Ever heard of colitis in a dog?

Jade · 11-12-2007, 06:26 PM

I took my bulldog back to the vet today because even though she has been tested for everything under the sun, she is passing blood in her stool. They are telling me she has no parasites, nothing is showing up in her blood or stool samples. They said that possibly it could be colitis but they aren't sure. They have prescribed some pretty powerful antibiotics that we started today. Has anyone ever experienced this in a dog?

texgirl · 11-12-2007, 07:10 PM

Yep, dogs get colitis. Although I was never quite clear what caused it (I used to work for a vet), might be just a general term for colon irritation, that doesn't come from diet, or parasite. I think you might have an antibiotic called Metronidazole? And she may have to be on a very bland diet.

I don't remember if it re-occurs on a regular basis?

One of the times we had a dog in with "colitis", he was screaming in pain, then blowing out AWFUL stuff, poor guy. He had no parasites, just horrible bloody diarrhea. He ended up being fine, after fluids and antibiotics. Just had some sort of irritation. Hope its not that bad for your girl.

Horsemom2 · 11-12-2007, 07:15 PM

My dog has what the vet said was the same as inflammatory bowel disease. He has attacks every so often where he has bloody diarrhea. He was on meds for a while (don't remember what they were called) and he hasn't had an attack of it in a LONG time.

Hope that helps some.

scrapchick · 11-12-2007, 07:16 PM

i dont know but be prepared for the very strong antibiotics to cause more diarreah. feed her plain yogurt with live cultures (which most yogurt has), it will help. i had a dog on tremendously strong antibiotics and the yogurt helped him.

Jade · 11-12-2007, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texgirl

Yep, dogs get colitis. Although I was never quite clear what caused it (I used to work for a vet), might be just a general term for colon irritation, that doesn't come from diet, or parasite. I think you might have an antibiotic called Metronidazole? And she may have to be on a very bland diet.

I don't remember if it re-occurs on a regular basis?

One of the times we had a dog in with "colitis", he was screaming in pain, then blowing out AWFUL stuff, poor guy. He had no parasites, just horrible bloody diarrhea. He ended up being fine, after fluids and antibiotics. Just had some sort of irritation. Hope its not that bad for your girl.

Yes they gave me a drug called metronidazole. She doesn't act like she's in any pain but she is passing a lot of blood. I just don't understand what is causing it because she has been on such a strict diet for so long. Bulldogs tend to get fat very easily so we have a rule about no table food and she gets a premium dog food.

TXCowGrl82 · 11-12-2007, 07:21 PM

I'm pretty sure the term colitis is a generic term for inflammation of the colin and is not related to any specific cause. Of course thats in humans but I'd think it'd apply to all species. I'm not real sure that really helped you though.

texgirl · 11-12-2007, 07:35 PM

http://www.bullwrinkle.com/Assets/He...cs/Colitis.htm

I did a search on Colitis in dogs and this popped up on a Bulldog site. I didn't read it very thoroughly, but kinda says its a general term for irritation of the colon.

I know that in humans its the same thing--more of a general term--no real cause, and a number of treatments. In humans they use steroids, and like someone else said, antibiotics can worsen the diarrhea, clears up a possible infection, but can cause diarrhea I guess in a different way... I am unsure why antibiotics cause diarrhea!

It does list stress as a cause.

It sounds like you are a conscientious owner, so it may clear up--vet might suggest a diet change. But the vet will likely wait to do much anything until you are finished with the antibiotics.

I really don't think its a condition that has a "definite" treatment. Kind of like: lets see if this works--if not, we'll try something else. Anyway, hang in there.

Jade · 11-12-2007, 08:20 PM

Thanks for the link Texgirl; very good information. She has all of the classic symptoms listed there. I just hope the medication works for her; she is six years old and never had anything major.

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11-12-2007, 06:26 PM
Jade Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 736	Ever heard of colitis in a dog? I took my bulldog back to the vet today because even though she has been tested for everything under the sun, she is passing blood in her stool. They are telling me she has no parasites, nothing is showing up in her blood or stool samples. They said that possibly it could be colitis but they aren't sure. They have prescribed some pretty powerful antibiotics that we started today. Has anyone ever experienced this in a dog?

11-12-2007, 07:10 PM
texgirl Weanling Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: College Station, Texas WHOOP! Posts: 226	Yep, dogs get colitis. Although I was never quite clear what caused it (I used to work for a vet), might be just a general term for colon irritation, that doesn't come from diet, or parasite. I think you might have an antibiotic called Metronidazole? And she may have to be on a very bland diet. I don't remember if it re-occurs on a regular basis? One of the times we had a dog in with "colitis", he was screaming in pain, then blowing out AWFUL stuff, poor guy. He had no parasites, just horrible bloody diarrhea. He ended up being fine, after fluids and antibiotics. Just had some sort of irritation. Hope its not that bad for your girl.

11-12-2007, 07:15 PM
Horsemom2 Weanling Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 452	My dog has what the vet said was the same as inflammatory bowel disease. He has attacks every so often where he has bloody diarrhea. He was on meds for a while (don't remember what they were called) and he hasn't had an attack of it in a LONG time. Hope that helps some.

11-12-2007, 07:16 PM
scrapchick Kid Safe Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Festus, Missouri Posts: 5,067	i dont know but be prepared for the very strong antibiotics to cause more diarreah. feed her plain yogurt with live cultures (which most yogurt has), it will help. i had a dog on tremendously strong antibiotics and the yogurt helped him.

11-12-2007, 07:21 PM
TXCowGrl82 Greenbroke Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Huntsville, Texas Posts: 3,243	I'm pretty sure the term colitis is a generic term for inflammation of the colin and is not related to any specific cause. Of course thats in humans but I'd think it'd apply to all species. I'm not real sure that really helped you though.

11-12-2007, 07:35 PM
texgirl Weanling Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: College Station, Texas WHOOP! Posts: 226	http://www.bullwrinkle.com/Assets/He...cs/Colitis.htm I did a search on Colitis in dogs and this popped up on a Bulldog site. I didn't read it very thoroughly, but kinda says its a general term for irritation of the colon. I know that in humans its the same thing--more of a general term--no real cause, and a number of treatments. In humans they use steroids, and like someone else said, antibiotics can worsen the diarrhea, clears up a possible infection, but can cause diarrhea I guess in a different way... I am unsure why antibiotics cause diarrhea! It does list stress as a cause. It sounds like you are a conscientious owner, so it may clear up--vet might suggest a diet change. But the vet will likely wait to do much anything until you are finished with the antibiotics. I really don't think its a condition that has a "definite" treatment. Kind of like: lets see if this works--if not, we'll try something else. Anyway, hang in there.

11-12-2007, 08:20 PM
Jade Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 736	Thanks for the link Texgirl; very good information. She has all of the classic symptoms listed there. I just hope the medication works for her; she is six years old and never had anything major.