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Colitis and Bowel Disease in Dogs and Cats
Written by Richard Sandore, MD
Produced and edited by Well Beings - Senior Cat & Dog Products. © 2006 WellBeings.com
Reproduced with permission.
Stomach upset is a frequent problem we face, and it is common in our
companion dogs and cats as well. Occasional bouts of diarrhea are
generally not a cause for concern and can usually be treated
symptomatically. Chronic diarrhea usually signifies an underlying medical
problem that must be addressed.
In this article we are going to learn about colitis, a chronic
inflammation of the large intestine or colon, its causes, treatments and
preventions.
The Digestive Tract
Before we can begin to learn about digestive disorders, we must have an
understanding of the digestive tract and how food is broken down and
nutrients absorbed.
Mouth and Stomach
The digestive process begins in the mouth as food is broken down into
smaller pieces by chewing and is mixed with a digestive enzyme called
amylase, which breaks down carbohydrates into simple sugar. (Cats do not
have amylase in their saliva, so cannot digest carbohydrates well.) Saliva
mixes with food in the mouth, which lubricates it for its journey through
the esophagus to the stomach.
In the stomach the slurry of food and saliva is made acidic by secretions
from the stomach lining, mixed with more digestive enzymes, and ground up
further by contractions of the stomach.
Small Intestine
Once the stomach is finished grinding up the digestive mix, it sends the
food to the small intestine. The small intestine has three parts; the
duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Food moves through the sections of small
intestine in that order. In the duodenum more digestive enzymes produced
by the pancreas and the liver are added. Once food leaves the duodenum the
digestive processing (breakdown) of the food is complete, and the process
of absorption of the nutrients begins.
The majority of the nutrients in the digested food are absorbed as the
mixture travels through the jejunum and ileum.
Large Intestine
The large intestine is also called the large bowel, or colon. The digested
mix that leaves the ileum and enters the large intestine is primarily
composed of material that cannot be broken down (or digested) any further.
The main functions of the large intestine are to absorb water and the
remaining nutrients from the digestive mix and store stool.
Bacteria and Digestion
The small and large intestine are filled with bacteria that aid the
digestion of food and absorption of nutrients. The large intestine has
about 10 times as many bacteria as the small intestine. Without these good
bacteria in the intestines our bodies cannot get all the nutrients they
need from food. Antibiotics, while sometimes needed for certain
infections, must be used with caution because they not only kill harmful
bacteria, but the needed, helpful ones, too.
Colitis
Colitis means inflammation of the colon. The word is usually associated
with diarrhea, and in fact, diarrhea is a common symptom of colitis.
Colitis is sometimes referred to as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD),
Spastic Bowel Syndrome (SBS), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), or
Lymphocytic-plasmacytic Inflammatory Bowel Disease (LIBD). The
substitution of terms is not entirely appropriate. All of the diseases
mentioned lead to colitis (inflammation of the colon) and associated
symptoms, including diarrhea. However, to appropriately treat colitis, it
is vitally important to know the cause.
Symptoms of Colitis
The primary symptom of colitis is diarrhea or loose stools. When the
diarrhea happens as a single episode, the term used is Acute Colitis. When
it occurs frequently (as often as daily) we use the term Chronic Colitis.
Other symptoms of colitis include:
- Blood or mucous in the stool
- Painful or difficult bowel movements
- Excessive straining with bowel movements
- Decreased energy and/or loss of appetite
- Tender and/or distended abdomen
- Vomiting (usually only with problems of the small intestine or stomach)
Common Causes of Colitis
Identifying the cause of colitis is extremely important because a
treatment for one cause can frequently make colitis caused by a different
disease process worse.
Acute Colitis generally arises from episodes of raiding the garbage and
eating inappropriate things, or consuming a meal of unfamiliar food.
Chronic Colitis is usually the result of poor diet or food allergies, or
an underlying medical condition. Many apparently unrelated conditions,
such as immune system disorders, can manifest as colitis. Below are the
most common causes of chronic colitis.
Infection
Parasites that cause colitis include Whipworms, Giardia, Trichomona,
Amoeba, and Balantida. Bacterial infections that cause colitis are
Salmonella and Campylobacter. Though there is some overlap, parasitic
infections usually arise from drinking contaminated water, and bacterial
infections result from ingesting contaminated food.
Foreign Body
Eating indigestible material like straw or dirt can irritate the colon,
which leads to inflammation. Some animals develop the tendency to eat
foreign materials regularly, and this can lead to chronic colitis.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
IBD is a serious disease that is frequently difficult to treat. It is
characterized by an invasion of the colon walls by the body?s own
inflammatory cells (cells which normally fight infections). This leads to
a persistent state of inflammation of the colon lining and a complete
disruption of its normal functioning.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
In IBS there is no inflammation of the colon, but instead hyperactivity.
Essentially, the colon constricts much more than it should and the waste
products are moved though at a rate too fast for the absorption of the
water and nutrients. IBS is usually associated with neurological or
psychological problems; for example a dog or cat that is stressed,
overworked or anxious.
Other Causes
Typhilitis is an inflammation of a small, dead-end pocket where the small
and large intestine connect. Cancer can also lead to colitis with
associated diarrhea or loose stools. The most common forms are
lymphosarcoma, a cancer of blood cells, and adenocarcinoma, a cancer
originating in the glandular cells lining the colon. Over vaccination has
also been linked to chronic digestive problems by some experts.
Making the Diagnosis
Environment, lifestyle, and diet have all been shown to be related to the
causes of Colitis. A holistic veterinarian is trained to take all of these
into account when looking for the cause in your animal. Ascertaining the
cause of colitis requires a complete history, physical exam, and usually
laboratory tests.
History
A thorough history will be the first step taken by your holistic
veterinarian and is very important in making the diagnosis. For example,
IBS is likely in a dog or cat who is suddenly left alone for long periods
of time. Alternatively, an allergic reaction is probable if your companion
was recently begun on a new diet, treat or supplement.
Physical Exam
Your holistic veterinarian will also perform a physical exam, however, the
exam will likely be normal with the exception abdominal tenderness or mild
distention.
Laboratory Tests
Your cat or dog's stool may be tested for the presence of parasites,
bacteria, blood, and undigested nutrients. The presence or absence of any
of these can lead to the diagnosis of the exact cause of the colitis.
Blood may be tested for blood cancers, or for indications of
hypersensitivity to certain food products or additives.
Other Testing
Muscle Testing or Kinesiology may also be used to compare the strength and
weakness of any muscle (also known as neuromuscular sensitivity testing
(NST) of the body in the presence and absence of any substance. A measured
weakness in the presence of a substance is due to the effect of an allergy
to the item with which the animal has contact. This is a simple and
completely non-invasive method used to detect allergens.
In severe cases, or those that don't respond to any treatment, x-ray
tests, or a colonoscopy (a visualization of the colon with an extended,
flexible microscope) may be needed.
Treating Colitis
In most cases a single episode of diarrhea is self-limiting and will
resolve on its own. Your holistic veterinarian should evaluate diarrhea
lasting longer than 24 to 48 hours, or if there is associated fever or
abdominal distention.
Many conventional and alternative treatments are available for the
disorders associated with chronic colitis. The treatment used will depend
on the underlying disease.
Conventional Treatments
Conventional treatments for colitis include antibiotics for infections,
anti-inflammatory drugs, or even chemotherapeutic agents for the severe
types of inflammation found in IBD. IBS is often treated with behavior
modification or drugs that reduce anxiety. Most conventional treatments
have their own, sometimes serious, side effects.
Alternative Treatments
Many safe and effective alternative treatments are available to treat the
causes of colitis.
A host of herbal therapies are useful for treating colitis. Wormwood is
used for expelling tapeworms, and garlic is considered an effective
dewormer and preventative. A combination of 2 parts slippery elm and one
part each of marshmallow root, licorice and fennel seed is effective in
treating IBD. Peppermint is useful in the treatment of IBS. Animals
Apawthecary Pytomucil Herbal Tincture is useful for treating many of the
causes of colitis, and does not have the side effects found with
conventional drugs. To explore herbal treatments further, the definitive
resource for using herbs to treat our companion animals is, All You Ever
Wanted to Know About Herbs for Pets, by Mary Wulff Tilford and Gregory
Tilford.
Acupuncture has been used successfully to treat causes of chronic colitis
including IBD and IBS. Additionally, combination Homeopathic Remedies are
available to treat acute and chronic colitis. Other useful treatments
include Flower Essences and colloidal silver.
Environment
We have all heard the saying that pets and their owners grow to look
alike. This applies to their temperaments as well. A stressful environment
affects us as well as our companions. If we feel stressed and out of
balance, so do our companions. Reducing stress and creating a predictable,
calming and supportive environment has been found to reduce the symptoms
of colitis in humans and animals.
The Importance of Diet and Nutrition
A poor quality diet and allergies to additives in commercial feeds are
leading causes of chronic colitis in cats and dogs. The importance of a
high quality diet and proper nutrition, including supplements, cannot be
overstated. In many cases, changing your companion?s diet to one that is
protein based and contains only natural preservatives, along with the
addition of supplements, can resolve chronic colitis. Many owners find
that colitis responds to simply changing to a raw or home cooked diet.
Changes in diet should be made gradually, and it can take up to 8 weeks to
see a response.
As cats and dogs age, the numbers of beneficial bacteria in both the small
and large intestine decrease, as do the amounts of digestive enzymes
produced by the stomach, liver, and pancreas. A decrease of these
necessary bacteria and enzymes can lead to changes in the digestive mix
that reaches the colon and subsequent inflammation. Animal Essentials
Plant Enzymes and Probiotics restores the loss of enzymes and probiotics
that results with aging. AddLife by Wysong is another excellent supplement that aids
in all aspects of digestive function.
Supplements
Many dietary supplements in addition to probiotics and digestive enzymes
are useful in treating chronic colitis. Some are L-Glutamine,
N-Acetyl-Glucosamine, and L-Glycine. Solid Gold Life Exxtension is a
combination of supplements that is formulated specifically for senior cats
and dogs with immune system and digestive disorders.
Dietary Fiber
A great deal of information is available regarding the effect of dietary
fiber on colitis, and it is generally felt that an increase in fiber
improves digestion and reduces the symptoms of chronic colitis. Fiber is
classified as soluble and insoluble, and it is best to ask your holistic
veterinarian which may be most appropriate for your companion. Natur Fiber
by Azmira provides both important dietary fiber as well as probiotics and immune enhancing Re-Shi-Gen mushrooms.
Fructooligosaccharides (FOS)
FOS are carbohydrates made by combining two naturally occurring sugars,
fructose and glucose, and are included in some prescription diets used to
treat colitis. FOS are digested by the large intestine and felt to inhibit
the growth of harmful bacteria and support the growth of healthy bacteria.
Prevention
As the leading causes of colitis are poor diet and nutrition, food
allergies, including reactions to preservatives in commercial feeds, and
stress, one reasons accurately that prevention includes high quality food
and nutrition, and a predictable lifestyle that includes daily exercise.
Higher levels of dietary fiber than present in most commercial feeds may
also have a protective effect against the occurrence of colitis.
Long-Term Commitment
Chronic colitis is a recurring condition with many diverse causes. The
commitment you make to your companion seeking out the cause of their
condition and the most appropriate treatment, including the proper diet
and supplements, will be rewarded with many years of their faithful and
loving presence.
Richard Sandore is a medical writer who has practiced allopathic and
alternative medicine. He can be reached at richard(at)richardsandore(dot)com.
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Robbins Pet Care. All Rights Reserved. The products sold by Robbins Pet Care are not intended to be the sole source of treatment or to take the place of expert veterinarian care. Please consult with your veterinarian and ask about using a natural and alternative approach for the treatment of your pet.
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