Very Common
Less Common
OTHER DIAGNOSES CONSIDERED
Other conditions or ailments that might also need to be ruled out by a vet.
Diagnosis
Conditions or ailments that are the cause of a problem that you see - your observation.
Your vet may diagnose
Protein-Losing Intestinal Diseases, Generally
Synonyms: Hypoproteinemia
Summary
There is a group of poorly understood inflammatory conditions of the intestine that cause chronic weight loss and ill-thrift.
Names for these conditions include granulomatous enteritis, eosinophilic enteritis and basophilic enteritis. These are all names for inflammatory cell types that infiltrate and thicken the walls of the intestine in these syndromes.
These conditions are difficult to diagnose without biopsy of the intestine. Although poorly understood, they may be associated with parasitism or allergy. There may even be an infectious agent we have yet to identify.
Regardless, they all cause weight loss through nutrient loss through a damaged intestinal lining. Protein loss may result in very low levels of albumin, a protein that holds the liquid constituent of blood in the vessels. The net result of this is edema of the limbs and belly, as well as the sheath in geldings.
Names for these conditions include granulomatous enteritis, eosinophilic enteritis and basophilic enteritis. These are all names for inflammatory cell types that infiltrate and thicken the walls of the intestine in these syndromes.
These conditions are difficult to diagnose without biopsy of the intestine. Although poorly understood, they may be associated with parasitism or allergy. There may even be an infectious agent we have yet to identify.
Regardless, they all cause weight loss through nutrient loss through a damaged intestinal lining. Protein loss may result in very low levels of albumin, a protein that holds the liquid constituent of blood in the vessels. The net result of this is edema of the limbs and belly, as well as the sheath in geldings.
my vet's role
Diagnostics Used
These are tests that might be helpful to make this diagnosis or further characterize the condition.
Very Common
Treatments May Include
These treatments might be used to help resolve or improve this condition.
PROGNOSIS AND RELEVANT FACTORS
Prognosis is generally poor for these conditions.my role
I might observe
You might make these observations when a horse has this condition.
Very Common
Less Common
Rare
Skills I Might Need
I might need these skills if my horse has this diagnosis.
Related References:
Higgins AJ, Snyder JR eds. The Equine Manual. 2nd Ed. Edinburgh: Elsevier Saunders 2006.