IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) in Dogs

Imagine your usually energetic dog starts having bouts of diarrhea and vomiting. At first, you think it’s just a stomach bug, but when the symptoms persist, you decide to visit the vet. After a series of tests, you receive some concerning news: Your dog has Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The vet explains that this chronic condition will require ongoing management to keep your dog comfortable. Naturally, you’re worried—what does this mean for your dog’s future? How long will they be with you, and how will their quality of life be affected?

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a complex and often unpredictable condition that affects a dog’s gastrointestinal tract, leading to chronic inflammation, discomfort, and a range of symptoms that can significantly impact their well-being. While IBD can be managed with the right treatment, it’s a lifelong condition that requires careful monitoring and adjustments to ensure your dog remains as healthy and happy as possible.

In this blog, we’ll explore what IBD means for your dog’s life expectancy, delve into the stages of the disease, discuss potential complications, and provide guidance on managing the condition effectively to give your furry friend the best possible quality of life.

What Causes IBD In Dogs?

The exact causes of IBD in dogs are not entirely known, but several factors are believed to contribute to its development:

• Genetic predisposition: Some breeds, like German Shepherds and Rottweilers, may be more prone to IBD due to their genes.
• Immune system dysfunction: An abnormal immune response to some food proteins or gut bacteria can cause inflammation, which damages the gut lining.
• Dietary factors: Some dogs are sensitive to certain dog food ingredients, like grains, dairy, or specific proteins. 
• Environmental factors: Toxins, stress, and infections can cause IBD in some dogs.
• Bacterial overgrowth: An imbalance in the gut microbiome can cause harmful bacteria to overgrow. 

Symptoms and Diagnosis of IBD In Dogs

The symptoms of IBD in dogs can vary depending on the severity and location of the inflammation. Some common signs include:

• Chronic or intermittent diarrhea (sometimes with blood or mucus)
• Vomiting
• Weight loss
• Decreased appetite
• Abdominal pain or discomfort
• Lethargy or fatigue

IBD can be hard to diagnose. These symptoms may also indicate other gut diseases. Veterinarians usually run tests to rule out other causes and confirm an IBD diagnosis. These tests may include:

• Complete blood count (CBC) and serum biochemistry profile
• Fecal examination for parasites or other abnormalities
• Abdominal ultrasound or endoscopy
• Intestinal biopsies

Complete Blood Count (CBC) and Serum Biochemistry

• What It Is: The CBC part checks your pet’s red and white blood cells, along with platelets. This tells the vet if there are infections, inflammation, or something more serious like cancer. The serum biochemistry part looks at things like enzymes and proteins in the blood, which helps check how the liver, kidneys, and other organs are doing.

• How It Works: They’ll take a blood sample, usually from the leg or neck. It’s quick, and results usually come back in a day or two.
• Costs:
  • CBC: Around $50 to $100
  • Biochemistry Panel: $70 to $200
  • Combo of Both: $100 to $300

Fecal Examination

• What It Is: This test will check your pet’s poop for parasites like worms or other bugs that could be causing issues. They can also spot things like blood or weird bacteria levels that might suggest digestive problems.
• How It Works: You either collect a stool sample at home, or the vet will do it for you. The sample gets examined under a microscope or sent to a lab for more detailed testing.

Abdominal Ultrasound or Endoscopy

• What It Is:
  • Ultrasound: This is a non-invasive scan that gives the vet a good look at your pet’s internal organs, like the liver, kidneys, and intestines. It helps spot things like tumors or blockages.
  • Endoscopy: This one’s more hands-on. They use a flexible tube with a camera to get a direct look at the inside of the GI tract. The vet can even take tissue samples while they’re at it.
• How It Works:
  • Ultrasound: The vet will rub a probe on your pet’s belly, kind of like a pregnancy ultrasound, to get images. Sedation might be needed to keep your pet calm.
  • Endoscopy: This is more invasive and usually requires anesthesia. The vet inserts the endoscope through the mouth or rectum to check out the GI tract and maybe grab some biopsies.

Intestinal Biopsies

• What It Is: Biopsies are small tissue samples taken from the intestines to check for diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), cancer, or infections. Depending on the situation, they can be done via endoscopy or through surgery.
• How It Works:
  • Endoscopic Biopsies: These are less invasive and done during the endoscopy procedure.
  • Surgical Biopsies: If they need bigger or deeper samples, surgery might be required. That involves making an incision in the abdomen.

  

Understanding the Different Stages of IBD in Dogs

IBD is a chronic condition that can progress through different stages, each with varying levels of severity and impact on a dog’s quality of life.

1. Acute Stage

This initial stage is characterized by the sudden onset of symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Quick treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs, diet changes, and support can often fix the flare-up and control the condition.

What Happens: During this stage, you’ll probably need an urgent vet visit. The vet will perform a physical exam and may recommend some initial tests (CBC, biochemistry, fecal exam) to rule out other causes of the symptoms, like infections or parasites. They might also check for dehydration.

Diagnostics: Basic bloodwork, fecal testing, possibly X-rays or an ultrasound to look for any obvious blockages or abnormalities.

2. Chronic Active Stage

If the acute stage is not properly managed or if the underlying causes persist, IBD can progress to a chronic active stage. At this stage, dogs may have cyclical flare-ups of symptoms. These will be interspersed with periods of remission. Ongoing treatment and close monitoring are necessary to prevent further progression.

What happens during the vet visits: You’ll be seeing the vet more regularly during this stage, especially during flare-ups. They will want to monitor your dog’s symptoms closely and may suggest more frequent blood tests or imaging (ultrasound) to see how the condition is progressing.

Diagnostics: Regular blood tests (CBC, biochemistry) to monitor organ function and inflammation levels, as well as fecal exams to rule out secondary infections. The vet may suggest an abdominal ultrasound every few months if things aren’t stabilizing.

3. Chronic Relapsing Stage

In some cases, IBD can enter a chronic relapsing stage despite treatment. Flare-ups then become more frequent and severe. This stage can be hard to manage. It may need more aggressive treatments, like immunosuppressive drugs or special diets.

What happens during the vet visits: At this stage, the vet visits will be even more frequent, often monthly or more if symptoms are severe. Your vet may recommend more aggressive diagnostic approaches like repeat ultrasounds or even biopsies if they haven’t been done before.

Diagnostics: At this stage, your vet may repeat earlier diagnostics but might also suggest more advanced testing. For example, intestinal biopsies (either through endoscopy or surgery) may be recommended to get a more precise diagnosis or assess how much damage has occurred.

4. End-Stage IBD

If untreated, IBD can reach an end stage. The intestinal damage will then be severe and irreversible. At this stage, dogs may suffer severe weight loss and malnutrition. They may also face other life-threatening issues. 

What happens during the vet visits: At this point, your vet visits will become even more urgent and frequent as the condition becomes harder to manage. The focus may shift toward supportive care and managing your dog’s quality of life.

Diagnostics: Regular bloodwork to monitor the overall health status and organ function. The vet will likely perform more frequent checks on kidney and liver function, as well as monitoring for other secondary complications.

5. Organ Failure

Chronic IBD and its complications can strain the liver and kidneys, potentially causing organ failure.

What happens during the vet visits: Organ failure is a serious complication that often requires emergency care. Your dog may need to be hospitalized for IV fluids, medications, and other life-supporting treatments. Depending on how advanced the failure is, your vet may suggest more intensive treatments or palliative care.

Diagnostics: Intensive monitoring of bloodwork, including liver and kidney function tests and potential imaging (ultrasound) to assess the extent of organ damage.

Managing Flare-ups and Treatment Options for Dogs with IBD

Managing IBD in dogs involves a combination of dietary modifications, medication, and supportive care. The specific treatment approach will depend on the severity of the condition and the individual dog’s response.

1. Dietary management: Identifying and eliminating potential dietary triggers is crucial in managing IBD. Veterinarians may recommend a hypoallergenic or novel protein diet or a highly digestible diet formulated for dogs with gastrointestinal issues.
2. Anti-inflammatory medications: Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, are commonly prescribed to reduce intestinal inflammation during acute flare-ups or in cases of severe IBD. Other anti-inflammatory drugs, like mesalamine or sulfasalazine, may also be used.
3. Antibiotics: Antibiotics may be prescribed to address potential bacterial overgrowth or secondary infections associated with IBD.
4. Supportive care: During flare-ups or periods of severe illness, dogs may require fluid therapy, nutritional support (such as appetite stimulants or tube feeding), and management of secondary complications.

Some dogs thrive for years on the same diet and medication, while others may need treatment changes every few months. Unfortunately, some dogs do not respond to treatment at all.

Dealing with a chronic condition like IBD isn’t easy, and it’s tough on both your heart and your wallet. That’s where pet insurance can be really helpful. It takes the financial pressure off, so you don’t have to stress about making tough choices regarding your dog’s care.

What Does Odie Pet Insurance Cover?

Pet insurance covers various veterinary expenses, providing financial protection and peace of mind for pet owners. Here are the details of the coverage options offered by Odie Pet Insurance:

Illness & Injury Plan

The Illness & Injury Plan is an all-inclusive insurance plan designed to cover a wide range of medical needs for your pet. This plan includes comprehensive coverage for various illnesses, injuries, and veterinary services. Some of the covered items include:

• 24/7 Televet Chat
• Emergency vet visits
• Overnight hospital stays
• IV Fluids & Medications
• Medical Supplies
• Surgeries
• MRI/CAT Scans
• Rehabilitative Care
• Prescription Medications
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Laboratory Tests

Accident-Only Plan

The Accident-Only Plan is designed for pet owners seeking coverage specifically for accidents. This plan provides financial protection for emergency veterinary care resulting from accidental injuries. It includes 90% reimbursement up to $10,000 each year, with a $250 annual deductible. 

Here’s an overview of the Accident-Only Plan:

• Coverage for broken bones, sprains, eye injuries, and traumatic dental fractures.
• Coverage for wounds, including bite wounds, lacerations, snake bites, and bee stings.
• Veterinary treatments covered for accidental injuries include X-rays & ultrasounds, laboratory tests, emergency care, hospitalization, CT scan & MRI, and surgery.

The Wellness Add-on Plan

The Wellness Plan is an add-on for routine care coverage you can purchase with an insurance policy. It focuses on preventive care and covers routine veterinary services. Odie has two wellness plan options available: 

 Basic Plan:

• Covers services such as spay/neuter and teeth cleaning, rabies vaccination, flea & tick prevention, heartworm prevention, vaccination/titer, wellness exam, heartworm test or FELV screen, blood, fecal, parasite exam, microchip, urinalysis or ERD, and deworming.
• Reimbursement up to $305 per year.

Plus Plan:

• Ideal for puppies and kittens.
• Covers services such as spay/neuter and teeth cleaning, rabies vaccination, flea & tick prevention, heartworm prevention, vaccination/titer, wellness exam, heartworm test or FELV screen, blood, fecal, parasite exam, microchip, urinalysis or ERD, and deworming.
• Reimbursement up to $535 per year.