Colitis in Dogs

Colitis in dogs is painful and distressing for your dog and also very unpleasant for you as an owner. You will invariably have to clean up frequent “accidents” in the house. Colitis is an infection or irritation of the large intestine of your dog that will usually cause diarrhea. Approximately one out of three dogs with chronic diarrhea, suffer from colitis. It is typically slightly older dogs, over the age of 6 years who suffer from colitis.

Causes of Colitis in Dogs

* Diet intolerance. Many dog foods contain allergens that could trigger food allergies in dogs.
* Worms – whipworm in particular as they infest the upper colon and are difficult to get rid of
* Fungal infection
* Bacterial infection
* Stressed or highly-strung dogs
* Cancer of the colon
* Many cases of colitis have no known cause
* Eating something he should not have. Dogs who eat foreign objects or a lot of grass often land up with colitis

Signs and Symptoms of Colitis in Dogs

The main symptom of colitis is diarrhea. The colon is the last section of the bowel where water should be reabsorbed before the feces is passed. The colon is also where certain bacterial break-down of food occurs and specific vitamins are produced in the process. If the colon is unhealthy, it will eventually affect your dog’s health in general. A dog’s feces should typically be formed and fairly dry.
An inflamed colon will produce:
* watery feces
* loss of appetite
* frequent stools often with straining
* blood and mucus in the stools
* squatting and straining with very little or no stool being passed
* passing a lot of gas
* lethargy and depression
* the opposite can also occasionally occur – there can be constipation.
Chronic colitis will cause
* weight loss
* dull and dry coat
* anemia and a reduced immune system.

Acute Colitis in Dogs

The onset is sudden and is frequently caused by something he has eaten. Acute colitis occurs in every dog on occasions. Recovery is usually rapid within a day or two, and there are no after effects. A change of diet or excess stress can also cause acute colitis.

Chronic Colitis in Dogs

Chronic colitis is more serious and can be difficult to diagnose and treat. Your dog will lose condition if it is not cured. He needs veterinarian care. If diarrhea lasts more than a few days, you should consult your vet.
When you visit your vet, the history of the illness is extremely important. Make a note of:
* how long the problem has been going on,
* the frequency and description of the stools
* any other behavioral changes you have observed.
* what food your dog is eating.
* Bring a stool sample with you if you can.
Your veterinarian will examine and look inside the rectum and probably take a biopsy. The feces will be analyzed and sent for culture. Your dog’s blood will also be checked and he might need an X-ray of his abdomen.

Treating Colitis in Dogs

* Give plenty of water. Your dog is likely to become dehydrated if he is passing a lot of watery stools.
* Change to a hypoallergenic dog diet food
* Probiotics or natural yogurt will help restore natural bacteria needed for the breakdown of food in the colon
* Your vet will treat the cause with medication.
* He might give steroids to reduce the inflammation and advise on your dog’s diet. A higher fiber diet will reduce the
amount of water in the stools.
When you change diets, your dog may have more bouts of diarrhea the first day or two till he becomes used to the new diet.

Preventing Colitis in Dogs

It is not possible to prevent every bout of colitis in dogs, but you will go a long way by eeding your dog a diet suitable for dog digestive systems and making sure he does not eat foreign objects such as toys, fabrics, plastic or grass. Do not feed him scraps from the table. De-worm your dog regularly.

Every dog is likely to have an occasional bout of colitis no matter what you do. You will reduce chances of colitis in dogs considerably by making sure your pet is eating a suitable dog diet.

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