Canine and Feline Chronic Diarrhea: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Framework

By Dr. Zubair Khalid, DVM, MS, PhD · 2026-08-11

Key Takeaways

• Chronic diarrhea in dogs and cats is defined by a duration of three or more weeks, necessitating a structured diagnostic approach that prioritizes non-invasive methods. The initial step involves differentiating small bowel from large bowel signs, as this guides the differential diagnosis and subsequent testing strategy.
• Signalment (age, breed, species) is a critical filter, with puppies and kittens more prone to infectious causes or congenital issues, adult animals to dietary-responsive enteropathy or inflammatory conditions, and senior animals to neoplasia, particularly alimentary lymphoma in cats and intestinal adenocarcinoma in dogs.
• Extra-intestinal causes such as chronic pancreatitis, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (diagnosed via serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity), hepatic disease, renal failure, and endocrinopathies (e.g., hypoadrenocorticism in dogs, hyperthyroidism in cats) must be excluded before attributing diarrhea solely to intestinal pathology.
• Fecal testing, including direct smear, flotation, and PCR panels (especially for Tritrichomonas fetus in cats), represents a high-yield, low-cost diagnostic step to identify infectious agents, and should be strategically employed based on signalment and clinical suspicion.
• Therapeutic trials, including strict dietary elimination (novel protein or hydrolyzed diets) and antimicrobial (e.g., metronidazole, tylosin) or anti-inflammatory (e.g., prednisolone, budesonide) interventions, are integral to the diagnostic framework, with response and failure criteria clearly defined.
• Definitive diagnosis of inflammatory enteropathy versus neoplasia, particularly alimentary lymphoma in cats, often requires intestinal mucosal biopsy, with endoscopic sampling being common but full-thickness biopsy sometimes necessary, and histopathology ideally supplemented with immunophenotyping and clonality analysis.

Chronic diarrhea in dogs and cats is defined as an increase in fecal water content, frequency, or volume persisting for three or more weeks. This article provides a structured diagnostic and therapeutic framework for the practicing veterinarian, emphasizing differentiation of intestinal from extra-intestinal causes and avoidance of redundant testing. The framework prioritizes clinical reasoning that moves from non-invasive, high-yield diagnostics toward more invasive procedures only when the clinical picture demands them.

The reader is assumed to be a qualified veterinary clinician comfortable with standard physical examination, clinicopathologic testing, and basic imaging interpretation. The article addresses the most common causes of chronic diarrhea in both species, including dietary responsiveness, infectious agents, inflammatory enteropathy, and neoplasia. It also covers the diagnostic logic that distinguishes these entities and the therapeutic trials that often precede or accompany definitive diagnosis.

A central principle governs the approach: chronic diarrhea is a clinical sign, not a diagnosis. The diagnostic plan must be guided by the anatomic origin of the diarrhea, the signalment of the patient, and the presence or absence of systemic signs. This framework reduces the risk of pursuing expensive or invasive testing when a therapeutic trial or targeted fecal test would resolve the case more efficiently.

At a Glance

Defining Chronic Diarrhea and Its Anatomic Origins

Chronic diarrhea represents a failure of intestinal absorption, secretion, or motility that has persisted beyond the expected duration of an acute, self-limiting episode. The pathophysiologic mechanisms include osmotic diarrhea from malabsorbed solutes, secretory diarrhea from active ion secretion, inflammatory diarrhea from mucosal damage, and motility disorders that alter transit time. Most chronic diarrheas in dogs and cats involve more than one mechanism, which explains why clinical signs can be variable and why a single therapeutic agent often fails.

The first diagnostic decision is anatomic localization. Small bowel diarrhea typically presents with normal to mildly increased fecal frequency, increased fecal volume, weight loss despite adequate appetite, and sometimes vomiting. Large bowel diarrhea presents with frequent, small-volume evacuations, tenesmus, mucoid feces, and fresh blood. Mixed signs occur in diffuse disease and should not force an artificial distinction. The MSD Veterinary Manual provides species-specific descriptions of these clinical patterns that support this initial categorization.

Localization matters because it changes the differential list. Large bowel diarrhea in a young cat raises suspicion for Tritrichomonas fetus infection, while small bowel diarrhea with weight loss in a senior cat raises suspicion for lymphoma or inflammatory bowel disease. The diagnostic plan follows from this branching logic.

The Role of Signalment and Epidemiology

Age is the most powerful epidemiologic filter. Puppies and kittens with chronic diarrhea are more likely to have infectious causes, dietary intolerance, or congenital abnormalities. Adult dogs frequently develop dietary-responsive enteropathy or chronic inflammatory conditions. Senior animals carry a higher index of suspicion for neoplasia, particularly alimentary lymphoma in cats and intestinal adenocarcinoma in dogs.

Breed predispositions refine the differential list. Certain terrier breeds are predisposed to protein-losing enteropathy, while Boxers and French Bulldogs are overrepresented for histiocytic ulcerative colitis. Breed-specific testing is not always indicated, but breed should influence the threshold for pursuing particular diagnoses.

Species differences are equally important. Cats with chronic diarrhea and vomiting are commonly diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, a diagnosis of exclusion that requires intestinal biopsy to confirm and to differentiate from alimentary lymphoma. As reviewed in feline idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease literature, the diagnosis is one of exclusion and requires intestinal mucosal biopsy to characterize the type and severity of the inflammatory infiltrate and to differentiate IBD from other disorders, including alimentary lymphoma. The same review notes that affected cats may have concurrent inflammation in other organs, such as the pancreas and liver, which may impact clinical disease severity.

Differentiating Intestinal from Extra-Intestinal Causes

Chronic diarrhea can be a manifestation of disease outside the gastrointestinal tract. The most important extra-intestinal causes include chronic pancreatitis, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, hepatic disease, renal failure, and endocrinopathies such as hyperthyroidism in cats and hypoadrenocorticism in dogs. These conditions can produce diarrhea through maldigestion, altered motility, or metabolic effects on the intestinal mucosa.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency deserves particular attention because it is treatable, common in young German Shepherd Dogs, and easily missed. The diagnostic test is serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity, which is species-specific and highly accurate. A single blood sample can exclude this diagnosis before any intestinal workup proceeds.

Hypoadrenocorticism in dogs can present with chronic intermittent diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss that mimics inflammatory bowel disease. The classic electrolyte abnormalities are not always present, so a low threshold for ACTH stimulation testing is warranted in young to middle-aged dogs with waxing and waning gastrointestinal signs.

Infectious Causes and Fecal Testing Strategy

Fecal testing is the highest-yield, lowest-cost diagnostic step in most cases of chronic diarrhea. The testing strategy should be guided by signalment, geographic region, and exposure history. A direct saline smear performed within minutes of defecation can identify motile trophozoites of Tritrichomonas fetus in cats, though the organizm is fastidious and fragile. As described in PCR detection of Tritrichomonas fetus in feline feces, routine flotation techniques and delayed examination or refrigeration of feces are anticipated to preclude the diagnosis in numerous cases, making PCR the preferred diagnostic method when this infection is suspected.

Giardia species can be detected by zinc sulfate centrifugation flotation, antigen testing, or PCR. The sensitivity of each method varies, and a negative result on one test does not exclude infection. Fecal culture is reserved for bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella and Campylobacter, though their role in chronic diarrhea is debated.

The ACVIM consensus statements provide expert guidance on the appropriate use of fecal diagnostics and the interpretation of positive and negative results in the context of chronic gastrointestinal disease. These statements are particularly useful when deciding whether to treat an identified organizm or to pursue additional testing for concurrent intestinal disease.

Stepwise Diagnostic Sequence for Chronic Diarrhea

The diagnostic workup proceeds in ordered phases, each designed to answer a specific question before the next test is justified. Phase one confirms chronicity and characterizes the diarrhea as small bowel, large bowel, or mixed. Phase two screens for extra-intestinal disease and common infectious causes. Phase three evaluates structural intestinal disease when the first two phases are unrewarding.

Phase One: Characterization and Minimum Database

Begin with a complete history covering diet changes, scavenging access, travel history, deworming schedule, and any prior antimicrobial or anti-inflammatory drug exposure. Physical examination should include body condition scoring, abdominal palpation, rectal examination, and assessment for peripheral lymphadenopathy or palpable masses.

The minimum database for every chronic diarrhea patient includes:

• Complete blood count
• Serum biochemistry profile
• Total thyroxine concentration in cats over 7 years of age
• Urinalysis
• Fecal examination by direct smear and flotation

The CBC and biochemistry screen for protein-losing enteropathy, pancreatic disease, hepatobiliary disease, hypoadrenocorticism, and azotemia. A low serum albumin with normal globulins strongly suggests protein-losing enteropathy and warrants expedited intestinal investigation. Eosinophilia may indicate parasitism, eosinophilic enteritis, or hypoadrenocorticism. Lymphopenia can accompany protein-losing enteropathy or lymphangiectasia.

Fecal examination should include direct saline smear for motile trophozoites, flotation with an appropriate solution, and consideration of antigen testing for Giardia. In young cats with large bowel diarrhea, direct examination of fresh feces for Tritrichomonas fetus trophozoites is indicated, though organizms are fragile and easily missed. PCR testing offers superior sensitivity for this organizm and should be used when clinical suspicion persists despite negative microscopy.

Phase Two: Targeted Testing Based on Signalment and Findings

Fasting serum bile acids or pre- and post-prandial bile acid measurement is indicated when liver enzyme elevations or hypoalbuminemia suggest hepatobiliary disease. Serum pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity helps identify exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in dogs with chronic small bowel diarrhea and weight loss despite good appetite. Canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity also screens for pancreatitis as a cause of concurrent vomiting and diarrhea.

Fecal culture is reserved for specific scenarios: acute onset of bloody diarrhea in an unvaccinated puppy, suspected Salmonella or Campylobacter infection in a patient with fever or systemic signs, or known zoonotic exposure risk. Routine fecal culture in stable chronic diarrhea rarely changes management and adds cost without diagnostic yield.

Serologic testing for feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus is appropriate in cats with chronic diarrhea, particularly those with weight loss, fever, or concurrent stomatitis. These retroviral infections can cause chronic enteritis and predispose to neoplasia.

Phase Three: Structural and Histologic Evaluation

When the minimum database and targeted testing fail to identify a cause, intestinal mucosal disease becomes the primary differential. The decision to pursue endoscopy versus surgical biopsy depends on patient stability, lesion distribution, and available equipment.

Endoscopic biopsy allows sampling of the duodenum, ileum, and colon with minimal morbidity. Full-thickness surgical biopsy permits evaluation of all intestinal layers and is required when ultrasound identifies a mural mass or when endoscopic samples are non-diagnostic. The distinction between inflammatory bowel disease and alimentary lymphoma in cats is particularly challenging with endoscopic samples alone. Combining histologic evaluation with immunophenotyping and clonality analysis improves diagnostic accuracy compared with histology alone.

Abdominal ultrasound should precede biopsy in all patients with suspected structural disease. Ultrasound identifies mural thickening, loss of layering, mesenteric lymphadenopathy, and extramural masses. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of thickened intestine or enlarged lymph nodes can yield a cytologic diagnosis of lymphoma in some cases, avoiding surgery. However, a negative aspirate does not exclude lymphoma, and biopsy remains the standard for histologic characterization.

The diagnosis of feline idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease remains one of exclusion, requiring biopsy to characterize the inflammatory infiltrate and differentiate it from lymphoma.

Therapeutic Trials and Response Monitoring

Therapeutic trials are appropriate when diagnostic testing is unrewarding, when financial constraints limit investigation, or while awaiting biopsy results. Each trial must have a defined duration, endpoint, and rescue plan. Table 1 outlines the sequence and expected response timelines.

Dietary trials require strict adherence. No other food sources, treats, flavored medications, or chewable supplements are permitted during the trial period. Owners must document daily fecal scores and body weight weekly. A dog that improves on a novel protein diet but relapses when the original diet is reintroduced confirms food-responsive enteropathy.

Antibiotic-responsive enteropathy is diagnosed when diarrhea resolves with antimicrobial therapy and recurs when the drug is withdrawn. Tylosin is commonly used for this purpose. The mechanism is incompletely understood but likely involves modulation of the intestinal microbiome instead of elimination of a specific pathogen.

Glucocorticoid therapy is reserved for patients with confirmed or strongly suspected inflammatory bowel disease after dietary and antimicrobial trials have failed. Budesonide offers reduced systemic bioavailability compared with prednisolone, which may be advantageous in cats. Response is assessed by reduction in clinical signs and improvement in body condition, with repeat biochemistry monitoring for glucocorticoid effects.

Monitoring Parameters and Documentation

Objective monitoring is essential to distinguish true response from placebo effect or spontaneous fluctuation. The following parameters should be recorded at each recheck:

• Body weight and body condition score
• Fecal consistency score using a validated scale
• Frequency of defecation per 24 hours
• Presence of blood, mucus, or tenesmus
• Appetite and vomiting frequency
• Serum albumin and globulin concentrations in protein-losing patients
• Serum cobalamin and folate where malabsorption is suspected

Cobalamin supplementation is indicated when serum cobalamin is below the reference interval, as enterocyte turnover and bacterial overgrowth deplete this vitamin. Response to cobalamin therapy is monitored by repeat serum measurement after 4 to 6 weeks of supplementation.

Documentation should include the date each trial was initiated, the drug and dose used, the duration of the trial, and the objective response. This record prevents redundant trials and supports referral decisions when first-line therapy fails.

Decision Points That Change the Diagnostic Path

Several findings redirect the workup before biopsy is considered. Hypoadrenocorticism in dogs can present with chronic intermittent diarrhea and must be excluded by baseline cortisol or ACTH stimulation testing before glucocorticoid therapy is initiated. Treatment of inflammatory bowel disease with steroids in an undiagnosed Addisonian patient can precipitate a life-threatening crisis.

Hypoalbuminemia with panhypoproteinemia and ascites or pleural effusion suggests lymphangiectasia or protein-losing enteropathy and warrants intestinal biopsy earlier in the workup. Hypercalcemia with diarrhea may indicate lymphoma or hypoadrenocorticism and changes the differential prioritization.

In cats, weight loss with a normal appetite and diarrhea suggests hyperthyroidism, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, or alimentary lymphoma. The diagnostic approach differs from that of a cat with anorexia and vomiting, where pancreatitis and hepatic disease rank higher.

Species-Specific Considerations

Feline chronic diarrhea is more frequently caused by inflammatory bowel disease and lymphoma than by dietary indiscretion. The threshold for intestinal biopsy in cats should be lower than in dogs, particularly in older cats where lymphoma is a primary concern. Endoscopic samples from cats are often small and superficial, and full-thickness biopsy may be required for definitive diagnosis.

Canine chronic diarrhea more often responds to dietary modification alone. A structured dietary trial is appropriate before invasive testing in a stable dog with normal bloodwork and negative fecal testing. The same approach in a cat risks delaying the diagnosis of lymphoma.

Paratuberculosis is a consideration in ruminants, not in dogs or cats, and its diagnostic challenges illustrate the general principle that chronic enteropathies require species-appropriate testing strategies. The diagnostic tests available for Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis vary in sensitivity and specificity depending on disease stage, a reminder that no single test is universally reliable in chronic enteropathy.

Recognized Complications and Failure Modes

Chronic diarrhea therapy fails for identifiable reasons. Weight loss that progresses despite an adequate food trial indicates either an incorrect diagnosis, poor owner compliance, or a protein-losing enteropathy that requires more aggressive intervention. Hypoalbuminemia below 2.0 g/dL in dogs or 2.5 g/dL in cats warrants thoracic radiographs and abdominal ultrasonography before endoscopy, because intestinal lymphangiectasia, fungal disease, or neoplasia may alter the biopsy approach and anesthetic risk.

Pancreatitis develops in some cats during dietary or glucocorticoid therapy for inflammatory bowel disease. Serial measurement of feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity is indicated when vomiting recurs or cranial abdominal pain is detected. Hepatobiliary inflammation coexists with intestinal inflammation in cats, and increases in liver enzyme activity or bilirubin should prompt ultrasonographic assessment of the biliary tree instead of assumption of drug hepatotoxicity feline idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease review.

Glucocorticoid therapy can unmask latent infection. Worsening diarrhea, new fever, or peripheral neutrophilia during immunosuppressive treatment should trigger repeat fecal examination, including antigen testing for organizms that may have been below the detection threshold initially. Feline coronavirus infection can convert to a systemic form under immunosuppression, and any cat developing effusions, uveitis, or neurologic signs during treatment requires immediate reevaluation.

Common Diagnostic Errors and Corrective Actions

The most frequent error is treating a clinical response as proof of a specific diagnosis. A dog that improves on an elimination diet may have food-responsive enteropathy, but the same response occurs with mild exocrine pancreatic insufficiency if the diet is highly digestible and low in fiber. Serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity must be measured before dietary trials in any dog with chronic small bowel diarrhea, regardless of body condition.

Endoscopic biopsy samples that are too small or too superficial produce false negative results for lymphoma. Full-thickness biopsies are preferred when ultrasonography shows transmural thickening or when endoscopic samples fail to explain severe clinical signs. Histologic interpretation alone is insufficient, immunophenotyping and clonality testing improve diagnostic accuracy for feline intestinal lymphoma diagnostic algorithm for feline intestinal biopsy samples.

Clinicians often stop the diagnostic workup after one negative fecal examination. Protozoal organizms are shed intermittently, and Tritrichomonas fetus is fragile and missed on routine flotation. PCR testing of fresh feces is the most reliable method for this organizm PCR detection of Tritrichomonas fetus in feline feces. A single negative PCR does not exclude infection if the sample was collected after enema administration or if the cat received antiprotozoal therapy within the preceding two weeks.

Limitations of the Evidence and Areas of Contention

The distinction between inflammatory bowel disease and alimentary lymphoma in cats remains the most contested area in this field. Endoscopic biopsies sample mucosa only, and lymphocytic infiltration can be difficult to classify even with immunohistochemistry. Some cats with histologically mild inflammation have aggressive disease, while others with dense infiltrates respond to dietary change alone. Expert opinion differs on whether full-thickness biopsy should be performed routinely or reserved for nonresponders feline idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease review.

The role of the microbiome in chronic enteropathy is established in principle but not yet translated into reliable therapeutic targets. Fecal microbiota transplantation has anecdotal support but lacks controlled trials in dogs and cats. Probiotic selection remains empiric, and response varies between individuals.

Evidence for dietary management is stronger in dogs than in cats. Hydrolyzed protein diets are well studied in canine food-responsive enteropathy, but feline data are more limited, and some cats respond only to novel protein diets with a single protein source. The optimal duration of a dietary trial before declaring failure is not standardized, published recommendations range from two to four weeks for dogs and up to three weeks for cats.

Referral, Specialist Consultation, and Regulatory Reporting

Referral to a veterinary internal medicine specialist is indicated when diarrhea persists despite a structured three-phase workup, when hypoalbuminemia or panhypoproteinemia is present, when abdominal ultrasonography reveals unexplained mass lesions or severe wall thickening, or when endoscopic biopsy is planned and the clinician lacks experience with the procedure. Specialists also manage cases requiring prolonged immunosuppression, particularly cats, where the balance between anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic therapy is difficult to strike.

Pathology laboratories with gastrointestinal biopsy expertise should be consulted when histologic findings are equivocal. Many commercial laboratories offer immunohistochemistry and clonality testing as reflex panels, but the clinician should request these tests explicitly when lymphoma is suspected, instead of relying on routine histology alone diagnostic algorithm for feline intestinal biopsy samples.

Regulatory reporting applies to specific infectious causes. Paratuberculosis is reportable in many jurisdictions because of its impact on ruminant livestock and its potential zoonotic concern bovine paratuberculosis diagnostic test review. While the disease is uncommon in dogs and cats, any granulomatous enteritis with acid-fast organizms should trigger a conversation with the state or provincial veterinary authority. International movement of animals with chronic diarrhea may also be restricted under WOAH terrestrial animal health standards, and clinicians should verify current requirements before issuing health certificates.

Troubleshooting Table

Frequently Asked Questions

How Should I Prioritize Testing When the Owner Has a Limited Budget?

Start with the minimum database: complete blood count, serum biochemistry, urinalysis, and fecal examination. These tests identify extra-intestinal disease and common infections at relatively low cost. If results are unremarkable, proceed with a therapeutic trial for suspected food-responsive enteropathy before pursuing advanced diagnostics. Reserve abdominal ultrasound and endoscopy for cases that fail dietary and antimicrobial trials. Fecal PCR panels are useful when specific pathogens are suspected based on signalment, but they should not replace baseline testing. Explain to the owner that skipping steps risks treating the wrong disease and incurring higher costs later. The ACVIM consensus statements provide structured guidance on cost-effective diagnostic sequencing.

What Do I Do When Abdominal Ultrasound and Endoscopy Are Unavailable?

When referral is not possible, rely on response to sequential therapeutic trials. Institute a strict elimination diet for two to three weeks, then add a broad-spectrum antimicrobial such as metronidazole or tylosin if dietary response is incomplete. For cats, consider cobalamin supplementation empirically, as deficiency is common in chronic enteropathy. If the patient deteriorates or develops alarming signs such as marked weight loss or hypoalbuminemia, referral becomes urgent despite logistical barriers. Histologic evaluation remains necessary to differentiate inflammatory disease from lymphoma, and endoscopic biopsy is the standard approach in cats. The diagnostic algorithm for differentiating lymphoma from inflammation in feline small intestinal biopsy samples underscores why histopathology cannot be replaced by clinical response alone in cats that fail therapy.

How Does the Diagnostic Approach Differ in Cats Compared with Dogs?

Cats require earlier consideration of neoplasia, particularly alimentary lymphoma, which can mimic inflammatory bowel disease clinically. Response to dietary modification is less predictable in cats, and many require immunosuppressive therapy for confirmed inflammatory disease. Full-thickness biopsy carries higher anesthetic and surgical risk in cats, so endoscopic samples are preferred when feasible, despite their smaller size. Concurrent pancreatic and hepatic inflammation is common in feline chronic enteropathy and may influence disease severity, as described in reviews of feline idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease. Fecal PCR for Tritrichomonas fetus should be performed in young cats with large bowel diarrhea, especially those from multi-cat environments, because organizms are easily missed on direct smear and routine flotation is unreliable.

What Records Should I Maintain for a Chronic Diarrhea Case?

Maintain a structured diary documenting body weight at each visit, fecal consistency scores, appetite, vomiting frequency, and any medications or diet changes with dates. Record the rationale for each diagnostic step and the response to each therapeutic trial, including the specific diet used and its duration. This documentation supports clinical decisions when the patient returns weeks later and provides continuity if the case is referred. Serial weight and fecal scores are the most objective response measures available in practice. The MSD Veterinary Manual offers standardized fecal scoring systems that can be shared with owners. Clear records also protect against liability if a complication such as corticosteroid-induced diabetes mellitus arises during treatment.

How Should I Explain the Diagnostic Plan to a Frustrated Owner?

Frame the workup as a staged process that rules out dangerous and treatable causes before committing to long-term therapy. Explain that chronic diarrhea has many causes and that a single test rarely provides the answer. Use the analogy of a staircase: baseline blood and fecal tests first, then dietary trials, then imaging and biopsy if needed. Be explicit about costs at each stage and what each test can and cannot detect. Acknowledge that some cases respond to empirical treatment without a definitive diagnosis, but that biopsy is the only reliable way to distinguish inflammation from lymphoma in cats. The AVMA practice resources include client communication tools that can help structure these conversations.

When Should I Report a Chronic Diarrhea Case to Regulatory Authorities?

Reporting obligations arise when a zoonotic or notifiable pathogen is confirmed or strongly suspected. Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Giardia are reportable in some jurisdictions, and Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis is notifiable in many regions because of its impact on ruminant herds. Check local requirements, as they vary by country and region. The WOAH terrestrial animal health standards define international notification obligations for transboundary diseases. When a reportable agent is identified, inform the owner promptly, discuss zoonotic precautions, and document the conversation. Paratuberculosis is primarily a ruminant disease, but awareness of its diagnostic limitations in subclinical carriers is relevant when assessing herd-level risk, as reviewed in comparisons of paratuberculosis diagnostic tests.

Related Clinical & Scientific Guides

• Feline Hepatic Lipidosis: Nutritional and Medical Management
• Canine Respiratory Infection: Diagnostic Approach and Treatment
• Canine Respiratory Virus: Diagnostic and Management Considerations

References and Further Reading

• Feline idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease: what we know and what remains to be unraveled.. 2012.
• Vaccination against paratuberculosis.. 2008.
• Diagnostic algorithm to differentiate lymphoma from inflammation in feline small intestinal biopsy samples.. 2011.
• Single-tube nested PCR for detection of tritrichomonas fetus in feline feces.. 2002.
• Bovine paratuberculosis: a review of the advantages and disadvantages of different diagnostic tests.. 2012.
• Dientamoeba fragilis masquerading as allergic colitis.. 1998.
• ACVIM Consensus Statements. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
• MSD Veterinary Manual, Professional Edition. MSD Veterinary Manual.
• American Veterinary Medical Association Practice Resources. American Veterinary Medical Association.

Related Articles

• Feline Chronic Enteropathy: Diagnostic and Management Framework
• Canine Vomiting: A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Decision Framework
• Canine Hypoadrenocorticism: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Monitoring
• Canine Gallbladder Disease: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approach
• Canine Immune-Mediated Myositis: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approach

This article is educational professional reference material for veterinary audiences. It is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis, individual clinical judgment, current product labeling, or applicable regulatory requirements.