Inflammatory Bowel Disease

[Adam98]

We received the results back on Charlie's Endoscopy. According to the gastro-internalist, he has inflammatory bowel disease. I was wondering if anyone knows anything about this disease or can lead me to where I can find out information on it. The gastro-internalist explained it to me last night but I want to learn as much as I can about this disease. I am going to try and search the web and see what I can find out. Does anyone know of any websites that I could look up for it too?

Billie Jo (and Adam)
Charlie 11 months old - flashy fawn

 

[Albie]

Have you tried going to the peteducation.com website. I always find a lot of useful info there. Lacy has not been officially diagnosed with IBD, but our vet suspects she has it. She has had chronic loose stools most of her life (she’s 1.5 years old) and sometimes has blood in her stools. She was on metronidazol for months (we have finally weaned her off of it) and eats Eukanuba Low Residue dog food. This is a prescription diet from the vet. Lately we have been adding regular dog food to the prescription food, and haven’t seen any changes in her so we think we will have her off of the prescription food after this bag is gone. We also add a food supplement called the Missing Link. This supposedly has good stuff in it for digestion.

 

[Brutus and Amaya's Mom]

DrsfostersandSmith.com is also a good website for basic pet info. I would do a search for IBD or animal health. When Amaya had colitis I found some great information.

Amaya started with diarehha and blood in the stools. This persisted for a few weeks and the vet put her on mentronidazole. She was on that for about 3 months and we were finally able to wean her off.

The vet had Amaya on Hills Prescription I/D, which is intestional diet. It is only sold by vets and is designed to digest more in the small intestine and reduce stress on the large intestine. It is also easier to digest. www.hillspet.com has more info on prescription diets and what each formula does.

Amaya was on I/D for about 1 year mainly because I was scared to take her off since she was doing so well. I have just weaned her to Hills Senstive Stomache and she is doing wonderful!

Good luck. I know how hard it is to see your baby in pain and I hope you can find effective treatment.

 

[Adam98]

Thank You

Just wanted to thank everyone who responded. I checked out the sites and got alot of helpful information. The specialist wants to put Charlie on the Eukanuba Vet Diet - Highly Digestable and Low Residue formula. We are waiting for our vet to get it in stock (Which will hopefully be today). It is good to hear that Amaya and Lacy are doing so well. Keep me posted on them.

Billie Jo (and Adam)
Charlie - 11 month old Flashy fawn baby boy

 

[Debbie Magon]

Have you folk considered getting your boxers OFF commercial dog foods and trying a natural diet? I dont mean just go cold turkey on them but I have found natural foods and raw foods the best diet for any animal. Pure Honey is also very good for irritated bowels and there are many other foods that actually will heal your dogs. I am sure you can find as much info as you need on the net. Worth a try in my opinion if they are still sick on commercial foods! Believe me I have seen dogs get a lot healthier even on a mixed diet.

 

[MarilynP]

Sheba and Becca both had IBD, as do I. Humans very often take prednisone when their disease is "flaring" and sulfazalazine as a maintenaince drug. Becca's colitis was very advanced and it was obvious that she was suffering so we tried this course of treatment. This started when she was about six. She remained on the sulfa medication twice a day for the rest of her life and lived pain and virtually symptom free until she passed on at ten and a half. My little angel
I have noticed in discussions elsewhere about this that some people seem to have the impression that if they address the issue of runny stools by using certain foods that they believe they are treating the whole problem. Diarrhea is just one symptom of this disease, there are others that your dog can't tell you about.
Try this, go to Google.com and enter the search words "canine IBD".
Sorry if this comes off as "preachy", I don't mean it that way.
Good health to you and your baby.
Mar
Nayla- brindle girl

 

[Bo Mutti'sMom]

Is this a Pennsylvania problem???No just kidding. We have just begun (15 days) of treating our rescue boy for IBD. He has been on Predisone and tagamet and Eukanaba FP. He never had the loose stool problem but the randam vommitting 10 hours after eating. I hate to say this as I may jinx us, but he seems to be responding. Is weaning down on the Predisone and his coat is responding to the new food. May be that finally something is being absorbed. He looks as though he may be gaining just a bit of weight. (he really needs to gain some). Anyway, as we tested different foods, nothing seemed to make a difference so our Vet suggested to try the fish protein which he had never had and it SEEMS to be part of the solution.
He still had the symptoms on chicken, beef and lamb in many different forms.
Good luck and keep us posted.
I need to change my login to Mutti and Dudley's Mom

 

[Brutus and Amaya's Mom]

FYI to Debbie. I have researched Barf diets and I do not feel they are for me.

I respect your decision to go to BARF but I have also read and heard a lot of information on the downside of BARF. Dog Fancy ran an article outlining finding in the Journal of the American Vet Assoc last month that shows that most BARF diets are lacking in some type of nutrient. I'm glad they are working well for you. The commerical prescription diets were the best for me. Before anyone switches to BARF there are a lot of factors to weigh and consider.