Colitis / IBD and Boxers...

[Monte]

SugarNSpice is an 18 month old fawn and white boxer who has been suffering from colitis since June of 2001. We have been thru all the meds with very little success (it seems to get better only to get worse later on). We have changed her diet and increased the amount of fiber. In December our Vet referred her to OSU Vet Hospital for a Colonoscopy<sp>.

The Vet at OSU believes that Sugar most likely has IBD or more severe Canine Histocytic Ulcerative Colitis. It could be something else (cross's fingers and hopes for the something else) we will know better when the biopsey returns this week.

I do not want too put all the Boxer lovers that post here thru the trials of a dog who has colitis. But i would like to find out how common Colitis / IBD / CHUC is in the Boxer breed. (Sugar being our first Boxer. Our other child is a Saint Bernard.)

Please if you have had this problem with your Boxer let me know of the out come good or bad. As of now it does not look good for my little girl.

Any information would be helpful for us, for Sugar, and for Montana (Sugar's big dog brother).

Thanks,

Craig, Holly, Charlie, Monte, and Sugar.
The Great Montana Skies (Monte) 12/1/93
SugarNSpice (Sugar) 8/1/2000.

 

[Cody's Mom]

Colitis/IBD and

I once had a boxer that had severe colitis. Once it was diagnosed we ended up making him hamburger and rice which we sprinkled vitamins from the vet on. He took sulfasalazine 3 times a day and 1 5mg prednisome. He never did have solid waste but he gained weight and was a happy guy. I am so sorry you are having to go thru this. Once you can get your baby on a regimen and stick with it (ie, not change diet) then I think you will see a turn around.

 

[susan fulcher]

Have you considered a holistic approach? i have 2 boxers one who had pancreatitis and has a auto immune disorder and one we found that had parvo which gave her terrible colitis. Instead of using a lot of drugs I found a homeoptic holistic vet. she has done wonders with both boxers.

 

[Jen&Scott]

Oscar has had colitis/IBD since he was about 18 months old. We've tried all the meds, diets, etc., too. I've been putting off having him scoped, but I know it's going to have to happen. Like you, I'm worried that it's histiocytic-ulcerative colitis (in fact, I'm almost sure). From my research I know the long term prognosis is not good.

Right now Oscar is eating ground meat (venison) and rice. He does okay on it, but he still has flare-ups. I've done a lot of research and from what I've found, colitis is very common in boxers. In fact, chronic histiocytic ulcerative colitis (CHUC) is also called "boxer colitis." I'm working on organizing all my notes on the computer -- I have pages and pages of information.

I'd love to know specifically what you've tried with Sugar. (You can email me or post here.) If you want more details on Oscar's history, let me know. He's had his ups and downs and it's been really hard. Right now he looks and acts ok, but his stools are still frequent and runny and there's still sometimes blood in it.

Good Luck! Definitely let us know what Sugar's diagnosis is.
Jen

 

[susan fulcher]

Jen,

Last year a lady Gail from Pennsylvania e-mailed me about her boxer it had Boxer Colitis. The vet suggested putting him down. some how she knew I dealt with this problem. we talked on the phone and I gave her all the helpful info I had and sent her to her local health food store for supplies and she lucked out the owner of the health food store was knowlegable( she calls her the witch doctor). She had spent so much on her boxer that she could not use a holistic vet so on her own she got her boxers symptoms under control. We have kept in touch on holidays and her guy is doing great. if you like I can PM her e-mail to anyone who wants to talk to her. I have asked if she could give info out to others sort of ' Pay It Forward" :D

 

[catcompany]

Susan--I would like the lady's email id--you never know when it will be needed. I am having another phone consultation with Dr. DB this coming Monday.....Draco still has his diarrhea--reading all these posts I deeply feel that Draco will make it---it will take time, but he will do it............now tyhe only battle to be fought is his diarrhea. Thanks Susan for introducing me to Dr. DB.

 

[Brutus and Amaya's Mom]

I'm not real sure what you've done but I will share my story.

Amaya began to runny poop with occassional blood or mucous when she was about 5 months old. She went into the vet and got a shot and some meds for the diarehha. Two weeks later same thing and again the same treatment and we added Prescription Diet I/D. By this time the poor girl was miserable and had lost weight. The food ran right through her.

The vet then started her on metronidazole. She took 2 a day for 2 weeks and we tried to wean her off. No luck...back to the vet. She tried 2 a day for 2 weeks and then one every day for two weeks. We were finally able to get her weaned off the meds. She did stay on the special food for about 6 months (mainly cause I was afraid to change her).

Amaya has been free of issues for over 1 year now and is eating normal dog food We think she was secretly eating the mulch in the backyard. Once we discovered the issue and removed the mulch she improved.

Good luck. I have heard of some breeders around here that have a special receipe for Boxer colitis and I will try to dig it up for you.

 

[susan fulcher]

Hey Juno

Have faith in Dr.B I am very critical of vets...... conventional and holistic but I've stayed with her for 2 1/2 years because she knows her stuff and she really cares about our furbabies. It's going to take time to stop the diarreah,probably more with Draco because of what he has. One thing about Dr.B she doesn't mess around with harm coming to any animal. Try to give as much detailed information about Dracos condition.Did she tell you to start a journal yet? Ask her about foods to feed him. With Chance she had diarreha for months, I tried all kinds of diet. I did wonder if I was doing the right thing not giving her meds. or drugs to stop the diarreha but one day it started to decrease and then it stopped, she has had normal poop since. I should look back on her journal to see how long it took but it's kinda scarey because my notes are sloppy . When I talked to her I asked about Draco and she felt pretty confident about his recovery , the fact that he is active is a good sign. With Mona she was so sick and lathargic with her Pemphigus I had to call her every week for a few months till Mona was out of the danger zone.

If you have questions about the remedies just ask me, those little white pills are pretty potent, amazing how they work if used correctly by a qualified person.

 

[catcompany]

Susan--now it is faith which is keeping me going. I feel that Dr. Blanco will lead him to the road of recovery--she is a sensible person, the no nonsense kind.I did ask her about his food--she asked me to stick to what I am giving--at the moment he is getting Holistique Blendz with chicken, at times sardines and sweet potatoes. Of these he loves the sardines the best. I have a journal, but I am sloppy too. The last time I filled this journal was in November, and after a long time today morning I filled it up again--it is kind of strange that you ask me about this journal, since today after a long time I remembered it. And then I saw your message.

 

[susan fulcher]

Juno. it's the remedies that will stop the diarreha. It just takes time. Thuja is the most used first because it's for clearing out vaccines and drugs. As long as I've been with Dr.B I still haven't made a list of all the remedies I have. Over 2 years of remedies bought. Sometimes she will say give such and such remedy and I should have it according to her records so I'm looking through this box with piles of remedies, now if I would just get a piece of paper and write each one down I wouldn't have to guess Maybe this weekend i'll make her proud of me and write them down in alphabetical order:D Did she recommend some books on Homeopathy? There are a couple she likes. Gives you a better understanding of how they work, interesting stuff. Keep in touch on Dracos progress. or if I can help or just give support.