Dietary-responsive disseminated eosinophilia in a border terrier

Eosinophilia with multi-organ infiltration is rarely reported in dogs. Successful treatment of previous cases has relied on a combination of prednisolone and hydroxyurea. A 15-month-old, intact, male Border terrier was presented at a referral hospital with a 6-month history of recurrent, acute episodic abdominal pain, trembling, vomiting, soft feces, and persistent marked eosinophilia. Computed tomography (CT) disclosed abdominal lymphadenomegaly, and cytological evaluation of fine needle aspirates indicated eosinophilic and neutrophilic pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis. Biopsy samples of jejunal and iliac lymph nodes, liver, and jejunum were obtained during exploratory celiotomy and showed marked eosinophilic infiltration with no inciting cause identifiable on histological examination. The dog was successfully managed with dietary modification alone, using a gluten-free hydrolyzed diet (Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA Hypoallergenic, Purina, York, United Kingdom). The role of dietary modification should be considered in dogs presenting with acute gastrointestinal clinical signs and marked circulating and tissue eosinophilia when other causes are ruled out.