what causes colitis in my german shepherd?

5 Comments

1. wacky says:

   September 28, 2009 at 12:15 am

   One of the recognised causes is Interbreeding and your dog may have had a hard life with it’s previous owner’s.

   Bad nutrition,starved or incorrect feeding.

   Also is it a nervous dog ?had it been badly treat ,these can lead to it’s ailment.
2. Duster says:

   September 28, 2009 at 12:15 am

   probably she eat something that was spoil or infected.
3. Another Planet says:

   September 28, 2009 at 12:15 am

   Colitis can be an on going problem throughout the dogs life.
   Some dogs are just prone to it.
   You just have to manage it with high quality food and take action at the first sign by starving for 12 hours.
   The stomach will need to rest and recover.

   Then feed chicken and rice for a day or two. 4 small meals are better than one large one.

   If you are in the UK, Burns dog food is excellent for dogs with colitis. My shelties haven’t suffered from it for years since switching to Burns.
4. AnswerMan says:

   September 28, 2009 at 12:15 am

   I made a list of things you could do, and some facts

   # In dogs with chronic colitis, dietary modification using hypoallergenic diets may be tried. Using a home-prepared or commercial diet that contains a "novel" protein source (one which the dog has not previously encountered) sometimes is sufficient to control the colitis and eliminates the need for further medical treatment. No food items except for the "hypoallergenic" diet should be fed to affected dogs during this trial period of treatment. Dogs that respond to this approach are thought to have a food allergy that is manifested as colitis.

   # Fiber supplementation (either by adding fiber to the dog’s normal diet or choosing a diet that is naturally high in fiber) sometimes is of great benefit to dogs with colitis.

   # Anti-parasitic (deworming products, anti-protozoal drugs) treatment is indicated in colitis to eliminate the possibility of parasites that are intermittently shed in the stool (whipworms, Giardia). Parasites are a leading causes of colitis, and this approach is routinely done as a first step in the management of colitis.

   # Antibiotic treatment can play an important role in the management of colitis. Although useful when a bacterial cause of colitis has been identified, antibiotics are sometimes useful even when a bacterial cause of colitis has not been established. Three anti-microbial agents commonly used in this situation are metronidazole, sulfasalazine and tylosin. These drugs have been used successfully as single agents, in combination with one other, or in combination with other drugs.

   # Anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs (drugs that suppress the immune system) such as cortisone-like drugs (corticosteroids) and the immunosuppressive agent azathioprine generally are reserved for dogs in which colitis is strongly suspected to be immune-mediated in nature based on microscopic examination of biopsy specimens obtained during colonoscopy. These drugs have potential adverse effects and only should be used under close veterinary guidance with regularly scheduled re-evaluations. These drugs are invaluable and extremely effective when used appropriately.

   # Motility-modifying drugs (drugs that effect the motor activity of the intestinal tract) most often are used for symptomatic relief rather than for long-term medical management of colitis.
5. Jennifer S says:

   September 28, 2009 at 12:15 am

   Colitis has a number of different causes. The most common cause of colitis is a dog eating something that it should not have done. Animals who habitually raid the bins get colitis quite frequently. Rich foods, dairy products, or fatty foods are common culprits. Dogs may also eat litter they find in the park and subsequently get colitis. If this is the case with your dog it may help to get him used to wearing a basket type muzzle when out on walks to prevent him picking up discarded food.

   Sometimes colitis may be due to dietary intolerance a bit like Irritable Bowel Syndrome in humans. If this is the case then feeding an hypoallergenic diet containing a protein source which the dog has never had before (for example venison or rabbit), may be beneficial. The most likely dietary sensitivities are dairy products, wheat and beef. A dog may develop sensitivities to its diet and such dietary intolerance may be permanent or temporary.
   Stress can also cause colitis especially if the animal has a nervous disposition. Hence dogs will often develop signs of colitis when they stay in kennels.

   Another cause of colitis is undigested food managing to reach the colon either due to problems with the digestion or hypermotility of the bowels resulting in an increased transit time of food through the gut. Signs of colitis are seen when there is a bacterial overgrowth in the gut (often with Clostridia), other infectious causes of colitis include Salmonella spp, Campylobacter spp, Giardia and E coli amongst others and this highlights the need for good hygiene when dealing with dogs with diarrhoea. Rare causes of colitis are foreign bodies and abrasive material in the gut, chronic pancreatitis, neoplasia (cancer), polyps, and various inflammatory disorders.
   There is a form of colitis called histiocytic ulcerative colitis and young boxers are the dogs most predominantly affected by this.

   Treatment of colitis should begin by starving the dog for 24- 48 hours initially (make sure fresh, clean drinking water is available; your dog will probably need more water than normal) After 24- 48 hours introduce a bland diet: chicken or white fish with rice or pasta is often used. Cook this food plainly with no oils or other extras. When symptoms of colitis resolve gradually introduce the normal diet increasing the amount given a little every day for about a week until the dog’s diet is completely back to normal.

   If you find that your dog cannot tolerate its normal diet any longer and symptoms recur then you may need to feed the blander type of diet permanently. You can do this by continuing with something such as the chicken and rice (although you may need to supplement this with vitamins and minerals), or if you would prefer a preparatory diet these are available on prescription from your vet. Hills do a very good range of such diets and your vet will probably find one to suit your pet. Hills w/d and d/d are the ones most often prescribed. These diets work by being hypoallergenic (d/d) or by increasing the fiber content of the diet (w/d) which increases the bulk of faeces and helps to bind water reducing the symptoms of diarrhoea.

   Sometimes dietary management is not enough to control the colitis. In these cases treatment with antibiotics and / or corticosteroids is necessary. Sulfasalazine is a useful treatment for dogs with chronic colitis and treatment may be required for 2 -6 weeks (Your vet will want to monitor your dog for signs of "dry eye" while on this drug). Motility modifiers may also be used but these only treat the symptoms not the underlying disease. There are also complimentary therapies available for this condition. To prevent this problem in dogs prone to colitis never change their diet abruptly but introduce new foods gradually over a period of 1 to 2 weeks. As a general rule it is a good idea to worm your dog every 3 months.