Dietary-responsive disseminated eosinophilia in a border terrier

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Immunology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Eosinophilia with multi-organ infiltration is a rare condition in dogs.
• Previous treatments often involved prednisolone and hydroxyurea.
• This case highlights a potential alternative therapeutic strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of dietary modification in a dog with severe eosinophilic infiltration and gastrointestinal signs.
• To determine if a hypoallergenic diet could manage the condition without immunosuppressive drugs.

Main Methods:

• A 15-month-old Border terrier with a history of abdominal pain, vomiting, and marked eosinophilia was evaluated.
• Diagnostic procedures included computed tomography (CT), fine needle aspirates, and tissue biopsies.
• Treatment involved a gluten-free hydrolyzed diet, excluding other causes.

Main Results:

• CT revealed abdominal lymphadenomegaly.
• Cytology and biopsies confirmed eosinophilic and neutrophilic pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis with marked eosinophilic infiltration.
• The dog showed successful clinical improvement solely through dietary management.

Conclusions:

• Dietary modification with a gluten-free hydrolyzed diet can be a successful treatment for canine multi-organ eosinophilia.
• This approach should be considered in dogs with similar clinical presentations and eosinophilia after ruling out other causes.
• Hypoallergenic diets may play a significant role in managing eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases in dogs.