Colitis in dogs have many causes (e.g., bacteria, diet, parasites). The underlying cause is seldom diagnosed because this problem tends to be self-limiting. Acute proctitis probably has similar causes but may also be secondary to passage of a rough foreign obect that traumatizes the rectal mucosa. Dogs with colitis often feel good despite the presence of large bowel diarrhea (i.e., hematochezia, fecal mucus, tenesmus). Vomiting occurs infrequently.

Rectal examination is important: dogs with colitis may have rectal discomfort and/orhematochezia. Eliminating obvious causes (e.g., diet, parasites) and resolving the problem with symptomatic therapy allows the establishment of a presumptive diagnosis. Colonoscopy and biopsy are definitive but seldom needed.

Symptomatic therapy is necessary because colitis in dogs is usually idiopathic. Withholding food for 24 to 36 hours lessens the severity of the clinical signs. The dog should then be fed small amounts of a bland diet (e.g., cottage cheese and rice) with or without fiber. After resolution of the clinical signs, the dog with colitis may be maintained on this diet or gradually returned to its original one. Most dogs recover within 1 to 3 days. The prognosis for dogs with colitis is good.

Canine colitis diagnostic plan:

History
Physical examination
Stool analysis
Abdominal palpation
Rectal palpation
Stool culture
Blood work
Urinalysis
X-rays of the colon
Colonoscopy and biopsy

Canine colitis treatment:

Antibacterials
Dewormers
Anti-inflammatory drugs

Canine colitis dietary plan:

High-fiber diets benefit some cases of canine colitis. If a high-fiber diet is ineffective, a dietary trial using a low residue-diet is indicated. For a food-allergy-induced colitis, a hypoallergenic diet is indicated. We also recommend this natural balanced real-meat dog food and natural dietary supplement for recovery.

Giardia in dogs - symptoms and treatment

Giardia in dogs is caused by a protozoan, Giardia spp. Animals are infected when they ingest cysts shed from infected animals, often via water. Organisms are principally found in the small intestine, where they interfere with digestion through uncertain mechanisms. In people, Giardia organisms may occasionally ascend into the bile duct and cause hepatic problems.

Giardia in dogs is a common problem. Signs and symptoms of Giardia vary from mild to severe diarrhea, which may be persistent, intermittent or self-limiting. Typically the diarrhea is "cow-patty"-like, without blood or mucus; however, there is substantial variation. Some dogs with Giardia experience weight loss; others do not.

Giardia in dogs is diagnosed by finding motile trophozoites in fresh feces or duodenal washes, by finding cysts with fecal flotation techniques, or by finding giardial proteins in feces using an ELISA. Zinc sulfate solutions seem to be the best medium for demonstrating cysts (especially when centrifugal flotation is performed) because other solutions may distort them. At least three fecal examinations should be performed over the course of 7 to 10 days before discounting Giardia in dogs. Washes of the duodenal lumen (performed endoscopically or surgically by instilling and then retrieving 5 to 10 ml of physiologic saline solution from the duodenal lumen) or cytologic evaluation of the duodenal mucosa occasionally reveal Giardia organisms when other techniques do not.

Because of the occasional difficulty of finding Giardia in dogs (especially in animals that have had various symptomatic antidiarrheal medications), response to treatment is often the retrospective basis of diagnosis. This approach has limitations. Quinacrine is effective but no longer available. Metronidazole has few adverse effects and seems reasonably effective (approximately 85% cured after 7 days of therapy). However, clinical response to metronidazole therapy may result from the drug's antianaerobic activity and/or its effect on the immune system. Furazolidone (5 days of therapy) is probably as effective as metronidazole and comes as a suspension, making it easier to treat infected animals. Albendazole (3 days of therapy) and fenbendazole (5 days of therapy) are also effective, and recent data suggest that oral neomycin may be useful. However, none of these drugs is 100% effective, meaning that failure to respond to drug therapy doest not rule out Giardia in dogs.

The prognosis for recovery is usually good, although in some cases the organisms are difficult to eradicate. It is uncertain whether people may occasionally be infected with Giardia organisms shed from dogs.

Canine Giardia diagnostic plan:

History
Physical examination
Stool analysis
Analysis of intestinal scrapings collected during endoscopy

Canine Giardia treatment:

Drugs to kill the parasite.

Canine Giardia dietary plan:

A diet based on patient evaluation and dog condition. We also recommend this natural balanced real-meat dog food and natural dietary supplement for recovery.

We would love to hear your pet's story. Please add a comment.