Now in recent years, information about inflammatory bowel disease in humans has become more and more common, and what was once a rather obscure medical condition has now become something that most folks are aware of.
But did you know…
That dogs can also suffer from inflammatory bowel disease? And that it can literally strike any dog at any time? This is particularly true when their diet has been changed or they have other health problems which could potentially exacerbate their condition to the point that you can now notice that something is wrong.
Well if not…
Then please take the time to read our following article all about inflammatory bowel disease in dogs where we hope to shed a bit of light on what it’s like to own a dog who has been diagnosed with this disease.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in!
Inflammable bowel disease (IBD) defined
Inflammable bowel disease or IBD is an immune response disease, meaning that we believe the small intestine swells up in response to some sort of infection. This irritation in the small bowel has adverse effects on your dog which may cause vomiting.
Now the problem is…
That the intestinal tract is notoriously difficult to treat because of where it is in the body, and topical anti-inflammatories simply won’t do the job in treating this condition.
Symptoms of this condition include:
- Vomiting and diarrhea on a large scale,
- Dehydration,
- Lethargy,
- And lack of appetite.
In the most sever of cases your dog will refuse water, which is a sure sign that you dog needs to be taken to a vet immediately!
The main problem is…
That the phrase “inflammatory bowel disease” actually relates to and covers more than just one “bowel disease”.
For example:
Lymphocytic-plasmocytic enteritis: is one such disease and is considered to be the most common variant. It is believed that this strain of inflamed gut bacteria is the most common cause of vomiting and diarrhea in dogs.
Protein-losing enteropathy: is another disease that falls under the term IBD. This involves damage to the gut wall making the dog struggle to retain fatty acids or to find a protein source.
Affected Breeds
Any dog at any age and in any condition can catch this disease. This is mainly because there are so many factors that could cause inflammatory bowel disease, it could be:
- A food allergy could potentially repetitively set it off,
- A lack of a balanced diet,
- Or too much human food might also be to blame.
Sometimes a dog might suffer from this if it has eaten bone shards that tear on the way out.
Also…
Once in a while the dog will suffer from this regardless of what you do, and poor genetic make-up is the only thing we have to blame.
Treatment Options for Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Dogs
Treatment for this condition is difficult. First of all, your vet will want to confirm diagnosis through a biopsy taken from your dog’s gut. Then once a confirmation has been achieved your vet will typically present to you with a number of treatment options for you to consider.
Now…
Depending on which type of IBD your dog has, your vet may want to make dietary changes. Putting them on a diet with high protein, for example, might help pups struggling to keep any protein in their bodies.
Your vet…
Will also probably want to treat your pet with any drugs that have anti-inflammatory effects. Hydrolyzed protein and anti-inflammatory drugs may also be prescribed periodically.
Because it’s important…
To remember, that while inflammatory bowel disease is treatable, it isn’t something that will be “cured”. Which means that this will be a condition that both you and your dog need to manage for the remainder of his or her life.
Which brings us to…
Were we like to remind folks that we here at IndulgeYourPet are not doctors, veterinarians or medical professionals. All we are is a bunch of folks who just happen to be passionate about animals and only want what’s best for them.
This is why…
If you feel like your pet may have inflammatory bowel disease (or any other health issue for that matter) the first thing that you’re going to want to do is have him or her check out by a vet ASAP!
Because…
The truth is, an early diagnosis will often lead to the “best” medical outcome for your pet regardless of what is bothering him or her, but beyond that diagnosing a medical condition early could save you a bundle in medical costs!
Which is why…
We here at IndulgeYourPet also recommend that any new pet owner take a moment and see what it might cost for you to purchase a pet insurance policy for your new animal.
Now will a pet insurance policy be right for everyone?
No, probably not. But until you fully understand what these policies “will” and “won’t” cover and how much these pet insurance policies cost, how will you know if one might be right for you?
For more information on who we feel currently offers the “best” pet insurance policies out there, we would encourage you to check out our Best Pet Insurance Policies article.
