FUNCTIONAL INTESTINAL HYPOMOTILITY IN ASSOCIATION WITH NEURONAL DAMAGE IN A DOG

A young, crossbred dog with a 13-month history of progressively worsen ing, recurrent episodes of vomiting, anorexia, depression and dehydrat ion was diagnosed as having a functional hypomotility disorder of the small intestines, During hospitalisation, the dog's condition improved only when total parenteral nutrition was administered. When fed orall y, the dog developed severe gastric dilatation, Intestinal motility wa s minimal, but was induced by neostigmine. Post mortem findings includ ed dilatation of the duodenum and progressive narrowing of the small b owel up to the ileum, Histopathology revealed various grades of neuron al degeneration and necrosis of the myenteric plexuses throughout the small intestine, Microscopic changes resembled those reported in dysau tonomia, but were limited to small intestinal myenteric plexuses, A lo calised congenital neuronal defect causing a lack of parasympathetic t one is suspected.