Colitis in Dogs

Colitis in dogs is described as the inflammation of the colon that may be caused by a number of factors. The causes of this dog health problem include bacteria, stress, parasites, etc. Colitis may be an acute condition and may have a sudden onset for a short duration. It may also be a chronic condition that is present for about two to three weeks. Colitis leads to many bowel problems in the animal. The dog may strain while defecating or pass very little stool. Also, the dog will lose weight and become weak, if you do not give him prompt treatment.

Causes
There are some common causes of colitis in dogs. They are as follows:

• Intestinal parasites in dogs like hookworms, whipworms and giardia cause irritation and inflammation of the intestine.
• Foreign body colitis, that is, a dog that eats a lot of grass may develop acute colitis. The indigestible fiber in the stalks and stem of the grass may cause irritation to the intestine.
• Salmonella and Campylobacter bacteria may cause colitis in dogs.
• Inflammatory bowel disease in dogs (IBD) is a common cause of colitis in canines.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) due to stress or neurological origins may cause colitis.
• Antibiotics that may be prescribed for some infection may wipe out the beneficial bacteria in the dogs guts. This may lead to colitis and you need to include yogurt and probiotics in the colitis in dog's diet for quick recovery.
• Pancreatitis, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis or colon cancer may also be some of the common causes.

The acute causes include:

• Overeating
• Sudden change in diet
• Eating stale food
• Bacterial infection
• Viral infections
• Stress
• Food allergy

The chronic causes are as follows:

• Malabsorption of food
• Pancreatic disease
• Bacterial overgrowth
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Parasites

Symptoms
A dog suffering from colitis may appear normal and have frequent mucous or some blood spots in their stools. Vomiting may be seen in severe cases of colitis in dogs. When the animal experiences severe pain while passing stools, he will stop defecating. This results in constipation or diarrhea. The common symptoms include:

• Stools with jelly like, mucus
• Frequent passing of small stools
• Blood spots in stools
• Diarrhea
• The consistency of stools vary, from liquid to solid or mixture of both
• Straining while passing stools
• Flatulence
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Abdominal pain
• Weight loss
• Pain in Abdomen

Treatment
The treatment varies according to the cause of colitis. The vet may suggest some anti-worming medication in case of colitis due to parasites. The vet may first identify the causative worm, such as, whipworm, tapeworm, giardia, etc. and give medication accordingly. Some drugs help in paralyzing the parasite, so that it gets digested and passed out of the dog's system. Some medications kill the parasites, that too are removed from their system.

In case of irritable bowel syndrome, the dog will be put on a 'therapeutic diet' that helps eliminate the ingredients that cause irritation to the dogs bowels. The vet may recommend chicken, rice, cottage cheese, eggs, etc. that can be easily digested. If the cause is bacteria, the doctor may advice antibiotics like metronidazole or azulfidine to treat the inflammation of intestines.

Diet
The specific diet plays an important role in long term treatment of the condition. The vet may advise a high fiber diet that will help regulate the passage of food through the guts. It also helps in controlling the level of water in the stools. You can speak to the vet regarding the best possible diet for your dog suffering from colitis.

Is Colitis in Dogs Contagious?
Colitis is the inflammation of the intestine that cannot be transferred from one dog to another. It is basically a condition and not a disease. So rest your mind whether it is contagious, as the answer is 'no'.

You need to choose dog foods that contain easily digestible ingredients and follow a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet that is grain-free. Speak to the vet regarding any queries you have on colitis in dogs.