Veterinary Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnosis-II

DIGESTIVE DISORDERS IN NON RUMINANTS

Vomiting

• It is a complex reflex act, which results in the rapid, forceful ejection of gastric contents through the mouth.
• A number of conditions can stimulate vomiting are presence of foreign objects,intussuception, neoplasia, pyloric stenosis, chronic gastritis, presence of parasites, acute nephritis, hepatic disease, presence of poisons.
• Dog and cat vomit easily. In horse it is rare. It is mainly control by centres in brain.

Biochemical changes during vomition

• During vomition loss of water and HCl. These loses result in dehydration and metabolic alkalosis with increased level of bicarbonate ion and decreased level of chloride ion concentration.
• Gastric vomition may also cause hypokalemia, which may be due to increased urinary excretion during alkalosis.
• Gastric contents also contains potassium and loss due to vomiting may also contribute to potassium deficiency.
• potassium deficiency and hypovolemic due to dehydration may cause renal tubular damage and kidney failure.

Diarrhoea

• It is rapid elimination of watery fecal material with increased frequency and volume or both .
• It is due to parasite, infection by bacteria or virus in the intestinal tract, feeding poor quality diet, sudden dietry change, food poison, heavy metal and presence of organophosphorus compound.

Biochemical changes

• Diarrhoea results in dehydration associated with H⁺ and electrolyte disturbances.
• Dehydration cause haemoconcentration, which leads to hypovolemic shock, this is characterized by decreased excretion of hydrogen,over production of lactic acid, Hyperkalemia.
• Hypoglycemia
• Disturbance in absorption of all nutrients

Gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV)

• It is an acute GI tract disorder, which is due to the accumulation of gas and fluid in the stomach causing mechanical and functional disturbances to pyloric out flow.
• The stomach distends and rotates causing obstruction due to which there is necrosis and perforation of the stomach wall.
• There is hyperkalemia, hyperphosphotemia due to reduced renal flow. There is release of intracellular potassium from the damaged tissues.
• Due to the leakage of fluid from the blood vessels into tissues, there is haemoconcentration, which results in increased blood urea nitrogen and creatinine values.
• Due to degeneration of stomach cells and alteration of liver , the transaminases activities are increased
• There is increase lactic acid production, which cause metabolic acidosis.