Managing Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Introduction

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the term applied to a group of chronic intestinal diseases (enteropathies) characterized by persistent or recurrent gastrointestinal (GI) signs and inflammation of the GI tract. IBD involves a complex interaction between host genetics, the intestinal microenvironment (principally bacteria and dietary constituents), the immune system, and environmental “triggers” of intestinal inflammation (1). The specific steps that lead to IBD, and the basis for phenotypic variation and unpredictable responses to treatment, are unknown.

This article will focus on the treatment of dogs with IBD, but in turn treatment is influenced by the type of IBD and is guided by breed predisposition, the severity of clinical and clinicopathological findings, and the gross and histopathological appearance of the intestines. [...]

Key Points

• The term IBD is applied to a group of chronic intestinal disorders that are increasingly considered to be a consequence of genetic susceptibility and aberrant response to the intestinal microenvironment.

• Treatment is influenced by the type of IBD, and is guided by breed predisposition, the severity of clinical and clinicopathological findings, and the gross and histopathological appearance of the intestines.

• Infectious agents such as bacteria and fungi should be actively excluded in dogs with neutrophilic or granulomatous enteritis.

• The majority of dogs with minimal-change enteropathy or “lymphocytic plasmacytic enteritis”, accompanied by normal serum albumin, respond to diet or antimicrobial therapy.

• Immunosuppression is reserved for dogs with refractory or severe “lymphocytic plasmacytic enteritis” or lymphangiectasia.

• Dogs with a protein-losing enteropathy and low serum albumin have a poor prognosis.