.

Purina Pro Plan LiveClear will be sold in veterinary clinics, online and in pet specialty retail outlets in three formulas—Adult Chicken & Rice, Adult Salmon & Rice, and Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Turkey & Oat Meal. 

1. Bonnet B, Messaoudi K, Jacomet F, et al. An update on molecular cat allergens: Fel d 1 and what else? Chapter 1: Fel d 1, the major cat allergen.

2. Kelly SM, Karsh J, Marcelo J, Boeckh D, et al. Fel d1 and Fel d4 levels in cat fur, saliva and urine. 

3. Satyaraj E, Gardner C, Filipi I, et al. Reduction of active Fel d1 from cats using an antiFel d1 egg IgY antibody. 

4. Satyaraj E, Li Q, Sun P, Sherrill S. Anti-Fel d 1 immunoglobulin Y antibody-containing egg ingredient lowers allergen levels in cat saliva. 

5. Matulka RA, Thompson L, Corley D. Multi-level safety studies of anti Fel d 1 IgY ingredient in cat food. 

People suffering from cat allergies may soon find sweet relief from a breakthrough cat food from Purina Pro Plan. 

Game-changing feline diet promises relief for people allergic to cats

Last week, the FDA issued a warning to pet owners to avoid feeding Aunt Jeni’s Home Made frozen raw pet food after a retail sample tested positive for 

, this product poses a serious threat to human and animal health. Because it is stored frozen, the FDA is concerned that many pet owners still have it in their possession.

This advisory comes about six months after the 

 about one lot of two varieties of Aunt Jeni’s frozen raw pet food that had tested positive for 

The product involved in the current warning is:

Aunt Jeni’s Home Made All-Natural Raw Turkey Dinner Dog Food: Size 5-lb (2.3 kg), Lot 175331, Sell-by-Date: NOV2020

Aunt Jeni’s Home Made pet food products are sold online and through several retail locations, according to the release. Lot codes are printed on the lower right corner of the front of the bag. If you are unable to identify the code, the FDA recommends throwing the product away.

Pet owners who have the affected product in their homes should be advised to:

Throw them out in a secured container that other animals cannot access.

Clean refrigerators/freezers where the product was stored.

Clean and disinfect all bowls, utensils, food prep surfaces, pet bedding, toys, floors and other surfaces that the food or pet may have had contact with.

Clean up your pet’s feces in yards or parks where people or other animals may become exposed.

Wash your hands thoroughly after handling affected products or cleaning up potentially contaminated items and surfaces.


Complaints about pet food products can be reported electronically through the FDA’s 

FDA is advising pet owners not to feed pets Aunt Jeni’s Home Made raw pet food after one lot tested positive for Salmonella.

New FDA warning about Salmonella risk with Aunt Jeni’s frozen raw pet food

During its 92nd conference this week in Las Vegas, WVC announced that the name of the organization that hosts this annual event will now be known as Viticus Group.

The rebrand spotlights the organization's vision and celebrates its wider focus that encompasses human as well as veterinary health care education. Viticus Group believes that “fostering the next generation of medical professionals and experts is critical to the profession and essential to improving patient outcomes around the world,” according to a press release.“ [It] defines our commitment to a new vision that builds upon our continuing world-class medical education and the WVC events and opportunities you’ve come to trust.”

The new name comes from the Latin "medicus" (doctor) and "vita" (life). According to the release, "combining those words to create Viticus represents our dedication to health care professionals, both veterinary and human, and our mission to improve quality of life of humans and animals everywhere through the medical education we offer."

In addition to the annual veterinary conference, which will still be known as WVC, Viticus Group offers year-round continuing medical education and training for both human health care professionals and veterinarians in the newly named Oquendo Campus as well as its new Eastern Campus, a 71,000-square-foot Nevada facility that will open in June. 

, the two facilities will host about 170 educational events this year for veterinary and human health care professionals.

The longstanding education-focused organization will now be known as Viticus Group.

Western Veterinary Conference announces new name

Antech Diagnostics (part of Mars Petcare) has announced the completion of its final study of a new blood test for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Chronic vomiting and diarrhea are among the most common reasons why dogs are presented for veterinary evaluation. Determining the cause can be complex and time-consuming—not to mention costly for the client.

Antech’s new diagnostic test, scheduled to hit the market in the second quarter of this year, will allow veterinarians to determine whether a dog’s chronic gastrointestinal signs are consistent with IBD (canine chronic enteropathy), according to 

Traditional diagnosis in these cases involves obtaining endoscopic tissue biopsies for histopathology, but veterinarians and owners may choose to delay this costly diagnostic while ruling out other potential causes. “Access to an easy, noninvasive, cost-effective blood test allows veterinarians to diagnose or rule out IBD faster, speeding delivery of the proper therapy that will return a dog to good health as quickly as possible,” according to the release.

“The ability to reach a diagnosis faster—avoiding the precursor path of ‘let’s try this,’ and ‘ok, let’s try this,’—will save time, money and frustration for pet owners and veterinarians alike,” said Jennifer Ogeer, BSc, DVM, MSc, MBA, MA, Antech’s vice president of medical affairs and commercial marketing.

What’s more, the test may help veterinarians monitor a dog’s therapy over time, according to the release. IBD is a complex disease that responds to a wide array of treatments, but those treatment measures must be individualized for each patient to ensure a dog’s good health and wellbeing in the long run.

“The ability to track a dog’s response to therapy after diagnosis with a simple blood test that’s both easy and cost-effective means we can tailor treatment to suit each individual dog. Best of all, dogs get better faster; and for IBD dogs, we’re able to keep them healthy for the duration of their lives.”

The noninvasive and cost-effective tool will help veterinarians identify the cause of canine chronic enteropathy and monitor a dog’s response to treatment over time.

