Colitis in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

Quick Summary

• Colitis in dogs, also known as large-bowel diarrhea, is the inflammation of the large intestines and colon.
• Symptoms of colitis in dogs include diarrhea, constipation, and, sometimes, vomiting and weight loss.
• The treatment of colitis in dogs will depend on the cause. Bacterial infections will be treated with antibiotics, while food intolerance will be resolved by giving a hypoallergenic diet eliminating the allergy triggers.

Colitis is best described as the inflammation of the large intestines and colon. Colitis in dogs is a serious condition that can cause a great deal of pain and discomfort for your pet. The result can be any number of visible symptoms, including diarrhea, constipation, and, sometimes, vomiting and weight loss. In this article, I will discuss the signs and symptoms of colitis in dogs, as well as ways to deal with it.

Symptoms of Colitis in Dogs

While diarrhea is one of the main symptoms, in and of itself it does not signal colitis. If, however, your dog is experiencing diarrhea (or the occasional constipation) in conjunction with the following signs, alert your veterinarian. weight loss is a second symptom of colitis in dogs. Dogs with colitis may lose weight because they are not able to absorb the nutrients from their food properly.

• Straining to defecate
• Having to defecate with urgency
• Fresh blood in the stool
• Mucous in the stool
• Gooey stool
• Stool that starts normal and finishes loose

Different Types of Colitis in Dogs

Here are four types of colitis in dogs.

Acute or Sudden Colitis

According to experts, stress-related colitis for dogs is a form of acute or sudden colitis. Activities that could trigger this for dogs include family moving to a new home, severe weather changes, or any major changes to the dog’s routine.

Parasites, such as giardia and whipworms, are also possible culprits of sudden bouts of colitis. Testing can easily determine whether or not this is the case. Generally speaking, though, when it comes to acute colitis, medications and diet adjustments should be effective treatment options.

Chronic Colitis

Prolonged bouts of colitis require more extensive care and testing. Your veterinarian will likely start by doing blood work, but may also decide to perform a colonoscopy and biopsy. Here the underlying causes may prove more pivotal when it comes to treating the condition. Chronic colitis is the most common type of colitis in dogs.

Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a form of colitis that is “particularly ulcerative and involves infiltration of the tender colon lining with cells called ‘histiocytes,’” writes Mar VistaVet. “These cells are the cells that are normally called in to the scene of inflammation relatively late so that they can absorb the dead cells and debris that have been created by the inflammatory event.” This condition, which Boxers appear to be especially vulnerable to, is considered more debilitating than the regular forms of colitis. Currently, it’s believed that dogs with ulcerative form suffer from an “inappropriate immune response against the common bacteria of the colon.” Generally, dogs with this form of colitis don’t respond as well to the usual remedies.

Granulomatous colitis

Granulomatous colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease caused by severe inflammation of the large intestine. This occurs due to reaction to a foreign body such as parasites, bacteria, or fungi. It is a relatively rare disease that affects dogs of all ages but often common in boxers and French bulldogs.

Causes and Treatments for colitis in dogs

There are many potential causes of colitis in dogs. Some of the most common include contaminated food, parasites, bacteria, viruses, bacterial infection, intestinal motility issues, and toxins. This bacterial infection can treat with antimicrobial drugs. Several conditions can cause dogs colitis, so your veterinarian will likely ask you a lot of questions to pinpoint the origin. Feces, rectal examination, cytology, and blood tests can help to identify the cause of colitis in your dog. Your veterinarian may order blood tests to check for signs of infection or inflammation and to rule out other possible causes of your dog’s symptoms.

• Parasites, such as whipworms, hookworms and giardia can irritate the intestinal tract. Have your veterinarian perform the necessary tests to determine if that’s the cause so the doctor can start a deworming program.
• Dietary or Foreign Body Colitis, such as when dogs eat too much grass, can cause irritation because of the indigestible fiber contained in the stalks and stems. Eating non-food materials can similarly cause acute colitis.
• Stress colitis is a stress-related disease in dogs. Treatment for this type of colitis typically centers around the underlying cause of the inflammation and symptoms themselves.

Furthermore, colitis can result from a food intolerance, such as dyes, preservatives, contaminants or even natural proteins in the food, reports Mar VistaVet. Because allergic reactions can also account for colitis, work with your vet to figure out which foods to which your dog is reacting. This will involve eliminating certain foods and/or ingredients from his diet so it may take a while to figure out. Changing your dog’s diet will likely help.

What dog-owners should know?

Colitis is felt to be a ‘fiber-responsive’ disease. Fibers are broken down into nutrients for colon cells. And also for food for beneficial colon bacteria.

• Bacteria, such as Salmonella and Compylobacter, can cause dogs to have a bout of colitis.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is when the body’s own protective cells invade and inflame the intestinal walls. The cause of IBD is unknown, but because allergens may be part of the problem, consider eliminating corn, soy and wheat from a dog’s diet. Also avoid giving your dog spicy, fatty or processed human foods.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can cause stress though it may also be neurological. Feed your dog a high-quality diet and make sure he gets enough exercise. Also most importantly, you need to address the source of anxiety if you kno.
• Antibiotics can cause temporary bouts of colitis “because the beneficial bacteria in the gut die along with the infectious agents for which the drug was prescribed. Probiotics or yogurt can restore the flora and resolve this type of colitis.”

• Immunosuppressive drugs treat the causes of dog colitis. It is treat a wide variety of diseases, including cancer and autoimmune disorders. These drugs can weaken the immune system in dogs with colitis, making the situation worse.

• Rat Poison can cause bloody diarrhea. If you suspect that your dog has ingested rat poison, contact your veterinarian or poison control hotline immediately.

For Pet’s health: How to manage your dog’s Colitis

The occasional upset stomach is expected and nothing to worry about. If symptoms persist, however, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with the veterinarian. When the causes of the colitis are known. It’s easier for the doctor to plan a treatment. For general management, however, there a few things you can do to make your dog’s life easier and more bearable. Medications to help control the inflammation, for instance, and can also kill harmful organisms, reports Mar VistaVet.

Finally, keep your dog fit and healthy, as exercise improves your dog’s immune system and consequently aid digestion, blood and oxygen circulation, and hence overall health.

Your dog’s exercise routine will depend on his age, health and temperament, so check with your veterinarian to find the right level of exertion for your dog.

Related article: How to Help My Dog Lose Weight