Natural Remedies To Treat Colitis In Dogs
Colitis in dogs is a disease characterized by inflammation of the colon, the part of the large intestine that absorbs the most water. When a condition occurs at this level of the digestive system, the most characteristic symptom is usually the deposition of watery diarrhea.
If any pet has obvious signs of this problem, it is essential to go to the consultation to find out the cause and administer a treatment. There are also natural products and supplements that help alleviate the symptoms and that can be complemented with the veterinary approach.
How to identify colitis in dogs?
Diarrhea is not usually something rare in dogs, but it is normal for it to occur sporadically and remit naturally without clinical intervention. However, on other occasions they can last longer and be associated with the ingestion of a toxic food, parasites, obstructions or pathologies such as colitis in dogs.
The main symptom of colitis is an increase in the frequency of stools : these are small, watery and may appear with mucus and / or fresh blood. There is usually no associated vomiting and if there is weight loss it is due to the dog not eating enough or dehydration in cases of diarrhea.
Colitis can present in two different ways:
- Acute colitis ; of punctual appearance and short duration. The most frequent causes are eating disorders.
- Chronic colitis : it occurs in an interval of two to three weeks or recurrently throughout the life of the animal.
What Causes Colitis?
Acute colitis is the most common, as it can appear without symptoms other than abnormal stools in the dog. It is usually caused by the following factors:
- Eating disorders: due to the consumption of foods that are not recommended for pets, waste or sudden changes in diet.
- Food allergies or intolerances.
- Intestinal parasites, such as Trichuris , giardia, or coccidia infection . These events are common in puppies, as their immune system is not yet fully developed.
The causes of chronic colitis, on the other hand, can be more difficult to diagnose. Its origin is in different digestive diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, in infections, cancer or they can be of idiopathic origin – the real cause is never known.
Treatment of colitis in dogs
Treatment depends on the underlying reason for the colitis. In milder cases of acute colitis – which will likely resolve on their own – guardians can help restore digestive health by offering a special diet recommended by your vet.
On the other hand, in the most severe cases it may be necessary to apply some medication, and if there is high dehydration, the administration of fluid therapy.
In chronic colitis events, the veterinarian will determine what is necessary to remit the disease. For example, antibiotics, antidiarrheals or antiparasitics for infectious causes. If necessary, interventions can be considered to remove rectal masses, polyps or tumors – after a previous colonoscopy and biopsy.
In addition to all this, good dietary management is key to treating colitis in dogs. The diet must be exclusively controlled, without giving the animal any other type of food or treats.
It takes at least two months or more after diagnosis for the diet to take effect in treating colitis in dogs.
Some natural remedies based on these controlled diets can also help restore proper intestinal transit. Here are some examples.
Highly digestible meats and vegetables
If the guardian has a predilection for a natural diet or if the intention is to change the feed of a dog suffering from colitis, it is very important to pay special attention to its main ingredients.
Proteins have to be of animal origin, easily digestible and hypoallergenic. Rabbit meat is a highly recommended source for these dogs, also turkey or fish.
Vegetables and fruits should also be easy to digest and rich in fiber, such as apples, pumpkins, potatoes, or carrots.
Salmon oil
Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties. They are found in abundant proportions in fish oils, such as salmon oil, which also contain omega-6 acids. In addition, they have other very beneficial properties.
Yogurt and kefir: natural probiotics
Probiotics are beneficial for treating symptoms of colitis-related conditions, such as irritable bowel disease, which is deficient in both bifidobacteria and lactobacilli.
These microorganisms are present in foods such as yogurt, kefir, or as nutritional supplements in pill form. A healthy intestinal flora is always one of the first steps to tackle any gastric disease.
Glutamine is beneficial for gut health
Glutamine is an amino acid naturally present in the body, but with certain diseases its amount in the blood can be decreased.
As a dietary supplement, this amino acid can help rebuild the intestinal lining that is affected in colitis in dogs . This favors protein absorption and limits bacterial overgrowth.
As we have seen, colitis in dogs requires multidisciplinary treatment. The best results will be reported if the guardian and the veterinarian work together in order to avoid gastric upset of the animal.
