IBD in Dogs: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
Dogs who suffer from IBD, which is an abbreviation of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, struggle with stomach aches, cramps and digestive problems.
Mostly middle-aged dogs are affected by IBD. In individual cases, however, younger animals can also be affected. A complete cure of the chronic inflammation of the intestines is not possible. In the following, you will learn how you can nevertheless alleviate the symptoms caused by IBD in your dog and what role nutrition plays in this process.
IBD in dogs: what is it?
IBD is an autoimmune disease. Dogs with IBD develop chronic inflammation of the bowel. The inflammation affects either the large and small bowel or only part of the bowel.
The symptoms that IBD causes in a dog depend on where exactly the center of gravity of the inflammation is located. Without timely diagnosis and treatment, the inflammation of the bowel can spread to other organs in the dog's body, causing pancreatitis, for example.
Possible causes of IBD in dogs
So far it is unclear what exactly causes IBD in dogs. However, it is believed to be an autoimmune disease affecting the mucous membranes of the intestine.
Several factors are thought to be involved in the development of IBD. These include intolerance to certain food components and food allergies in dogs. In addition, parasites such as salmonella and giardia may also cause IBD in dogs.
Another possible cause of chronic inflammation of the intestines is a disturbance of the immune system and the dog's genetic make-up. The German shepherd dog, for example, is one of the dog breeds in which IBD occurs above average.
Typical symptoms of IBD in dogs
IBD is characterized by a relapsing course. Accordingly, affected dogs may be completely symptom-free in the meantime before the inflammation of the bowel becomes noticeable again with a relapse.
The typical symptoms of IBD in dogs include
- Slimy or bloody faeces
- Severe diarrhoea
- Abdominal cramps and vomiting
- Gurgling noises in the intestine
- Flatulence
- Hair Loss
Apart from this, depending on the severity and cause of the intestinal inflammation, further symptoms and various complications may occur. Among other things, dogs with IBD can suffer from anemia, dehydration, dropsy and low blood protein levels. Other potential consequences of IBD for dogs include changes in the intestinal mucosa and malnutrition.
Diagnosis of IBD in dogs
If you suspect that your dog is suffering from IBD, we recommend that you visit your vet as soon as possible. However, in order to diagnose a possible IBD disease, other possible causes of the symptoms must first be excluded.
This is because the symptoms of IBD can also indicate fundamental problems with the diet, such as a feed allergy. In addition, the veterinarian will probably check whether your dog is suffering from giardia or a worm infestation.
If other triggers for the symptoms can be ruled out, the veterinarian may eventually take a tissue sample (biopsy) and perform a colonoscopy. The results of these tests will ultimately tell you whether your dog actually suffers from IBD.
Treatment and prognosis for dogs with IBD
IBD is a chronic disease that cannot be completely cured. However, with the right measures, the symptoms caused by IBD in dogs can be counteracted. With a little luck, affected quadrupeds can therefore live largely symptom-free despite intestinal inflammation.
Depending on the severity of the disease, an inpatient stay in a veterinary clinic may be necessary first. This is the case, for example, with dogs that are severely emaciated or dehydrated due to IBD.
However, if the symptoms of the intestinal inflammation are only mild, a dog with IBD can be treated at home without any problems. After all, the main aim is simply to permanently adjust the dog's diet.
The right diet for dogs with IBD
If your dog suffers from IBD, you must try to counteract the inflammation of his intestinal mucous membranes as much as possible. Easily digestible dog food is of crucial importance in this respect.
It is therefore essential that you also use a natural, cereal-free food with an easily digestible protein source. As the experiences of numerous dog owners have shown, our dog food with insect protein is perfectly suited to supply dogs with IBD according to their needs.
Dogs suffering from IBD benefit in particular from the following advantages:
- Feeding with a hypoallergenic protein source
- Digestible proteins with high biological value
- Cereal-free feed without artificial additives
By consistently switching to our insect-based dog food, the intestines of your dog have the opportunity to calm down. Thanks to the excellent digestibility of the insect protein, the inflammation can gradually subside, so that your dog's complaints associated with IBD soon subside significantly.
Support for the immune system
If a dog suffers from IBD, it is a considerable strain on the animal's immune system. We therefore recommend that you supplement the diet of your quadruped with Bellfor Immun. This natural food supplement provides your dog with valuable additional nutrients that help his body to cope better with the burden of the intestinal inflammation.
Help with diarrhoea for dogs with IBD
Massive diarrhoea is part of everyday life for many dogs with IBD. To counteract this, we recommend a dietary supplement with Bellfor Gastro Relax. This is a natural preparation with selected ingredients such as turmeric and pectin. Thanks to its special composition, Bellfor Gastro Relax can help to effectively relieve diarrhoea in dogs suffering from IBD.
Our conclusion on the subject of IBD in dogs
As you can see, IBD can drastically reduce the quality of life and well-being of your dog. In addition, without timely countermeasures, chronic intestinal inflammation can have serious consequences and lead to dangerous malnutrition, for example.
If you notice symptoms in your dog that indicate IBD, a visit to your vet is therefore essential. The vet can check whether your suspicion is correct and advise you on the necessary treatment measures.
Although a complete cure for dogs with IBD is not possible, the symptoms can be managed very well with the right measures. To help you do this, we have put together a special Bellfor food set for dogs with IBD.
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