Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Dogs

Inflammatory bowel disease is a condition in which the lining of an animal’s digestive tract becomes irritated and inflamed, often causing vomiting and diarrhea. This irritation often impairs the animal’s ability to digest food and absorb nutrients. The cause or causes of this syndrome are mostly unknown, but may have to do with the immune system improperly targeting a harmless component of the animal’s food. This disorder is not to be confused with a food intolerance or accidental consumption of foods that are harmful to dogs, such as onion or chocolate. Those symptoms are acute (temporary), whereas IBD is chronic.

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Refusal of food
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Swelling and irritation of the abdomen
• Weakness
• Abnormal behavior
• Anemia

Unknown. Most evidence points to miscommunication between “danger-sensing” cells leading to overreaction from immune system.

IBD is often a diagnosis of exclusion, with no specific abnormal findings on a CBC, x-ray, or other biochemical test. If your dog has exhibited signs of gastrointestinal distress for more than a day, see your veterinarian.

Before diagnosing an IBD, the veterinarian will attempt to rule out other likely causes of gastrointestinal upset, including parasites, roundworms, or bacterial infections. A stool sample is the first diagnostic test that will usually be conducted. Examination of your dog’s feces could identify worms or parasites such as Giardia, and usually a course of antibiotics will be given to rule out a bacterial infection. However, if the antibiotics do not resolve the disease, IBD may be suspected.

Poor absorption of nutrients, such as protein and calcium deficiency, are a side effect of IBD and can be detected with a blood test. X-ray imaging can also reveal excessive gas or fluid in the GI tract, and swelling of the small intestine. Non-regenerative anemia (iron deficiency) also points toward a chronic condition, wherein the bone marrow is unable to replace blood cells quickly enough.

If no other obvious cause is uncovered by these tests, the veterinarian may order an endoscopy, where a camera mounted on a tube used to explore the esophagus, stomach and upper small intestine. Your dog will be sedated for this procedure and will experience only minimal discomfort. Biopsies (tissue samples) will be taken from a number of areas and examined microscopically for abnormally high immune cell counts and ulceration.

Finally, if no other bacterial or environmental toxins can be identified as the cause of the symptoms, the veterinarian will diagnose IBD.

Treatment for IBD focuses on ameliorating the symptoms of the condition: reducing diarrhea and vomiting, stimulating weight gain, and aiding nutrient absorption by decreasing inflammation. This may be done by trying to identify if anything in the dog’s diet, while normally dog-safe, might be provoking a reaction. In some cases dietary modification alone can correct IBD, but in many cases medication such as anti-inflammatories, anti-emetics, and immune system suppressants will be required to control IBD. The specific type and dosage of these treatments will depend on the veterinarian’s diagnostic findings and the specific case.

IBD carries a guarded prognosis, as the quality of life for pets with this syndrome can be poor. However, some pets do respond to treatment, and if proper medication and dietary restrictions are followed, can lead a healthy and enjoyable life. Owners should monitor their pet’s diets, and under the direction of a veterinarian may need to provide alternate meals such as lamb, chicken and rice, or add additional sources of fiber, which in some cases has been shown to improve symptoms of IBD.