Canine IBD

by Jane
(Isle of Man, UK)

Dear Dr Per

My two year old westie/bichon cross is having a really difficult time with IBD/IBS type symptoms and has been admitted as an emergency (due to dehydration) to my local veterinary practice twice in the last 5 months. He has chronic (mucusy) diarrhea most days and occasionally vomits. As a young puppy he contracted giardia but appeared to be treated successfully. That said during the 6-9 months in which he seemed to be doing well, he usually started the day with firm stools which became looser as the day went on.

To date he's been treated with Zantac for the vomiting (an antacid generic name ranitidine), sulfasalazine (which he is currently taking but doesn't appear to be making that much difference), Buscapan (an antispasmodic)and is on a restricted diet of Royal Canin Blue Whiting and Tapioca! He also receives a daily dose of Pro Soluable.

The situation appears to be getting worse and I'm now extremely concerned about the long term prognosis. My vet is reluctant to perform a endoscopy as she says the results are often inconclusive.

I note with interest your comments regarding Entero-Chronic. Whilst I've read the clinical trial data you seem to be the only veterinary surgeon using this product and I would be grateful for any advice you can give me regarding how effective this product would be in the circumstances I describe above. In addition what, in your experience, is the optimum period of treatment - ie 30 or 60 days.

Any help you can give will be very gratefully received.

Best regards

My Comment:

Hi

Sorry to hear about you dogs problems.

After reading your mail I wondering why your vet is reluctant to have biopsies taken either by endoscope or perform a full thickness biopsy from the stomach and the intestines.
When this is said I must tell you that I always refer these patients to another practice for this type of examinations. But I have never experienced that results is inconclusive.
Of cause if you do biopsies from "wrong places" you can get "wrong results".
This is the advantage of endoscope as you can judge the mucosa membranes and from the look decide from where the biopsy is taken.
In Sweden I am not the only vet using it. I think from another UK contact that it is not that common there. This might be reason.
Either is it something dangerous to try. I have ask the company selling it here and they have not any side effects listed.
From my experience it works frequent enough for me to continue to recommend it.

I have had dogs getting no benefit from it and dogs which completely got rid of their intestinal problems.

Often you have to try it for at least 60-90 days and if effect you have to continue to use it (perhaps in a smaller dose after some time)

I would "Google" it and find out how to get it and try it.
Of cause you should have your dog exterminated for worms and also have a check on the cobalamin/folate levels as this also can be important in intestinal problems.

All the best
Per Schonbeck