ABSTRACT
69 While a patient of yours is hospitalized for diagnostic imaging, it develops watery diarrhea. The diarrhea features tenesmus and increased urgency, but is not hemorrhagic. On physical examination, the dog has normal temperature, pulse, and respiratory rate findings. The dog’s packed cell volume and total solids are normal. You do a rectal examination and find nothing remarkable and make a direct smear prep of feces obtained during the rectal examination. Images of the stained slide are provided (Figure 69.1A,B). https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429401725/9d69b4ae-80d1-4f44-9dcb-659cda134065/content/fig69_1a_C.jpg"/> https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429401725/9d69b4ae-80d1-4f44-9dcb-659cda134065/content/fig69_1b_C.jpg"/>
i. What is your interpretation of the smear?
ii. Most clinicians would prescribe metronidazole to this patient. Is this a justifiable decision?
iii. Are there any therapies that are associated with a more rapid recovery from acute large intestinal diarrhea/“stress colitis?”
