IBD and prednisone, advice? kinda long...

[FlOda]

Hank has been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Disorder. He has basically never had a solid stool (we've had him for 3 months) we tried switching him to Natural Balance Duck and Potato food. We didn't see any improvement in the stool, but he was no longer vomiting or refusing food. He was put on prednisone, which briefly seemed to help, regardless of the usual side effects, peeing in the house, ravenous hunger, etc, he got up to 61 lbs, and for a couple days, we could actually bag his poop. Then he started getting really lethargic, and his stool returned to gel. The pred dose was lessened, he was put on Tylosin and, much to our chagrin, is now being fed Z/D. I don't like the idea of the Z/D, but I thought maybe if it at least helped, we could try some other kind of diet when his colitis was more under control. The day after we switched to the ZD he started eating his stools which he hadn't done previously, and then he appeared to be eating some sort of bark or something he's digging up. Even with that behavior he seemed to be doing better again (still not solid, but closer.)

Then yesterday, he vomited up the entire contents of his stomach, then bile, then blood. I was terrified, took him in immediately, after yet another test, which turned up negative, I was told the blood is from either the IBD, OR the prednisone, OR an ulcer from the prednisone. I'm at a loss. He is now on Z/D, prednisone, tylosin, benedryl, pepcid and an anti nausea drug for four days.

At the moment it seems that his treatment is worse than the disease... We just want what's best for Hank, and I'm not sure what that is. I can put up with the peeing in the house and the hunger, (it's made him very trainable at least!) But vomiting blood? really? This is a cure? He's seemed okay today, but, this has not been easy for him. Is this the usual series of events for this process? How long does it usually take to find out how to best treat your dog's IBD? We're just a little overwhelmed by all of it.

 

[leslieann]

My Edie had much of the same problems, the IBD being the worst. What I did was take her off the prendisone shortly after starting it, it made her crazier than normal, and she was still getting sick and having the rumbling noises in her bowels. I started her on raw and when ever she would have a flair up I would give her 2 tbls of Kaopectate and it usually cleared in up in about an hour. That was 3 years ago and the only meds is occasional Kaopectate, and she hasn't had any for at least 6 months. I recently weened her off of the raw, way too expensive, and she is on TOTW bison and venison, and not one flare up of the IBD. Good luck to you, you will find what works best for your dog. I just hate to seen them on so many meds, it has to upset their tummies.

 

[EAO76]

Colitis in boxers is pretty common. I haven’t heard of prednisone helping. Every colitis boxer I have known has either been cured with Baytril or with a diet change (or a combo of both). Below is a link to some threads that may help.

http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/dog-health-issues-questions/151221-i-need-help-advice-fast.html

http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/dog-health-issues-questions/150787-huc.html

http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/dog-health-issues-questions/149713-medicine-colitis.html

http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/dog-health-issues-questions/149827-bjs-sick.html

http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/do...s/148154-chronic-bloody-diarrhea-colitis.html

 

[SherylM]

Please talk to your vet about Baytril. If your vet is not familiar with boxers she/he may not know that boxers have their very own type of colitis (go figure!). Baytril and metronidazol combo was the only thing that worked for my Lucy. She was on it for 8 weeks. Also she eats Sojo's Complete dehydrated raw with fresh raw chicken added. Any variation from this diet sets off her colitis. She has been off Baytril for several months now and so far so good, he stool have been wonderful (if you can say that about poop!).

 

[LuvRBoxersRI]

Ask your vet about this...

I am a vet tech and my Boxer Daphne has horrible IBD, we controlled it with Metronidazole, ZD Ultra, and we were one of the first to be put on a new experimental drug for IBD which is now used regularly in treatment for IBD, it is called Budesonide, the trick with IBD is controlling it, there is no cure, diet is key, and unfortunately a eating a blade of grass can set it off, also treats have to be hypoallergenic. Baytril is a very strong abx, and since IBD is caused from inflammation of the intestinal track Baytril is not usually a drug of choice, most IBD cases respond well to Metronidazole and a steroid (for the inflamation) combo along with a hypoallergenic diet.

 

[EAO76]

I am a vet tech and my Boxer Daphne has horrible IBD, we controlled it with Metronidazole, ZD Ultra, and we were one of the first to be put on a new experimental drug for IBD which is now used regularly in treatment for IBD, it is called Budesonide, the trick with IBD is controlling it, there is no cure, diet is key, and unfortunately a eating a blade of grass can set it off, also treats have to be hypoallergenic. Baytril is a very strong abx, and since IBD is caused from inflammation of the intestinal track Baytril is not usually a drug of choice, most IBD cases respond well to Metronidazole and a steroid (for the inflamation) combo along with a hypoallergenic diet.

It really depends on what your dealing with. I do understand that Baytril is a very strong antibiotic but prednisone also has some serious risks & side effects as well and its worth noting that it doesn't seem to be helping (in this case).

The Baytril is used for the condition HUC (HISTIOCYTIC ULCERATIVE COLITIS also know as Boxer Colitis). It is believed that this condition results from an inappropriate immune response against certain bacteria of the colon. Boxers with this form of Colitis often show an excellent response to Baytril. I have personally seen Baytril work like magic on dogs that did not respond to multiple other treatments. We had one Boxer that was given up by her family because they could no longer afford to treat the colitis and within about 2weeks of being treated with the Baytril she was completely normal. Of course every dog is different & there are many different conditions besides HUC that can cause similar symptoms (that is why its suggested that a proper diagnoses is achieved).

If you'd like to do more research there have been several studies done on Baytril & HUC and its been written in multiple veterinary journals.

PS I should also add that in the case of the dog I mentioned above (that was treated with Baytril) after about 6weeks she was slowly transitioned to a regular dog food and never had another problem. Other treatments have required the dog to be on a nasty Rx diet long term.

 

[SherylM]

Baytril was given to Lucy due to HUC. HUC in a nutshell is an overgrowth of e-coli in the intestinal tract. All dogs have it. Dogs with a compromised immune system do not combat it the way a healthy dog would. Baytril is pretty much the only drug that will help with HUC. Diet is also key. We tried the nasty prescription food on the advice of the vet and fortunately it did nothing for Lucy, it didn't help her situation at all. Therefore she is on the dehydrated raw diet and we do not stray from that. So obviously you would have to determine if the dog had IBD or HUC.