Did you know that Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is known to be one of the most common, if not the most common, cause of gastrointestinal issues in dogs? It’s true. This autoimmune disease has no clear cause either. This idiopathic disease is thought to be a result of a few possibilities including: diet, genetics, infection, or even allergies to food.
In cases of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, the dog’s immune system begins to attack the organs of the body. This results in many different symptoms and largely depends which organs are involved. If vomiting is present then the small intestines and stomach are involved. In cases where the colon has been attacked, the dog may have bloody stool, diarrhea and painful bowel movements. In the most severe scenarios other symptoms such as bloating, depression, weight loss and fever may be present.
Diagnosing Inflammatory Bowel Disease can be tricky. Symptoms that are present are also present in other health issues such as giardia, worms, poisoning and bacterial infections. For this reason, a blood and fecal tests should be completed in addition to a physical examination. An endoscopic biopsy will then be conducted to see if the dog does, in fact, have Inflammatory Bowel Disease. This test involves the removal of tissue from the gastrointestinal tract that will then be examined under a microscope.
Treatment and management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease combines the use of medications and dietary adjustments. Medications such as steroids and antibiotics are commonly used. A high fiber diet will be recommended, most likely however; this may be a situation of trial and error as is usually the case whenever any dietary modifications must be made.
Treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Dogs:
Additionally, some natural supplements may be used.
• Honey possesses antibacterial properties.
• Digestive Enzymes aid in restoring the dog’s digestive system to proper working order.
• Probiotics helps to bring back “friendly” bacteria, which helps heal the GI tract.
• Glutamine helps to rebuild the intestinal lining.
Just as in the diagnosis and treatment of any other ailment in your dog, be patient and most importantly, be kind. Stay on top of regularly schedule veterinary visits so that any and all issues may be caught early which will present the best prognosis in your dog.
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