Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in dogs

There are certain dog breeds that are more predisposed to suffering from a condition known as inflammatory bowel disease or IBD for short. The disorder sees a dog’s intestines and stomach filling up with inflammatory cells which damage the lining of the digestive tract. As a result, nutrients cannot be absorbed as they should and the passage of food is obstructed. Although some of the symptoms of IBD are very much like those of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), another condition that can affect dogs, the difference is that with IBD, the condition is caused by a physiological abnormality and not psychological stress.

Breeds most at risk

The breeds most prone to suffering from inflammatory bowel disease are as follows:

• Basenji
• Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier
• Shar Pei
• German Shepherd

It is worth noting that any breed can develop the disorder, but the ones mentioned above are more predisposed to suffering from IBD.

The Causes

Unfortunately, the cause of the IBD is not known or very well understood with many experts in veterinary medicine and vets themselves, believing it is not an actual disease, but rather a dog’s own system responding to other health issues they may be suffering from. As such, a dog might develop IBD for a number of reasons which include the following:

• Genetics
• Food allergies
• Bacteria
• Parasites
• An abnormality in a dog’s immune system

Establishing the exact cause can prove challenging and as such, a vet would treat a dog suspected of suffering from the condition is based on how they respond to the medication they are given.

Symptoms associated with IBD

The typical symptoms associated with IBD are as follows:

• Chronic vomiting – due to inflammation of the upper intestine and/or stomach
• Diarrhoea – long-term diarrhoea that contains blood or mucus
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• Fever
• Weight loss and loss of condition

Symptoms may be intermittent and in more severe cases, a dog’s whole gastrointestinal tract can be negatively impacted.

Diagnosing the problem

A vet would need a dog’s full medical history and be told how the onset of any symptoms first presented themselves. However, the only way of establishing whether a dog is suffering from IBD is to carry out a biopsy. With this said, a vet would want to rule out any other reasons why a dog might be showing the symptoms mentioned above before doing the biopsy. Other tests a vet would recommend carry out to establish a definitive diagnosis are as follows:

• A full blood count
• X-rays
• Ultrasound
• Microscopic faecal examination

Treatment options

Sadly, there is not cure for inflammatory bowel disease in dogs but the condition can be managed by altering their diet and through specific medication being administered. The problem is that not all dogs respond to the same drugs and as such, finding what suits one dog can take time with much trial and error going into the process. On the upside, some dogs respond very well to the treatment a vet sets in place for them and can be taken off the medication, although if they experience another flare up, they would need to be given the medication again even if it is for a short period of time.