Colitis in Dogs
Colitis in dogs is an inflammation of the intestinal tract, mainly affecting the large intestine (bowel or colon). It can result from a variety of causes. Acute colitis, somewhat common in dogs, has a sudden onset and may only last a short time, while chronic colitis is long-term with reoccurring symptoms.
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Symptoms
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Dogs with acute colitis usually seem to feel all right, but have some noticeable difference from their usual bowel habits. There may be blood or mucus in the stool or diarrhea, and the dog may may need to defecate many times a day. He also may strain to defecate.
Constipation
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The colon inflammation may cause pain when defecating. Some dogs then avoid defecating and become constipated.
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Common Causes of Acute Colitis
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Infectious agents are a common cause of canine colitis. These include bacteria such as salmonella, parasites such as whipworms, and viruses and fungi. A dog can also develop colitis from food allergies or intolerance or from eating non-food items like grass or wood.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
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Like people, dogs can develop chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which occurs when the colon wall is invaded by inflammatory cells responding as an allergic reaction. The main symptoms are chronic diarrhea and vomiting.
Chronic Colitis Symptoms
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Dogs with chronic colitis often have significant weight loss due to lack of appetite, vomiting and reoccurring diarrhea. These dogs generally feel poorly and experience loss of vitamins and fluids. Treatment involves diet changes and medications such as corticosteroids.
Breed Considerations
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Boxers are the breed most prone to developing colitis, particularly a severe chronic form called histiocytic ulcerative colitis.
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