Canine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is chronic, idiopathic inflammation of the gastrointestinal mucosa that persists after diet trials and the removal of other causes, and needs immunosuppressive treatment. Many clinicians now call the whole group "chronic inflammatory enteropathy" and reserve "IBD" for the immunosuppressant-responsive subgroup, because most dogs with chronic intestinal inflammation get better on diet alone.
Key facts
Inflammatory bowel disease at a glance- Species and system: dog; stomach, small intestine, colon or several segments.
- Definition: GI signs for 3 weeks or longer, histologic mucosal inflammation, other causes excluded, and failure of diet trials.
- Cause: loss of tolerance to dietary and bacterial antigens in a genetically susceptible dog; the exact cause is unknown.
- Most common histologic type: lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis; eosinophilic is next.
- Classic presentation: a middle-aged dog (mean onset about 6 years) with chronic, often cyclic vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss.
- Key negative prognostic factors: hypoalbuminemia, hypocobalaminemia, high clinical activity score, severe duodenal endoscopic lesions.
- Zoonotic or reportable: no.
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention, control and public health
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 6 tables, 3 figures, 3 self-test questions and 19 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.