It is relatively common for our dog to have episodes of diarrhea, which can have many different causes, ranging from a bacterial infection to ingestion of a poison or a food allergy. Diarrhea is caused by an alteration in the functionality of the digestive system. Depending on the area that is affected, we will have different conditions, such as colitis in dogs, which will consist of an inflammation of the colon or large intestine and which is the subject that concerns us in this article on our site. Keep reading and discover how to know if your dog has colitis and how to treat it
What is colitis in dogs?
As we have said, colitis in dogs is due to inflammation in the colon, also called the large intestine. In this part of the digestive system, which is the end, is where the largest amount of water is absorbed, so a condition in this section will result in the production of watery diarrhea, as we will see. In addition, colitis can be acute or chronic, which will manifest itself in different symptoms, even if they have diarrhea in common.
Acute colitis is one that will recur in a short space of time. On the contrary, the dog suffering from chronic colitis will maintain diarrhea for 2-3 weeks or it will recur recurrently. Finally, you should know that not all diarrhea is colitis, since the inflammation can occur in other areas of the digestive system, which is why they will receive other names.
Symptoms of colitis in dogs
In colitis in dogs we are going to find that our companion defecates about 8-10 times a day but little quantity and some diarrheal stools that may present mucus, a greasy appearance and even blood Borborygmus also increases, way that it is usual to notice that the dog's guts rumble. Sometimes we will see that our dog evacuates with difficulty and presents abdominal pain It is possible that both situations end up reddening and irritating the anal area. Also, this straining can be mistaken for constipation.
Acute colitis, which can be triggered for different reasons, as we will see in the next section, are usually self-limiting, which means say that they subside by themselves in a couple of days and generally do not affect the mood or the good condition of the dog. They are chronic colitis, also caused by different causes, which end up affecting the animal's he alth, with symptoms such as weight loss, vomiting or bad hair.
What causes colitis in dogs?
In this section we will look at the most common causes of colitis in dogs, which can cause acute or chronic colitis. They are as follows:
Eating disorders
This section would include irritations in the colon that can be caused by the consumption of inadvisable foods, such as garbage, toxic substances, those for human consumption that can make our dog feel bad or even just a sudden change in diet. Sometimes it is the ingestion of a bone or any other foreign body that is the trigger. Chronic colitis can also be caused by food allergies or intolerances, which often occur in young dogs.
Parasitosis
Some intestinal parasites can cause colitis in dogs. An example is giardia or coccidia,and these infestations are going to be more frequent in puppies or immunosuppressed dogs.
Inflammatory bowel disease
The presentation of colitis in this case will be chronic. This denomination groups together a set of diseases, some relatively common, which can be difficult to diagnose. Different types are presented depending on the inflammatory cells that are found. They are treatable but difficult to cure.
Infections
That can be caused by bacteria, by viruses and even by fungi, in dogs with immune deficiency. Some examples are salmonella, E. coli or coronaviruses.
Irritable bowel syndrome
It is related to stress, which is why it can affect more puppies and adults who suffer from it and are very nervous. Colitis will appear after stressful episodes.
Cancer
Finally, cancer can also be a cause of colitis in dogs and it affects more dogs from 7-8 years of age.
How is colitis diagnosed in dogs?
If we see that our dog's colitis does not go away or if he is a puppy, elderly or has some already diagnosed disease, we must go to our veterinarian to start the diagnostic protocol in which they can be included tests such as blood tests, ultrasound, x-rays, endoscopy or biopsy. Also interesting is the stool stool, that is, the faeces analysis in which we can find parasites. Sometimes samples of several days must be collected to be able to visualize the parasite under a microscope. Other times, the difficulty of determining the exact cause leads to establishing an empirical treatment, such as a diet specially formulated for intestinal problems. If it works, the diagnosis is taken for granted and, if not, another cause of colitis in dogs should continue to be sought.
How to treat colitis in dogs?
Treating colitis in dogs will depend on the cause that has originated it. In mild cases of acute colitis, which will probably go away on their own, we can help to recover by giving our dog a especially digestive diet that we can find in our veterinary clinic. In the more serious cases, if dehydration occurs, it is advisable to replenish fluids with fluid therapy Pain medication may also be needed.
When the cause is a parasite, in order to cure colitis in dogs, a suitable dewormer must be used, as well as establishing a correct deworming schedule to avoid future problems. A specific diet is going to be the treatment of choice in cases of food allergies. On the other hand, if the colitis is due to a bacterial infection, the appropriate antibiotic treatment will be prescribed And in the case of tumors, surgery may be used, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
In any case, after diarrhea it is always advisable to offer easily digestible foods such as cooked chicken, white rice or a veterinary prescription diet. As we can see, since there are so many potential causes of colitis in dogs, it will have to be our veterinarian who establishes the most appropriate treatment once the diagnosis has been reached.
