EVALUATION OF CANINE SMALL-INTESTINAL PERMEABILITY USING THE LACTULOSE RHAMNOSE URINARY-EXCRETION TEST

The use of the lactulose and rhamnose urinary excretion test was evalu ated in dogs with gastrointestinal disease. Lactulose and rhamnose uri nary excretion was measured in three groups of dogs: clinically health y dogs and dogs with gastrointestinal disease with and without coexist ent panhypoproteinaemia. A significant increase in both the percentage of lactulose:percentage of rhamnose urinary excretion ratio and the p ercentage of lactulose excretion was demonstrated in dogs with hypopro teinaemia when compared to the other two groups. The results suggest t hat the lactulose/rhamnose urinary excretion test may prove a useful a djunct to currently available tests for assessing small intestinal fun ction, but lacks sensitivity in detecting small intestinal mucosal dam age in the absence of villus atrophy.