Another Name: Immunoproliferative Enteropathy

Disease Description: Immunoproliferative enteropathy is a dangerous inflammatory bowel disease that creates severe diarrhea and vomiting in a dog that is accompanied by protein loss and malabsorption.

Inherit Mode: unknown.

Disease Symptom: This condition is usually first seen in young adult (to middle-aged) Basenjis. There are intermittent bouts of severe diarrhea which may be preceded by loss of appetite, and may be associated with stressful events such as boarding, travel, or vaccination. Weight loss is common, due to loss of protein and other nutrients from the gut. Without treatment, the conditon becomes progressively worse leading to emaciation.

Disease Cause: -

Disease Diagnose: There are many disorders that cause intermittent diarrhea in dogs, so diagnosis is not simple. Your veterinarian will do blood and fecal tests for parasites, bacterial infections and other causes of diarrhea. An intestinal biopsy is necessary for a definitive diagnosis of this condition. This involves surgical removal of small samples of your dog's intestinal wall for examination by a veterinary pathologist.

Treat Method: There is no cure for this condition, but it can often be controlled if treatment is started early. Dietary management is important, using a special intestinal diet with a good quality protein source and without additives. Because it is the hyperactive immune response that leads to tissue damage and interferes with normal intestinal function, treatment is aimed at suppressing that response and decreasing the inflammation present in the gastrointestinal tract. Corticosteroids (prednisone) are used for this purpose, starting at a relatively high dose. Usually your dog's condition will begin to improve in 1 or 2 weeks and after 1 or 2 months, your veterinarian will begin to gradually reduce the dose to alternate day therapy. Side effects of corticosteroid treatment include an increase in drinking and appetite, and weight gain. These are less of a problem at low doses. There are other immunosuppressive drugs that may be used in combination with corticosteroids, if the response to the latter is unsatisfactory or the side effects are unacceptable.

Breeder Advice: Affected dogs should not be bred and, until more is known about the mode of inheritance, it is preferable to avoid breeding their parents and siblings as well.

Disease Description Source: Link