Neutrophilic inflammatory enteropathy in 27 dogs: a retrospective descriptive study

Dogs with chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE) are common in companion animal practice. Neutrophilic inflammatory enteropathy (NIE) is a subtype of CIE that is uncommonly reported, posing a dilemma in terms of etiology, treatment, and prognosis.

To describe historical, clinical, clinicopathological, imaging findings, treatment, and survival in dogs with histologically confirmed NIE.

Twenty-seven client-owned dogs with NIE.

Retrospective interrogation of the hospital database between January 2015 and January 2025 identified dogs with NIE based on histological reports. Cases were regraded using modified WSAVA guidelines and classified into the minor (mild inflammation) or major (moderate or severe inflammation) groups.

Twenty-seven dogs were identified, with 8 and 19 dogs in the minor and major groups, respectively. The mean age was 7.7 ± 3.5 (95% CI, 6.4-9.1) years. The most common presenting signs were diarrhea (n = 21/27; 78%), vomiting (n = 21/27; 78%), weight loss (n = 20/27; 74%), hyporexia/anorexia (n = 13/27; 48%), and melena (n = 7/27; 26%). Clinicopathological abnormalities included neutrophilia (n = 12/27, 44%), hypoalbuminemia (n = 14/27, 52%), hypoglobulinemia (n = 23/27, 85%), hypocholesterolemia (n = 11/27; 41%), total hypocalcemia (n = 11/27; 41%), and hypocobalaminemia (n = 14/24; 58%). Twenty-four (89%) dogs (6 minor and 18 major) survived to discharge, with an overall median survival time of 267 (95% CI, 0-569) days, with no statistically significant difference between the major and minor groups. Peripheral neutrophilia was associated with an increased hazard of death (4.43; 95% CI, 1.16-16.99; P = .03) on univariate analysis and a significantly shorter median survival time.

Neutrophilic inflammatory enteropathy is potentially associated with poor survival. Peripheral neutrophilia might indicate a poorer prognosis.