Proliferative enteritis
Proliferative enteritis is characterized by segmental mucosal hypertrophy of the intestine. It is most commonly seen in pigs, but a similar although very rare condition has been reported in dogs.64 There may be an underlying infectious etiology and Lawsonia intracellularis infection has been implicated but not yet been proven.
Other potential infectious causes include Campylobacter spp. or Chlamydia.9
Key Facts
■ IBD is a common cause of chronic vomiting and /or diarrhea in dogs and cats.
■ Idiopathic IBD is diagnosed on the basis of histological evidence of inflammation and no identifiable underlying cause.
■ The etiology of IBD is hypothesized to be a breakdown in mucosal tolerance to the normal enteric flora.
■ Clinical signs of IBD reflect the type of inflammation, its anatomical site, its severity, and its chronicity.
■ The mainstay of treatment of IBD is immunosuppression.