Disease Description: A disease where the intestinal tract does not absorb nutrients properly. Also known as protein- losing enteropathy as a consequence of inflamatory bowel disease. In Irish setters there is also a wheat-sensitive enteropathy.

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Disease Symptom: Eating of unusual things such as trash; Weight loss despite insatiable appetite; Frequent smelly stools of high volume that look oily ; Noisy stomach with rumbling and gurgling sounds; Flatulence; Depression; Lack of energy ; Poor haircoat that may be shabby and scruffy; Chronic diarrhea; Vomiting

Disease Cause: Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency; Inflammatory bowel disease; Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth; Obstruction or blockages (tumors or growths) involving the lymphatic system of the gastrointestinal tract; the result is a loss of protein causing profound low protein levels within your dog’s body Idiopathic villous atrophy within the small intestine; villi are invisible to the human eye and are hairlike structures that are the absorption surface of the bowel (sometimes these villi are poorly developed causing malabsorption); Inflammatory bowel disease is suspected to have started from a compromised immune system caused by the inflamed or destroyed intestinal mucosa; Shortened bowel syndrome occurs after a large portion has been removed from the intestinal tract as a result of health issues; the remaining bowel is unable to function normally and malabsorption develops; Infectious agents such as viral and fungal infections and parasites that proliferate once inside the body; Bacterial overgrowth in the intestines of the normal intestinal bacteria ;Dietary causes such as wheat sensitivity

Disease Diagnose: Your veterinarian will need to do tests to determine where the problem area is. As so many conditions and disease all have similar symptoms, it is wise to get the tests done to isolate the cause and allow treatment to begin. If the specialist thinks it may be exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, blood tests for B12 and folate can be done to isolate the problem area. With suspected IBD it is wise to ensure your dog is well dewormed. Dietary measures will then be suggested and monitored. If these measures fail to provide relief, other tests may be advised. Fecal cultures, ultrasound, endoscopy and biopsies, and full thickness bowel biopsies may need to be done. It is rare that your dog would have all these tests done; often the veterinarian can find the cause from one or two types of testing and the less invasive for your dog, the better.

Treat Method: It depends on the cause of the problem as to the treatment to administer. If your dog is diagnosed with villous atrophy, he can be prescribed a gluten free diet to ease the condition. Bacterial overgrowth is treated via a broad spectrum oral antibiotic. Tylosin, oxytetracycline, and metronidazole are the common choices for antibiotics; in addition, changes in your pet’s diet will be necessary. Adding to your dog’s diet with live cultured yogurt products and probiotics can greatly assist your pet's condition. Often treatment is for life, focusing on your pets’ diet, regular medication and supplements. For exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, a pancreatic extract such as lypex or pancrex will be needed. Medication can reduce inflammation of the bowel – steroids and H2 antagonists (Tagamet) can help with that area. While German Shepherds and Chinese Shar-peis are often subject to these conditions, other dogs can be affected as well.

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Disease Description Source: Link