help with dog who has disease similar to human crohns disaese?

Question

for dogs it is called eosinophilic his glands gets swollen they bleed and sometimes there is blood when he has a bowl movement, i have changed his food due to allergy but still no help vet no help>>>>>>>

Answer 1

New vet. A second opinion never hurt anyone. Maybe your vet doesn't have a lot of experience with this disease.

I wouldn't change foods anymore without consulting another veterinarian first, but if you choose to try another food, below are my top 5 from when I was researching foods for my dogs.

Some good brands...
Natural Balance
Canidae
Wellness
Innova
Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul

Answer 2

Well, my boyfriend has a severe case of Ulcerative Colitis (same medicines used to treat Crohns... inflammation is only in the colon, not intestines etc).

He's got a very strict diet, and if it's a similar IBD issue, then these would cause issues for you as well...

Only cooked veggies with no skins or seeds! No peas (some limited foods for dogs/cats have peas.. i have a cat on limited ingredient foods that has peas in it).
Only white rice.
As low fat as possible.
Stay away from grainy meats: chicken or fish is best
No corn products!
When there is a flare-up, stick with liquids, those that are easily digested.

I'm not familiar with your dog's condition, but these are the food requirements for Crohn's/Ulcerative Colitis.

Also, another major issue is when the intestines are not working at 100%, there are MAJOR vitamin deficincies, especially iron, potassium, vitamin b-complex. You'll probably need to find a regimin with your vet to correct the vitamin issues.

Now, with medicines... My boyfriend's medicines are very expensive for his IBD. Corticosteriods for flareups to promote healing. Colazol: he takes 9 pills a day (a month, without insurance would be about 300.00 or so), Imuran 3 a day (also very expensive) -- keeps immune system from attacking colon, also Iron pills: Tandem, and Remicade infusions every other month (without insurance: $9,000.00 each) -- keeps immune system from attacking colon. I don't know what kind of canine treatment for something like this. If it's in this ballpark, you might need to decide if there's some sort of surgery that may help.

With the corticosteriods. I have been told that dogs don't take this well, that it shortens their lives. This may be a neccessary drug to help your baby heal from time to time. I had a cat that had scar tissue in his lungs from chronic bronchitis that was put on corticosteriods for the rest of his life. He's still doing well at 14, and his life is better for it but it will be shorter because of the meds. That's another decision you'll have to make. I believe that the quality of life's more important than years on Earth.


From what I've read on google on your dog's condition, it looks like he's going to need a SEVERELY restricted food diet, something you may have to cook yourself, that they're doing research into the human version of the ailment, but that is has to do mainly with allergic reaction to something. You may need to do a complete allergy test to see if it's pollen, fleas, etc. that may be triggering it as well.

Answer 3

I dont know enough about this illness, but acidopholis can help these kind of conditions, and is safe for anyone to take. I would also get a second opinion from a vet, it is likely he needs a special diet. Get acidopholis in human form from a health store, 10$ will get you three months worth, and give one a day or once in the am and one in the pm. I hope he feels better!

Answer 4

Try adding some powdered psyllium (the main ingredient in Metamucil) to his diet; make sure he has enough water to drink. This softens the stool but also keeps it formed (not messy) and makes it easier to pass. It is effective in treating both constipation and diarrhea. It should at least make his symptoms more manageable.
I used to give it to my dog mixed in a small amount of milk, before her main meal, but you could use whatever works for you.

Answer 5

Regardless you will have to find the diet for him. You will have to try one food for at least a month to see how it works on your dog. You might even have to try human foods like real chicken and fish. etc, I hope you find the answer. Record your findings on each piece of food till you get just the right one.

Answer 6

keep changing food gradually 50 50 ,maybe time to see another vet.

Answer 7

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=339300

http://www.royalcanin.us/documents/GICanine%20Spec%20Edition%20Focus.pdf.


It is one of those very tough things to treat and relapses are common, these articles may be of help to your vet