The vet evaluated our 10 year old Cocker Spaniel in the emergency hospital and looked frantic. When he said the dog had Crohn’s disease, I laughed and shook my head. Not funny, he interrupted. She said her daughter had Crohn’s disease and was really suffering. I told him he didn’t understand, explaining that I also have Crohn’s disease. The irony of the matter was too just to be attributed with a straight face even in the midst of necessity.
What is Crohn’s Disease in Dogs?
Crohn’s disease is a rare disorder that affects both dogs and humans. While it’s not considered a fatal disease in humans, according to Crohn’s & According to the Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA), the prognosis for dogs is largely guarded. It can kill.
Vetinfo indicates inflammation that involves the lining of the stomach and intestines.
As in humans, the cause of Crohn’s disease in dogs remains elusive. Most experts associate the human variety with some deficiency in the immune system. Among the potential causes associated with canine Crohn’s disease are autoimmune issues, heredity, infectious agents and nutritional issues, PetEducation reports.
Crohn’s disease is one of several types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in dogs. Vets often refer to it as regional granulomata IBD. It can be controlled, but never cured.
Signs and signs
The symptoms that could lead you to take your dog to the vet are quite dramatic. While some dogs seem to be just food, they gradually lose weight or seem weak, others are obviously in pain sharp
Our Cocker was bloody and both extremity and vomiting. There was mucus in his stool. His attacks always occur on Fridays. Within 14 months, he was hospitalized in three separate weeks.
After questioning, the case vet said he thought there was fibrosis or scarring in the dog’s intestinal tract. He explained that the intermittent pattern of both diarrhoea and vomiting with a dog not ingested is characteristic of Crohn’s disease. . He recommended taking the dog to a specialist in veterinary internal medicine for a definitive diagnosis.
Diagnosis
If you suspect Crohn’s disease, you can expect several diagnostic steps. The first analysis of the stool sample is to exclude bacterial-infection, worms and parasites. Ordering a complete blood count (CBC) is also standard. However, most dogs with Crohn’s disease have normal CBCs.
Assuming everything is negative and your dog is still in trouble, he may want to take X-rays or do an ultrasound exam to look for enlarged , excess gas and thickened or scarred walls of the digestive tract. However, the only way to truly know if inflammatory cells are present in Crohn’s disease is a biopsy through an endoscopic procedure or exploratory surgery.
Your dog will undergo general anesthesia for endoscopy or any surgery. If there is no evidence of Crohn’s disease, attention will probably be turned to potential sensitivity to food.
Cure
Because of our Cocker’s age and other health problems, the internist is recommended not to send him through an endoscopy. He made the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease among other findings.
The first method of treatment was to gradually change his food to a mixture of half low and residual dry food and medium sensitive dry food formula. He initially received antispasmodic medication, with a combination of the antibiotic metronidazole for any bacterial overgrowth and a corticosteroid to calm the inflammation. He took metronidazole periodically until he died of old age at 14.
However, recommend your many other therapies. Among them are the use of cobalamin, B vitamins, and certain types of worms to kill any infestations that are detected during routine fecal analysis.
Some dogs respond to omega-3 fatty acids, prebiotics and probiotics. Vets also commonly prescribe medications like Imodium to control diarrhea. Some treatment would require sulfasalazine or even immunosuppressive drugs.
If you have a dog with Crohn’s disease, you can expect periods of flare-ups. Vets typically tweak the treatment to try to tailor it as closely as possible to each dog’s needs.
Sources:
http://www.ccfa.org/info/about/crohns
http://www.vetinfo.com/crohns-disease-in-dogs.html
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2090&aid;=305
