Tylosin-responsive chronic diarrhea in dogs.
Fourteen dogs had shown chronic or intermittent diarrhea for more than 1 year. Diarrhea had been successfully treated with tylosin for at least 6 months but recurred when treatment was withdrawn on at least 2 occasions. Tylosin-responsive diarrhea (TRD) affects typically middle-aged, large-breed dogs and clinical signs indicate that TRD affects both the small and large intestine. Treatment with tylosin eliminated diarrhea in all dogs within 3 days and in most dogs within 24 hours. Tylosin administration controlled diarrhea in all dogs, but after it was discontinued, diarrhea reappeared in 12 (85.7%) of 14 dogs within 30 days. Prednisone given for 3 days did not completely resolve diarrhea. Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG did not prevent the relapse of diarrhea in any of 9 dogs so treated. The etiology of TRD, a likely form of antibiotic-responsive diarrhea (ARD) is unclear. The following reasons for chronic diarrhea were excluded or found to be unlikely: parasites, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, inflammatory bowel disease, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, enteropathogenic bacteria (Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., Yersinia spp., or Lawsoni intracellularis), and Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin and Clostridium difficile A toxin. A possible etiologic factor is a specific enteropathogenic organism that is a common resident in the canine gastrointestinal tract and is sensitive to tylosin but difficult to eradicate. Additional studies are required to identify the specific cause of TRD.
Westermarck
Elias
E
Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. elias.westermarck@helsinki.fi
Skrzypczak
Teresa
T
Harmoinen
Jaana
J
Steiner
Jõrg M
JM
Ruaux
Craig G
CG
Williams
David A
DA
Eerola
Erkki
E
Sundbäck
Pernilla
P
Rinkinen
Minna
M
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007778:Lactobacillus; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D015645:Tylosin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D011241:Prednisone; D015645:Tylosin