| Protein Losing Enteropathy in Dogs, also referred to as | | | | foods that are sold today will contain an increased |
| PLE, is a condition in which dogs will have a variety of | | | | dietary fiber, which is potentially very dangerous to a |
| intestinal diseases that are directly associated with | | | | dog with this condition, as the fiber reduces both the |
| hypoproteinemia, or low protein levels which is caused | | | | availability and the digestions of proteins as well as |
| by a loss, a leakage, or a failure to absorb protein in | | | | carbohydrates. |
| their stomach. | | | | The symptoms to watch for with this horrible condition |
| It can in some cases, be the kiss of death for your | | | | will be an initial loss of weight which is actually their |
| dog, it is that serious. | | | | muscle wasting away, as well as decreased body fat. |
| This life threatening condition in dogs can be controlled | | | | Some dogs may suddenly start to vomit or develop |
| in some cases with a specific diet as well as with | | | | diarrhea, but not always. |
| pharmacologic therapy, and if controlled, the chances | | | | Limb swelling and fluid accumulation may also start to |
| of your dog surviving are fair to good in some cases, | | | | formulate in the abdomen, indicating a decrease in |
| while the more severe cases will most likely cause the | | | | serum counts. Other symptoms will include edema, |
| death of your dog. | | | | which is any type of an unusual or an abnormal fluid |
| In severe cases, some dogs may not respond to any | | | | accumulation in any part of the body, and respiratory |
| type of therapy, or relapse quite suddenly after initial | | | | problems. |
| treatment, and pass as a result of worsening | | | | Respiratory problems are especially important to |
| conditions or other complications. | | | | watch for as this is most likely fluid accumulating in the |
| It is extremely important to note that this is a very, | | | | chest and or lungs. |
| very difficult disease to properly diagnose by your | | | | A diagnosis of this condition will again be very difficult |
| veterinarian, as they must exclude non-intestinal | | | | as there are several possibilities to rule out first by |
| causes of the low protein levels that may be | | | | your veterinarian that may be caused by |
| specifically related to the kidneys or the liver. | | | | hypoproteinemia, such as hepatitis, cancer, or even |
| Hypoproteinemia, or low protein levels, is a condition | | | | cirrhosis of the liver. |
| where there are low levels of protein in the blood and | | | | Treatment for protein losing enteropathy in your dog |
| usually indicate that there is an inadequate diet of | | | | will have to be directed at whatever can be |
| protein or an intestinal or renal disorder that is | | | | determined as the actual underlying cause. |
| preventing protein from entering into your dog's | | | | The first form of treatment will obviously be your dog's |
| system. | | | | diet and feeding them diets that are homemade will be |
| The driving force behind your dog losing protein in PLE | | | | an absolute necessity. The diet must be something |
| may be related to either inflammation or erosion | | | | that is very easy to digest and ultra low in fat such as |
| causes that are affecting the normal functions of the | | | | white turkey meat combined with either rice or |
| stomach, or may be caused by some type of a | | | | potatoes. |
| congenital problem or vascular drainage problems. | | | | MCT oil is also highly recommended. MCT oil is a clear, |
| Most cases of PLE have been linked to disruptions or | | | | light colored liquid that has no flavor and a very low |
| a series of issues that cause problems with your dog's | | | | viscosity, making it easy to digest. When it t is |
| ability to absorb food proteins in the small intestine. | | | | metabolized by your dogs body, it acts as a |
| In the intestines, mucus from both the small and large | | | | carbohydrate, which produces the much needed fuel |
| intestines will form a barrier, so to speak, that controls | | | | to their body, and is a very quick acting source of |
| movement of fluid and electrolytes. | | | | energy. |
| However, this lining only provides a small barrier that | | | | Fluid forms of therapy may be necessary in some |
| protects against the loss of protein. | | | | dogs that have experienced either severe vomiting or |
| The major loss of protein from PLE is caused by | | | | diarrhea, or both, to replace lost fluids as well as |
| either the lining mining blood supply or the area that is | | | | electrolytes, and to help maintain a normal fluid |
| between the cells. | | | | distribution on your pet's body. |
| The intestinal lining provides only a minor barrier to the | | | | Metronidazole, tetracycline or other long term antibiotic |
| loss of plasma proteins from the body. An alteration or | | | | therapies may also be required to help control bacterial |
| a change of this lining by disease or conditions such as | | | | growth. Supplements of calcium, magnesium, and the |
| PLE results in the loss of the protein into the intentional | | | | fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K will be required as |
| lumen, which in turn cases as loss of albumin, a water | | | | your dog is not absorbing these vitamins. In normal |
| soluble protein, and globulins, which are serum proteins, | | | | circumstances, these fat soluble vitamins are easily |
| both at an equal ratio. | | | | stored in your pets liver. |
| All this spells very bad news for your dog if it is not | | | | These minerals and vitamins will be extremely |
| corrected, and the challenge you now face is can it be | | | | important in conjunction with the diet therapy, but also |
| corrected at all? | | | | very important if the diet therapy does not correct the |
| What makes the situation even worse for you dog, is | | | | imbalance. |
| that most of the ultra low-fat commercialized dog | | | | |