2018 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program: Seattle, Washington, June 14 - 15, 2018

A clinical trial was designed to determine whether dogs with haemorrhagic diarrhoea had an improved clinical outcome when receiving both amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and metronidazole, or whether administration of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid alone was sufficient. Dogs presenting to a private primary-care veterinary hospital with haemorrhagic diarrhoea < 3 day duration were recruited to an ethically approved, prospective, placebo controlled, blinded treatment trial with owner consent. Cases were randomised to receive either metronidazole or saline in a blinded manner, in addition to receiving standard supportive therapy; amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, intravenous fluid therapy, analgesia and a gastroprotectant. Diagnostics were performed in accordance with the usual primary-care practice protocol; routine haematology and biochemistry but no faecal C&S. The efficacy of treatment was assessed by the duration of hospitalisation, and daily clinical progress was measured by a clinical scoring system.