dvm360, the leading multimedia provider of animal health care communications, education, and research for veterinary professionals, is thrilled to announce the relocation of its popular Fetch Coastal conference from Atlantic City, New Jersey, to National Harbor, Maryland. This highly anticipated event will take place September, 12-13, 2025 at the new location, offering an enhanced experience for veterinary professionals from across the country.

This move marks a new chapter for Fetch Coastal, positioning the conference in a vibrant and accessible location that is expected to attract even more attendees from the broader veterinary community. National Harbor, known for its scenic views and close proximity to Washington, DC, will provide a dynamic backdrop for an exciting and educational Fetch conference.

“We are excited to bring the Fetch Coastal Conference to National Harbor, a move that reflects our commitment to continually enhancing the experience for our attendees and expanding our reach within the veterinary community," Mike Hennessy Jr, president and CEO of MJH Life Sciences®, said. "National Harbor offers an ideal location that not only brings added convenience and amenities for our attendees, but also allows us to grow and evolve the Fetch conference experience. We look forward to providing the same high level of continuing education and networking opportunities that have made Fetch a trusted resource for veterinary professionals, while embracing the opportunities this new venue offers.”

Fetch has long been recognized as a premier source of continuing education for veterinary professionals, and the move to this new location underscores dvm360’s commitment to offering unparalleled learning opportunities and industry-leading resources. While Fetch Coastal is embracing an exciting new future, dvm360 wishes to express its gratitude to Atlantic City for the many years of hosting the conference. The Atlantic Coast Veterinary Conference and Fetch have a rich history in Atlantic City, and this legacy will be honored as Fetch moves forward.

“After many years of hosting our Fetch Coastal conference in the vibrant setting of Atlantic City, I am truly honored to witness and work towards exciting changes that await our learners in Washington, DC, in 2025,” Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, chief veterinary officer of dvm360, said. “This transition not only signifies growth for our community of veterinary professionals but also underscores our commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration in the field. We look forward to embracing new opportunities and sharing knowledge in our nation's capital.

By relocating to National Harbor, dvm360 is excited to introduce a fresh and dynamic setting for the Fetch Coastal Conference, enhancing the experience for both returning and new attendees. As one of the most respected conferences in veterinary continuing education, Fetch continues to provide top-tier learning opportunities and innovative resources for veterinary professionals. This move reflects dvm360’s ongoing commitment to supporting the growth and development of the veterinary community, offering an even more engaging and accessible platform for education and collaboration.

“It has been a busy year for dvm360 and Fetch, planning our very first Fetch Nashville conference and now we are going to D.C. It’s bittersweet to leave Atlantic City, yet equally as exciting to take the Fetch educational experience to our nation's capital,” John Hydrusko, vice president of dvm360 and Fetch, said.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our team’s dedication to educating the veterinary community. With our ever-evolving, cutting-edge programs, we are building a better future for animal health. And we're just getting started—there are even more exciting innovations on the horizon!”

To learn more about the conference and to register, please visit 

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The veterinary continuing education conference makes an exciting move from Atlantic City, New Jersey, to National Harbor.

dvm360® announces new Fetch veterinary conference location in Maryland

In the animal care and veterinary profession, effective leadership is important for upholding operational efficiency. Strong leadership improves the quality of pet care, as well as animal health products while fostering the professional development of team members. This not only improves the quality of services and products offered, but also strengthens the overall health and well-being of animals in care.

Recently, several veterinary organizations have introduced new leaders. Some of those individuals advancing in their careers include:

Tyler Clough, BVetMed, DACVS-SA. (Photo courtesy of BondVet)

BondVet recently welcomed Tyler Clough, BVetMed, DACVS-SA to its team. Clough will visit all Bond Vet clinics to share his expertise and perform surgeries and train BondVet’s medical team to ensure that pets receive the highest standard of care throughout the network, according to a company release.

"We are thrilled to have Tyler on board," Renee McDougall, head of medicine at BondVet, said in the release.

 "His understanding of the delicate relationship between specialty services and the referral community is invaluable. He’s not only a phenomenal surgeon but also a trusted resource for veterinarians needing virtual consults or assistance with complex cases. Whether you need advice on a surgery or a quick appointment for a patient, Tyler and our team are here to support all your specialty needs.”

Clough has more than a decade of experience in specialized surgical procedures, which include orthopedics, soft tissue, and neurology surgery. BondVet’s announcement comes at a time when demand for specialized surgical procedures is growing and wait times have increased. Clough’s addition will help ensure clients are not enduring long waits, according to the company.

Alan Schnaid, executive vice president and chief financial officer, PetSmart

Following J.K Symancyk’s step-down as PetSmart’s CEO, president, and board member, Alan Schnaid, executive vice president (EVP) and chief financial officer (CFO) at PetSmart will be acting as the interim president and CEO of PetSmart until a replacement is appointed. Since 2017, Schnaid has been PetSmart’s EVP and CFO.

"PetSmart is the leading pet specialty retailer offering a compelling assortment of products and services along with a convenient omni-channel experience for pet parents. Alan has been instrumental in building our strategy and we're confident in his ability to continue to carry it out as we search for a new CEO to lead PetSmart into the future,” Raymond Svider, chairman of the Board of Directors, said in a news release.

Before his position as PetSmart, Schnaid held various financial roles with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc for 22 years, including CFO, spearheading the company’s global finance, accounting, tax, treasury, planning, risk management, and investor relations functions. In the early stages of his career, Schnaid was employed by various accounting firms. Currently, he is a board member of CommLoan, Inc—a company that facilitates a marketplace for lenders and borrowers in the commercial real estate sector.

Jeff Knudson, chief financial officer, National Veterinary Associates

National Veterinary Associates (NVA) Group, a pet care organization consisting of NVA General Practice, Ethos Veterinary Health, NVA Equine and NVA Pet Resorts, recently appointed Jeff Knudson as its chief financial officer (CFO). Knudson will assume his position on November 11, 2024.

Prior to his appointment, Knudson held a CFO role at At Home Group, Inc, as well as a senior financial leader position at CVS Health, L Brands, and Express Scripts. In his new role, Knudson will hold primary responsibility for the company's financial results, finance, and accounting operations. This includes financial strategy planning, and reporting; internal audit; tax; and treasury functions.

“We are very grateful for Luuk’s leadership and contributions to the organization,” said Larry Allgaier, CEO of NVA, in a company release.

 “Luuk has helped put NVA in a stronger position for our future, and I am personally grateful to him for his results, his expertise and leadership. Jeff brings deep leadership expertise and a significant track record overseeing finance functions for public healthcare companies. Jeff will be a valuable member of our executive leadership team as we continue to transform NVA for the future.”

Stanley Browning, general manager, Pet Specialty Retail and Ominichannel Business Unit, Royal Canin North America

Royal Canin announced Stanley Browning as its general manager, of the US Pet Specialty Retail and Ominichannel (PSRO) Business Unit for Royal Canin North America. In his new position, Browning will be a member of the Royal Canin North America Leadership Team. As general manager, Browning will lead the PSRO team, focusing on setting strategic direction and driving “stellar” performance within the PSRO channel across the country.

Browning began his career as a veterinary surgeon in Johannesburg, South Africa, later leading clinics in Hong Kong and holding management consulting and leadership positions within the manufacturing segment of the value chain. He also opened mentoring centers in Asia to help underprivileged youth obtain professional skills to start early careers.

"I am honored to lead the Pet Specialty Retail and Omnichannel team for Royal Canin North America. My passion for pets and the role they play in our lives began at a young age and continues to motivate me to make a meaningful impact on the health of both people and pets,” said Browning, in an organizational release.

 “By leveraging my experiences along with the tremendous accomplishments of this team, I truly believe that the opportunities are endless for what we can and will achieve across North America.”

Skylor Walker, field veterinary business development manager, PetVivo Holdings, Inc

Skylor Walker, BS. (Photo courtesy of PetVivo Holdings)

PetVivo Holdings, Inc has appointed Skylor Walker as its field veterinary business development manager for the entire state of Louisiana and the southern region of Texas. In her new role, Walker will work on increasing sales of the company’s 

Walker brings extensive expertise and background in the veterinary industry to PetVivo. Previously, she was a regional sales manager for Contura International, overseeing operations in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico Most recently, she served as an associate district manager at ADP. Walker earned her Bachelor of Science in political science from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.

“Skylor’s experience and strong record of sales achievement with veterinary clinics brings to our sales team a valuable resource for achieving our business goals,” said John Lai, PetVivo CEO, in a news release.

 “Her experience with other hydrogel injectable products enables us to prioritize and better address the veterinarians and clinics in our sales pipeline.”

Bond Vet welcomes new specialty surgeon, Dr. Tyler Clough. News release. BondVet. September 23, 2024. Accessed October 3, 2024. [email]

PetSmart announces CEO transition. News release. PetSmart. September 30, 2024. Accessed October 4, 2024. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/petsmart-announces-ceo-transition-302262958.html

National Veterinary Associates Group appoints Jeff Knudson as chief financial officer. News release. National Veterinary Associates. October 2, 2024. Accessed October 3, 2024. [email]

Royal Canin North America names Stanley Browning general manager, Pet Specialty Retail and Ominichannel Business Unit for Royal Canin North America. News release. Royal Canin. October 3, 2024. Accessed October 3, 2024. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/royal-canin-north-america-names-stanley-browning-general-manager-pet-specialty-retail-and-ominichannel-business-unit-for-royal-canin-north-america-302266082.html

PetVivo taps top sales executive, Skylor Walker, for regional business development manager, as adoption of breakthrough animal MedTech device continues to spread nationwide. News release. PetVivo Holdings, Inc. September 16, 2024. Accessed October 3, 2024. 

https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2024/09/16/2946590/0/en/PetVivo-Taps-Top-Sales-Executive-Skylor-Walker-for-Regional-Business-Development-Manager-as-Adoption-of-Breakthrough-Animal-MedTech-Device-Continues-to-Spread-Nationwide.html

Check out the latest news in the veterinary industry with these 5 recent position promotions

Paws and profits: Latest leadership changes in the veterinary industry

Rachel Allbaugh, DVM, MS, DACVO, shares tips for managing conjunctivitis

Allbaugh Conjunctivitis Fetch on Demand

Missed out on Fetch Kansas City 2024? No worries—we’ve got you covered! For just $199, 

 gives you access to the best sessions, speakers, and over 30 CE credits. Learn when, where, and how it fits into your busy life. Whether you’re catching up between appointments, learning from the comfort of home, or squeezing in a quick session over coffee, Fetch On-Demand gives you the flexibility you need to earn CE credits on your terms.

Ready to jump in? Start exploring the best of

Conjunctivitis is frequently presented to any veterinary practice. In an interview with 

at the Fetch Kansas City Conference, in Kansas City, Missouri, Rachel Allbaugh, DVM, MS, DACVO, explained that it's one of the most common reasons that she receives consultation calls. She explained her typical approach to a case of conjunctivitis, stressed the importance of establishing a root cause, and a potential non-medicated method of treatment.

: A lot of people feel like, "Oh, dogs have allergies and they have conjunctivitis," and they want to treat them with something like Neo-Poly-Dex, which is antibiotics and steroids. But, the reality is, if dogs have conjunctivitis, first and foremost, [you should] do a complete eye exam. [You should] make sure that there's not another primary ocular cause, because that's usually what's causing a red eye in a dog. [Usually it's a] corneal ulcer, or dry eye disease, or some sort of conformation, or hair abnormality. 

But truly, if you rule [all of] those things out, allergic conjunctivitis [does] happen, and it happens in a seasonal manner. My favorite treatment is not Neo-Poly-Dex, [I would rather have] owners apply a water-soluble lubricant to the eye before the dog goes outside. [They should then rinse] the eye with eye wash when [the dog] comes back in, because that way the [lubricant] will have coated the eye, preventing... all of those allergens [from entering] the immune system. The washing will rinse [the lubricant] away, kind of like taking a shower. Doing that even just once or twice a day during allergy season is a much better way for owners to manage these allergy issues, [in a way that is] non-medicated, [and] doesn't require a veterinary exam.

Videos

Rachel Allbaugh, DVM, MS, DACVO, explains her approach to managing conjunctivitis in dogs

Tips for managing conjunctivitis

Purina will provide $25,000 in addition to pet food and cat litter to support pets, and their owners, that were impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Following Hurricane Helene’s disastrous path across the southeastern United States, pet care brand Purina has announced a $25,000 grant to Greater Good Charities, a global nonprofit organization, intended to support rescue and relief efforts along the path.

 The donation will fund food, medical supplies, hygiene kits, and transportation to safety for pets in the path of the storm.

 In addition to the grant, Purina is working with US-based manufacturing facilities to ship thousands of pounds of Purina-brand pet food and cat litter to impacted communities.

“Our hearts go out to the families and pets affected by Hurricane Helene and the devastating flooding across Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Virginia,” Kim Beardslee, director of community affairs at Purina, said in a news release.

 “Purina has a long history of supporting communities in the wake of natural disasters, and we’re proud to support Greater Good Charities’ life-saving work during this time of great need.” Throughout Purina’s long history of community support, the company has donated more than $400,000, along with more than 700,000 pounds of pet food and cat litter, to victims of natural disasters since 2017.

Greater Good Charities has invested more than $750 million towards relief efforts across thousands of past projects.

 The organization currently has multiple teams on the ground providing aid throughout the Southeast states in hurricane’s aftermath, distributing food, water, and essential supplies to families and nonprofit partners.

the Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team (VET) deployed a dozen members to North Carolina

 to assist with the care of search and rescue dogs, which play a crucial role in the aftermath of natural disasters.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition has also announced their support for hurricane victims. Working alongside shelter partners, veterinary clinics, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the company will provide 100,000 pounds of Hill’s-brand pet food to animals in need.

“If you are a shelter or veterinary clinic caring for pets impacted by the storm, please reach out to the Hill’s Food, Shelter, and Love Disaster Relief Network team at DisasterRelief@HillsPet.com to request nutritional support,” the company shared on social media.

Over the last 11 years, Hill’s Disaster Relief Network has responded to more than 180 emergencies, providing support and relief. The network has donated over 3.9 million pounds of pet food to date, supporting more than 900 shelters, clinics, and nonprofits that care for pets during all kinds of natural disasters.

Purina Provides $25,000 and Pet Food and Cat Litter to Support Pets and People Impacted by Hurricane Helene. News release. Nestle Purina PetCare. October 2, 2024. Accessed October 4, 2024. 

https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/purina-provides-25-000-and-pet-food-and-cat-litter-to-support-pets-and-people-impacted-by-hurricane-helene-302265272.html

Disaster Relief & Assistance. Greater Good Charities. Accessed October 4, 2024. 

Coppock K. Veterinary Emergency Team deploys to North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene. 

. October 3, 2024. Accessed October 4, 2024. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/veterinary-emergency-team-deploys-to-north-carolina-in-the-wake-of-hurricane-helene

Hill’s Pet Nutrition. As Hurricane Helene fast approaches Florida, we have nutritional support on the way […] 

 September 2024. Accessed October 4, 2024. 

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/hill%27s-pet-nutrition_as-hurricane-helene-makes-landfall-across-activity-7245421124132487169-hAWy/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

Hill’s Disaster Relief Network: Helping Pets in Need. Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Accessed October 4, 2024. 

https://www.hillspet.com/about-us/community-support/disaster-relief-network

Partnering with local shelters and veterinarians, pet care brands offer donations to provide support for victims of the natural disaster

Pet care brands provide support for pets impacted by Hurricane Helene 

Chronic enteropathy (CE) describes a myriad of prolonged (greater than 3 weeks) gastrointestinal (GI) signs in animals who are suspected to have nondescript GI inflammation and in which treatment success has yet to be defined.

 All dogs with CE will have some degree of GI inflammation and share similar changes in microbiota richness, diversity, or composition compared to healthy dogs.

 However, their clinical and pathological response is different based on the treatments instituted and are categorized as food-responsive enteropathy (FRE), antibiotic-responsive enteropathy (ARE), immunosuppressant-responsive enteropathy (IRE), or nonresponsive enteropathy (NRE).

These treatment classifications have different etiologies but, dogs can display similar clinical signs and may require treatment through a multimodal approach involving 1 or more of these treatment categories. Further classification of CE includes those animals with loss of protein across the gut, termed protein-losing enteropathy (PLE). A diagnosis of PLE is based on the exclusion of neoplastic, parasitic, or infectious disease within the gut, and the presence of PLE with CE suggests a more guarded treatment response rate and prognosis.

FRE is the most common form of CE in dogs, accounting for 50% to 65% of cases. These include dietary-associated GI signs caused by immunologic, nonimmunologic mechanisms, or both. Nonimmunologic causes include patients with a history of intoxication (bacterial, fungal, other toxins), pharmacological reaction, or an idiosyncratic reaction (metabolic, food intolerance or food indiscretion). It may be clinically difficult to distinguish between immunologic vs. nonimmunological causes in a patient with primarily GI signs; however, it is believed that most cases with acute food reactions are because of food intolerances.

 A highly digestible or fiber-enriched diet is generally chosen first in dogs with relatively mild GI disease and without cutaneous signs suggestive of an underlying food allergy. Fiber-enriched diets (greater than 40 g TDF/Mcal) or additive psyllium husk (2-3 tsp/kg/day) are particularly suitable for patients with large bowel disease.

 Low-fat diets (less than 0 g fat/Mcal ME) or home-prepared ultra-low-fat diets (less than 15 g fat/Mcal ME) are generally considered for dogs with lymphangiectasia or idiopathic PLE, although hydrolyzed or novel protein diets may be required in some patients who fail initial dietary macronutrient manipulation.

Immunologic causes, such as food allergy, describe an atypical immune response to certain food ingredients, which triggers an IgE, non-IgE-mediated immune disorder, or, in rare cases, a delayed-type hypersensitivity response.

 Although the pathogenesis is not completely understood, intolerance to food antigens likely arises from genetic predisposition, alterations in GI permeability, local immune surveillance, and dysbiosis of the gut microbiome. Dogs younger than 12 months of age are more likely to develop food allergies, and the most common allergens that provoke a canine response include beef, dairy, chicken, and wheat.

 Irish setters with gluten-sensitive enteropathy and border terriers with paroxysmal gluten-sensitive dyskinesia are also included in FRE.

Dogs with a suspected food allergy typically respond best to a diet with a novel protein, hydrolyzed protein, limited ingredient protein, or home-made ingredients.

 Selection of an appropriate diet relies on a comprehensive analysis of the animal’s dietary history; however, it is increasingly difficult to source a 

 protein that a pet has not previously consumed and without the potential for cross-contamination with other animal proteins not listed on the label.

 Hydrolyzed diets eliminate the requirement of finding a novel protein source, and theoretically should not evoke an immune response with proteins at a molecular weight greater than 5 kDa. However, complete removal of the protein antigenicity is not always possible, and a hydrolyzed protein or a nonanimal protein source should be chosen in a dog that is thought to be protein sensitized.

Most dogs with food-responsive GI disease show improvement within 14 days of dietary change with a good to excellent prognosis,

 although the response is individualized and dependent on the nutrient (ie, fat intolerant, fiber responsive) or ingredient (like a chicken or beef allergy) manipulated. Multiple dietary trials are required before determining if a pet is nonfood responsive. Should the animal respond positively to an elimination diet without relapsing when transitioned back to their original diet (or components thereof), then a food allergy or intolerance is considered less likely.

Antibiotic-responsive enteropathy(ARE), formerly known as antibiotic-responsive diarrhea or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, is a clinical manifestation of chronic enteropathy in dogs that is completely responsive to the administration of antimicrobial agents. Dogs with ARE account for 15% to 35% of dogs with CE.

 The pathogenesis of ARE is multifactorial and likely involves defects in the mucosal barrier, aberrant mucosal immune responses, qualitative changes in the enteric bacterial flora (dysbiosis), or a combination of these mechanisms.

 Several tests have failed to reliably diagnose ARE (ie, cobalamin, folate, unconjugated bile acids, quantitative intestinal bacterial culture).

Therefore, a diagnosis of idiopathic ARE in dogs is generally met with the following criteria:

A positive response to the antibiotic treatment trial based on a resolution of relevant clinical signs,

Immediate or delayed relapse of clinical signs on withdrawal of treatment,

Remission occurring on the reintroduction of antibiotics after relapse, and

Elimination of other etiologic agents based on a thorough diagnostic evaluation and histopathologic assessment.

ARE is most commonly recognized in young large-breed dogs. German Shepherd dogs are overrepresented, likely through abnormal microbial-mucosal interactions and defective IgA secretion at the small intestinal mucosal surface.

 The most effective antibiotics for ARE include oxytetracycline (10-20 mg/kg given orally every 8 hours), metronidazole (10 mg/kg given orally every 8-12 hours), and tylosin (20 mg/kg given orally every 8-12 hours), all of which have immune-modulating properties. Antibiotic trials should be continued for 4-6 weeks, although a change of antibiotic therapy is recommended if no clinical response is seen by 2 weeks of initial therapy.16 Dogs with ARE appear to relapse more frequently, especially after discontinuation of antibiotic therapy.

Dogs with CE experience both dysbiosis and significantly decreased fecal bacterial diversity compared to healthy dogs.

 Despite clinical improvements with antibiotic therapy, metronidazole and tylosin cause dramatic alterations of the microbiota for a prolonged period after administration.

 As such, novel therapies, such as prebiotics, probiotics, symbiotics, postbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), have been recently investigated and used favorably to manipulate the microbiome in dogs with CE.

 A recently proposed replacement of AREs is a category that encompasses all methods of modulation of the intestinal microbiota, termed “microbiota-related modulation-responsive enteropathy – MrMRE.”

Want to learn more about the microbiome? 

Check out dvm360's microbiome resource center

Prebiotics in the form of beet pulp, potato fiber, soybean husk, and inulin-type fructans increase short-chain fatty acids, which nourish and feed beneficial intestinal bacteria. Albeit short-term, probiotics supply an exogenous source of live bacteria to the host that produces metabolites and antimicrobial peptides as it traverses the GI tract.

 FMTs involve administering fecal matter (fresh, frozen, lyophilized) from a healthy donor to the patient through the endoscopic, capsule, or enema route. Treatment trials with FMT have favorable efficacy for both acute and chronic infections and enteropathies in dogs.

 However, safety concerns and lack of practical guidelines and proper regulations remain the main limitation of FMT in a clinical setting.

Immunosuppressant-responsive enteropathy (IRE) also known as idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is defined as a multifactorial intestinal inflammatory disease in which diet, antibiotic, and microbial manipulation have failed.

 This category accounts for 10% to 25% of dogs with CE.

 Intestinal histology shows varying degrees of mucosal inflammation, and treatment requires immune-suppressive drugs. Glucocorticoids are the mainstay induction treatment in most cases with IRE. Several studies show that administration of prednisone alone is as efficacious in dogs as treatment with budesonide alone or prednisone combined with metronidazole.

 However, additional immune-suppressive therapy, such as cyclosporine, chlorambucil, azathioprine, and mycophenolate, can be implemented to reduce the adverse effects of corticosteroids and minimize clinical relapse. Dogs with CE who have failed immune-suppressant treatment are categorized as having nonresponsive CE, and these account for 9% to 45% of dogs with CE.

The prognosis of IRE is generally good, with up to 90% clinical response within 1 month. However, clinical relapse can occur at a rate of 11% within 3 months of initiating immune-suppressive therapy, followed by 8% relapse at 6 months and 10% relapse at 12 months. A reduction of body condition (BCS less than 4/9), lower serum albumin concentration (albumin less than 2.1 g/dL), and higher presence of lacteal dilatation on intestinal histology at diagnosis were associated with a decreased response rate, higher mortality rate, and lower chance of achieving long-term remission.

 In other studies, negative prognostic factors for dogs with CE include a high Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity Index(CIBDAI), marked endoscopic disease in the duodenum, hypocobalaminemia, hypoalbuminemia, and hypovitaminosis D.

Protein losing enteropathy (PLE) is a syndrome that is classified based on the presence of low levels of albumin in the absence of other protein-losing diseases, like protein-losing nephropathy and protein-losing dermatopathy.

 PLE in dogs can be caused by IBD in 66% of dogs, followed by lymphangiectasia in 50% of dogs. Less common causes include infections such as parvovirus, 

, nonsteroidal enteropathy, hypoadrenocorticism, intestinal crypt disease, hookworms, Strongyloides stercoralis, idiopathic primary intestinal lymphangiectasia, lymphangitis (granulomatous/inflammatory), or secondary intestinal lymphangiectasia caused by neoplasia, lymphatic infections, or right-sided congestive heart failure.

If a secondary cause of PLE is identified, partial to complete clinical response may be achieved. PLE associated with lymphangiectasia and IBD is managed with a combination of immune-suppressive agents (prednisone, secondary immune-suppressive agents), as well as a dietary change (ie, low fat or ultra-low-fat diet, hydrolyzed protein diet, or a combination thereof), microbial manipulation, +/- antibiotic therapy.

 However, some patients with PLEs may respond to dietary therapy alone, particularly in Yorkshire terriers.

 Although any combination of glucocorticoids and secondary immune-suppressive therapy can be implemented, a combination of chlorambucil-prednisolone was shown to be more efficacious for the treatment of chronic enteropathy and concurrent PLE in dogs compared with azathioprine-prednisolone combination.

 Additional treatment targeting secondary complications of PLE may be considered, including antithrombotic agents like clopidogrel, GI tract protectants, antacid therapy, antiemetics, probiotics, visceral pain medication, promotility agents, oncotic support, octreotide, and select vitamin supplementation.

Negative prognostic indicators in dogs with PLE include hypocobalaminemia and hypovitaminosis D, although its relationship with survival in these patients is not known.

 Median survival times of dogs with PLE are variable in studies; however, long-term responders are typically Yorkshire terriers treated with combination therapy.

 Complicated factors may include thromboembolic disease, hypocalcemia, and third spacing, and current treatment is associated with a 54% mortality rate in dogs with PLE compared to less than 20% in dogs with IRE.

Chronic enteropathy is a general term describing a collection of GI signs in animals that has yet to be pathologically defined. CE can be further subdivided into categories based on treatment response, and this response to treatment and several diagnostic results may predict overall prognosis in these patients. It is reasonable to consider multiple dietary trials, microbial manipulation, or antibiotic therapy prior to consideration of advanced diagnostics (endoscopic or surgical full-thickness GI biopsies) or immune-suppressive therapy. Overall treatment response rate is high; however, PLE in dogs suggests a worsening and guarded prognosis.

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A look at treatment classifications and prognostic insights

Decoding chronic enteropathy in canine patients 

Treating a non-eating rabbit requires more than a GI stasis diagnosis

Why diagnosing a rabbit with GI stasis can be harmful

A non-eating or anorexic rabbit, a common exotic animal emergency observed by exotic specialists, is often labeled as gastrointestinal (GI) stasis. However, this term can be very detrimental to the rabbit’s wellbeing.

, Lauren Thielen, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice), talked about one the main takeaways from her lecture 

Exotic Animal Emergencies: Where to Start and What to Expect

, presented at the Southwest Veterinary Symposium in Fort Worth, Texas. Thielen explained that the term ‘GI stasis’ implies that there is no underlying cause to an anorexic rabbit’s behavior, because GI stasis is assumed to be the condition itself. 

Yet, as Thielen explains, a rabbit that is not eating can be caused by a number of underlying health issues—from dental disease, to metabolic problems or liver lobe torsion—and labeling a non-eating rabbit’s condition ‘GI stasis’ can deter the necessary testing needed to find the true cause of this behavior.

Lauren Thielen, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice): 

So, I think the most common exotic animal emergency that people see is the non-eating rabbit. And you know, I've been doing this for over a decade, and when I first started even working with an exotic specialist, we had this term called GI stasis, which basically meant the rabbit [is] not eating and the rabbit [is] not pooping. And this GI stasis syndrome 

it's just something that we just have to be aware 

we have to just try to fix it when it happens

And then the more and more I work with rabbits, and the more and more research that we're understanding is that that's a horrible name for what's happening. Yes, the GI tract is… slowing down, and it's not having that peristalsis like it once was, but the main thing I want to teach these… practitioners at this lecture, is that GI stasis is inappropriately named because when you take something and you just name it some kind of 

, the syndrome implies that there's not an underlying cause to what's happening.

And so, you know, the anorexic rabbit is one of the most common reasons it presents to the ER, but it doesn't happen just because it's a rabbit. It happens for other causes. …Maybe there's dental disease going on. Maybe there's some kind of metabolic problem, like something wrong with the liver or the kidneys.

Fascinatingly enough, within the past, I mean, definitely decade, but I would say even the past 5 years, us as an exotic animal community, we've been diagnosing these high percentages of liver lobe torsions in rabbits. And so basically what happens is the liver, like one of the lobes—there's many lobes in the rabbit's liver—but one of the lobes, usually the caudate, twists on itself and then, you can imagine what happens if an organ torses in your abdomen— it causes a lot of pain, and sometimes it even bleeds. And so, you know these liver lobe torsions usually require surgery or very aggressive medical management, but it's weird, because sometimes these rabbits look… mostly fine, like you would think an animal that had this, like, big organ damage happened to be like sitting there dying and just really, really sad, but they kind of just look like they're quiet and they're not eating—that's why the mom brought them in—but they're just… not as [visibly] sick as you would think.

And so I think… the plan a lot of vets would have done in the past is like, 

well we'll just give [the rabbit] some [subcutaneous] fluids

and we'll just feed it some critical care formula via syringe and we'll send it home, and hopefully it gets better

. But if you're not doing that blood work, if you're not doing imaging, if you're not doing that diagnostic workup, because you're thinking, this is a syndrome, then you're missing the ball.