Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Question: what is good to feed a dog that has been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease? What is optimal to feed a dog with inflammatory bowel disease? Information: Predisone is given twice a day Refuses standard solid dog food Refuses turkey Refuses rice Just started eating today after two weeks Current diet: Chicken I feel that chicken may not be the best option to feed a dog with this disease. If there are any other options that you believe that my dog will consume, then let me know. Thank you.

Answer: I'd start looking into a raw diet asap.

Question: Do pre-biotics and probiotics help with inflammatory bowel disease? I have a condition in my rectum called acute colitis with cryptitis or inflammatory bowel disease. Will prebiotics and probiotics be helpful for this condition? Also, will aloe vera juice help? What alternative treatments are there for inflammatory bowel disease instead of taking prescription drugs?

Answer: hi cherri, I have inflammatory bowel disease, crohn's disease for 28 yrs. It is my understanding that aloe vera juice will aggravate the intestines b/c it acts as a laxative. If we are flaring, it worsens the lining of our gut & can cause dehydration. I tried it myself for 90 days and found no benefit, only abdominal pain. The pre and probiotics are helpful but to get IBD into remission we need to be on maintenance medications such as Llialda for UC, remicade as well and for crohnies, entocort, 6MP, humira, or Imuran. If you check out the crohn's and colitis foundation's site, they have alot of info on what you are looking for. There is also a live chat, a hotline, and an open forum where you can post questions to others like yourself. There is no cure for crohns and for UC, a total colectomy(removal of large intestines) and permanent ileostomy is a cure b/c then the pt. would be drug and pain free. I've had my ileostomy for 23 yrs. because my CD attacked my entire colon and treatments failed. Definitely look into ccfa's site. they publish a lot of research reports as well as the latest meds to be approved by the FDA. good luck to you.

Question: Is there a color ribbon for Inflammatory bowel disease? My daughter has inflammatory bowel disease and I want to know if there is a ribbon like the pink one for breast cancer and other ribbons. I

Answer: No, not that I am aware of.

Question: Is anyone familiar with canine IBD inflammatory bowel disease? My dashund was diagnosed with this disease I am wondering if anyone has any pointers to help give him the best and most comfortable life by treating this disease with diet and meds..Thanks Shannon

Answer: hi shanney, I have crohn's disease (IBD in humans) and my bassett hound has colitis. make sure your dog has regular check ups with the vet. he may need to be on prednisone for short periods of time. be sure he has lots of water to drink, as for diet...when he is flaring try chicken broth, maybe some noodles like in cambell chicken soup, freeze some gatoraid in an ice cube tray and then once it's frozen, put 1 in his bowl(make sure he licks it til it's gone--then give him another) and he will get his electrolytes that way, meat flavored baby food (Ike loves it), canned dog food, etc. ask the vet for information on what he can and can't eat. I truly feel for your pet as well as mine. Hope he can stay in remission. best of luck to you.

Question: Has anybody gone through inflammatory bowel disease with their cats? My cat seems happy, she's13 years old, she vomits and has bloody stools all the time. She will just go anywhere in the house, including my pillow. She will be fine and all of a sudden she's straining in the middle of the kitchen floor. She's now starting to urinate too all over my furniture. I don't know what to do and have taken her to the vets and her blood work and stools are normal. The next step would be to do a biopsy of her colon and I don't want to spend that kind of money on a 13 year old cat. What can I do?

Answer: My two-year old Maine C oon has Chrone's disease, so our problem is the constant defecation. He continually has extremely loose and wet stool. Though he goes in the litter box, there are times that it leaks out uncontrollably, and though it is not his fault, it is a terrible thing to constantly have to clean feces off of furniture, bedding, carpets, and him. It's gotten to the point that my father has discussed having him put to sleep, because a) he feels it is too much of a hassle; and b) the poor animal goes so often that he hardly weighs anything. He just cannot keep weight on, even though we keep dry food out constantly and feed him wet food two to three times a day. The only things that we are truly able to do for him is to mix Metamucil into his wet food and keep his rear, legs, and base of the tail shaved so that it is easier to wash him after accidents. As far as your kitty goes -- the only options you truly have are either to have the biopsy done, or to keep her relegated to a single room in your house so that she is not creating a mess throughout the home. She may only be 13, but she may have another 5 or 6 years left in her. Do you feel like she's part of the family, or simply a cat? If it's the former, I'd suggest spending the money. If not, you may ultimately need to put her down.

Question: How Can I know if my dog has Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Inflammatory Bowel Disease? She has diarrhea, and has had it for a long time. she doesn't have worms or enzyme insuffiecy. And how can I help her? I've already tried rice, chicken, keopectate, different kinds of dog food, and yogurt. I've taken her to the vet alot! and have spent alot in tests and medication. the vet says its probably irritable bowel syndrome and that we should be careful about stressing her out, like don't get her to excited.

Answer: Take the dog to the vet. Diarrhea continuing for more than about 24 hours should be evaluated. It could be all sorts of things wrong with her, from parasites to food allergies (I know a dog that is allergic to beef, chicken, turkey, duck, rice, wheat, soy, corn, barley and millet), to something even more serious. The only way to tell and to fix the issue is to have your vet examine your dog.

Question: My dog has been diagnosed with Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease? any info on this topic will be greatly taken , it all happened over night and she is a very sick girl , I just hope she servives the next few days we miss her so much .

Answer: You can do more research online and ask your veterinarian more questions... but usually IBD is kept under control by keeping the dog on a dose of steroids to help with the inflammation. This all depends on what kind of state she is in now, but if you can pull through this first stretch, there are ways to keep the disease controlled, although there may be some rough spots along the way. Good luck with everything and I hope she does well.

Question: Inflammatory bowel disease in ocicat? I have a 13yo. Ocicat that has a genetic inflammatory bowel. Does anyone with experience dealing with this in your cat. What did you do, what foods do you feed, is it under control. I would appreciate your feedback.

Answer: Hi You have unfortunately probably been feeding dry foods You do NOT want to feed the crap the vet sells, That is just asking for more problems You need to either switch to canned foods with as little in the way of grains as possible or a raw diet where there are no grains at all. If money is a problem, you can feed the gluten free fancy feast. Email me if interested and I will get you the list. What you also want to do is cut down on the fats Better though would be a human grade quality canned food like Merrick or wellness Even better though Diet seems to play a huge part in most IBD cats, Try feeding a novel protein like rabbit, with no grains, veggies, fruit, beef or fish For a raw diet which is the best choice, you can buy something like nature's variety or you can make your own This site shows you how http://www.catinfo.org/makingcatfood.htm Here is a link about ibd http://www.felineoutreach.org/EducationDetail.asp?cat=IBD My info comes from working with diabetic cats worldwide and many of them have other issues including ibd. I am giving you info that works

Question: can cats die from inflammatory bowel disease? if not, does it shorten their lives?

Answer: IBD is eventually deadly if not taken care of. Years of bad food has caused so many problems for our treasured pets. Ken is right. Raw food is practically a cure. Ground food is good to start, but I recommend whole prey where possible or raw meaty bones (RMB diet) It does a lot better to clean their teeth and they really enjoy it. Do some research and think how you can do the best for your cat. Good luck

Question: Is Inflammatory Bowel Disease contagious in from dogs to other dogs? Thanks :-)

Answer: only if there is an infectious component, the other dog could then be predisposed to IBD. But no, the disease is not directly contagious.

Question: What is the best thing to feed a dog diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease? What is optimal to feed a dog with inflammatory bowel disease? Information: Predisone is given twice a day Refuses standard solid dog food Refuses turkey Refuses rice Just started eating today after two weeks Current diet: Chicken I feel that chicken may not be the best option to feed a dog with this disease. If there are any other options that you believe that my dog will consume, then let me know. Thank you.

Answer: hi wine, my basset was dx w/colitis a few yrs ago. funny thing is, I have Crohn's disease, a type of IBD like UC. I would give him some chicken broth, steamed rice, freeze some gatoraid in cubes and give it to him if he was throwing up. a few cubes at a time until you are sure he can keep it down. They now have G2 which has less sugar. Boiled turkey, boiled ground beef or boiled chicken can be given in small amts. The vet can give you some anti nausea medication for him too. Baby food in the form of meat or chicken flavor is ok too. I would ask the vet for booklets on it or an instruction sheet on how to treat flares and what to feed your dog. My vet gave me tons of info to read along with pain medication and a muscle relaxer if he had spasms. Yes, it is hard to watch your 4 legged child w/fur suffer. I can totally relate to what he is going through. Just be sure to call the vet if anything unusual happens. That is what you pay them for. Your dog will be in my prayers.

Question: Can anyone give me Information on Inflammatory Bowel Disease? Is it Genetic? What are the symptoms? What can be taken for it? Any thing esle would be really helpful. I want to understand it before I go to my Doctors Thanks

Answer: www.ccfa.org...should have a ton of information on Crohn's disease as well as Ulcerative colitis.

Question: Does anyone have any experience with inflammatory bowel disease in their dog? My dog has a preliminary diagnosis of IBD and is being tested for intestinal lymphosarcoma (cancer) in 3 days. He's been on prednisone for 3-1/2 days now and I don't feel he's getting much better. Any personal stories would be appreciated, good or bad.

Answer: MMP----I do not know what to say except that I am sorry your poor dog is not well_I am a dog lover and feel like that are family---------hope things go well for you and your pet--- ------------------Good Luck.

Question: Is crohn disease and inflammatory bowel disease a lifelong disease? Once you get one of these diseases does it always stay or can go away...pleazz answer and help

Answer: hi, i am a crohn's pt. for 28 yrs. This is the most accurate information from the Crohn's & Colitis website: What is Crohn's Disease? Crohn's disease is a chronic (ongoing) disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive or gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Although it can involve any area of the GI tract from the mouth to the anus, it most commonly affects the small intestine and/or colon. What Are the Symptoms? Persistent diarrhea (loose, watery, or frequent bowel movements), crampy abdominal pain, fever, and, at times, rectal bleeding: These are the hallmark symptoms of Crohn's disease, but they vary from person to person and may change over time. Loss of appetite and subsequent weight loss also may occur. However, the disease is not always limited to the GI tract; it can also affect the joints, eyes, skin, and liver. Fatigue is another common complaint. Children who have Crohn's disease may suffer delayed growth and sexual development. Some patients may develop tears (fissures) in the lining of the anus, which may cause pain and bleeding, especially during bowel movements. Inflammation may also cause a fistula to develop. A fistula is a tunnel that leads from one loop of intestine to another, or that connects the intestine to the bladder, vagina, or skin. Fistulas occur most commonly around the anal area. If this complication arises, you may notice drainage of mucus, pus, or stool from this opening. Symptoms may range from mild to severe. Because Crohn's is a chronic disease, patients will go through periods in which the disease flares up, is active, and causes symptoms. These episodes are followed by times of remission -- periods in which symptoms disappear or decrease and good health returns. In general, though, people with Crohn's disease lead full, active, and productive lives. Types of Crohn's Disease and Associated Symptoms The symptoms and complications of Crohn's disease differ, depending on what part of the intestinal tract is inflamed. That's why it is important for you to know which part of your intestine is affected by Crohn's disease. Your doctor may also refer to your illness by various names based on the principal area involved. The following are five types of Crohn's disease, together with their presenting symptoms: Ileocolitis: The most common form of Crohn's, affecting the ileum and colon. Symptoms include diarrhea and cramping or pain in the right lower part or middle of the abdomen. Often accompanied by significant weight loss. Ileitis: Affects the ileum. Symptoms same as ileocolitis. Complications may include fistulas or inflammatory abscess in right lower quadrant of abdomen. Gastroduodenal Crohn's disease: Affects the stomach and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). Symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, and nausea. Vomiting may indicate that narrowed segments of the bowel are obstructed. Jejunoileitis: Produces patchy areas of inflammation in the jejunum (upper half of the small intestine. Symptoms include abdominal pain (ranging from mild to intense) and cramps following meals, as well as diarrhea. Fistulas may form. Crohn's (granulomatous) colitis: Affects the colon only. Symptoms include diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and disease around the anus (abscess, fistulas, ulcers). Skin lesions and joint pains are more common in this form of Crohn's than in others. How is Crohn's Disease Diagnosed? There is no single test that can establish the diagnosis of Crohn's disease with certainty. To determine the diagnosis, physicians evaluate a combination of information from the patient's history and physical exam. They examine the results of laboratory tests, X-rays, and findings on endoscopy and pathology tests, and exclude other known causes of intestinal inflammation. X-ray tests may include barium studies of the upper and lower GI tract. Endoscopy tests may include flexible sigmoidoscopy and, sometimes, colonoscopy, which allow the doctor to directly examine the colon with a lighted tube that is inserted through the anus. During these tests, biopsies may be obtained. This procedure involves the removal of a small piece of tissue for closer analysis. It is important to make sure that an infection is not causing the patient's symptoms, so one routine test is to examine the stool for harmful organisms. Because Crohn's disease often mimics other conditions and symptoms may vary widely, it may take some time to arrive at the correct diagnosis. CD is not deadly but the side effects of the treatments can affect the liver, pancreas, bloodwork, etc. That is why the GI will run monthly tests to make sure things are ok. There is no cure yet, but the newer treatments--Remicade, Humira, and Encort put the pt. in remission faster. For more information, check out the sources I provided below. They have a live chat & hotline run by healthcare experts and an open forum where folks with IBD (crohn's or UC) can post questions to others wh

Question: Inflammatory bowel disease? My cat has just been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease. I'm not very familiar with this in animals but very familiar with it in humans. Has anyone else experienced it and if so what does my cat's future look like. He has is on medication and his diet has already been changed to a prescription diet.

Answer: You want to feed quality foods not the prescription diet. Read the label You have unfortunately probably been feeding dry foods You need to either switch to canned foods with no grains or as little as possible or a raw diet where there are no grains at all. If money is a problem, you can feed the gluten free fancy feast. Email me if interested and I will get you the list. What you also want to do is cut down on the fats. ou can o this by ading some c hicken breast to the canned foods A human grade quality canned food like Merrick or wellness with chicken breast added would be great. Even better though Diet plays a huge part in most IBD cats, A novel protein like rabbit,vennison ect with no grains, veggies, fruit, beef or fish may be your best bet For a raw diet which is the best choice, you can buy something like nature's variety or you can make your own These sites shows you how http://www.catinfo.org/makingcatfood.htm http://www.catnutrition.org/pictorial.ph… Here is a link about ibd http://www.felineoutreach.org/EducationD… http://www.catnutrition.org/ibd.php My info comes from working with diabetic cats worldwide and many of them have other issues including ibd. I am giving you info that works

Question: I think my cat has inflammatory bowel disease? My cat vomits, has bloody stools and sometimes soft, defecates and urinates in the house, does use the litter box, has a good appetite and seems happy She's been to the Vet, I've had blood work, x-rays, and checked her stool samples. She appears to be happy but defecates bloody stools, vomits, and urinates in the my house

Answer: Take your cat to a vet. This category is for people with infectious disease questions.