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Colitis
Colitis in the term used to describe inflammation of the colon. A dog with colitis often
presents with diarrhea that can contain both blood and mucus. The stool can start normal
and the beginning of the bowel movement and become soft or runny near the end. Gas,
cramping, straining to have bowel movement and even vomiting can all accompany this
condition. Colitis may be acute (lasting a few days) to chronic (lasting weeks or months
on end).
The colon is another term for the large or lower intestine. This is the area close to the end
of the digestive processes. Food that enters the colon has already been digested and
absorbed through the stomach and the small intestine. The colon has three major
functions it absorbs water, stores stool, and further digests any nutrients that have not
been absorbed. The bacterial count in this area is about 10 times denser than that of the
small intestine. These bacteria take fibers that are unable to be digested by the host and
actually digest them into three biochemicals: acetate, propionate, and butyrate. They also
produce assorted gasses and pigments to create stool. These biochemicals that are
released help to nourish the cells of the colon and help control the pH so that excreted
toxins are not reabsorbed. These bacteria are often referred to as the “good” bacteria
because of the important symbiotic relationship we have with them. Our bodies provide
them with food and a place to live and they provide us with a healthy colon.
When diagnosing colitis a few tests are necessary fist a fecal floatation is done to make
sure the patient is free of intestinal parasites. The presence of certain parasites cannot
only cause diarrhea but can also complicate the treatment. The next test it what is referred
to as a fecal cytology. The purpose of this test is to look at the cells and bacteria being
shed in the stool. A small amount of stool is spread thinly on a slide and stained to make
the cells visible under the microscope. In this test we are looking for the amounts and
ratio of bacteria in stool along with whether or not white blood cells are present. White
blood cells are usually not seen in the stool unless there is inflammation in the
gastrointestinal tract. During cytology there are two main causes of colitis that we see.
The first cause is an overgrowth of certain bacteria such as clostridium. The other
common cause is a decreased amount of the good bacteria that should be in the colon.
Clostridial spores as seen under magnification
Acute colitis can occur after boarding, a food change, severe weather, or raiding of the
garbage can. These episodes generally come about suddenly and are very responsive to
antibiotic therapy with medications such as Metronidazole. This medication not only
helps to control bacteria but also has an anti-inflammatory effect on the colon. This effect
helps to decrease the straining and urgency to have a bowel movement that often
accompanies colitis. In some cases pets may need to be put on a food that is easier
digested to help aid in the recovery of the colon. Once the medicine has begun it is
normal for no stool to be produced in the first 2-3 days this is not a sign of constipation.
If the diarrhea is not cleared up in 2-3 days after treatment it is important to contact your
veterinarian’s office with an update.
Chronic colitis is when the symptoms of colitis persist for over a month. This can also
include colitis that occurs episodically. This is when the diarrhea seems to come and go
on a regular basis. For the best diagnosis of this condition blood work is often performed
consisting of a complete blood count to look at the red blood cells and white blood cells
as well as a chemistry panel to see how the other organs in the body are functioning. Cats
suffering from chronic colitis should also be screened for feline leukemia virus and feline
immunodeficiency virus. In these cases, food intolerance, inflammatory bowel syndrome,
and irritable bowel syndrome must be ruled out. The first step is usually to place the pet
on metronidazole and to change the food to either something more digestible or a food
with a different protein and/or carbohydrate to rule out food intolerance.
The only true way to diagnose irritable or inflammatory bowel syndrome is by taking a
biopsy of the colon. We can however narrow the likelihood of these conditions through
the use of medications such as steroids and metronidazole. These medications help to
combat inflammation in the colon in the event that that is the true cause of the diarrhea.
In all cases of colitis whether it be acute or chronic probiotics may be helpful in
treatment. These are cultures of live “good” bacteria that colonize the patient’s intestine.
The addition of these cultures produce by products that are nourishing to the intestinal
and local immune cells to make a healthier intestinal tract.
Fortiflora a probiotic often recommended for colitis
In short treatment of colitis whether chronic or acute can involve a combination of
antibiotics, food changes, and probiotics. In all cases of colitis it is important to rule out
the presence of intestinal parasites that can complicate treatment. If food intolerance is
suspected food trails may be an important step in ending the diarrhea and enabling the pet
to feel better. It is also important to note that blood and mucus often accompany diarrhea
in our pets and is not necessarily a sign of a more troubling problem. The use of human
anti-diarrhea medications is usually not recommended because these medications can
slow down the movement of the colon allowing harmful bacteria even more time to grow
and reproduce. In cases where these medications have been used the diarrhea may stop
for a short period of time only to return with even more ferocity.