Irritable bowel disease is often called irritable bowel syndrome and is shortened to IBS. Irritable bowel should not be confused with inflammatory bowel syndrome (also shortened to IBS). In inflammatory bowel syndrome, inflamed cells clog the delicate lining of the large intestine. Irritable bowel disease---in which the intestines look and test normal---is considered to have origins in mental or emotional stress that affects the bowel's movement or motility. According to Dr. Todd R. Tams, DVM, no particular breed or size of dog is prone to this problem, and pinpointing particular stressors is extremely difficult.
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Veterinary Medical Treatment
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Common symptoms of this disease are diarrhea that comes and goes, abdominal pain, bloating and gas, vomiting, frequent attempts at defecation which may not yield much, and straining with defecation. These same symptoms are attached to many intestinal illnesses.
Once your veterinarian has examined your dog and ruled out other sources for the dog's gastric distress, such as chronic colitis, inflammatory bowel disease or abnormal gastric motility, he may prescribe one or more drugs to relieve the symptoms. For diarrhea, up to 2 weeks of Imodium (loperamide) or other anti-diarrheal medicine should help. For general distress and abdominal pain, a sedative or tranquilizer and a drug to control nerve impulses in the smooth muscles of the intestine (an antispasmodic) will be prescribed. If vomiting is a problem, an antacid plus an antispasmodic may be prescribed. Dietary changes will also be suggested along with a supplementation of fiber--often a low-fat highly-digestible diet. Hypoallergenic foods may be suggested as well.
Naturopathic Treatments
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Herbal treatments for dogs with irritable bowel disease can include a wide variety of components. At health food stores or natural pet product stores, you may find treatments with compounds derived from agrimony, caraway seed, chamomile, coffee, dandelion, Echinacea, fennel seed, ginger, goldenseal, lemon balm, marshmallow, olive leaf, peppermint, rhubarb, slippery elm, enzymes found in papaya and pineapple, and an amino acid found in the seeds of an African plant, Griffonia simplicifolia. Consult an herbalist for the best advice before treating your dog with herbal remedies.
Feed your dog plain canned pumpkin to help alleviate diarrhea. Probiotics containing Lactobacillus fermentum (10 million per dose), the good bacteria found in dog intestines, may also help clear up symptoms of gas, spasms and diarrhea. Acupuncture for dogs is gaining popularity as a naturopathic treatment for irritable bowel disease as well.
Make Your Dog Comfortable
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Since irritable bowel disease is unpredictable and intermittent, sticking to the regimen prescribed by your vet and staying alert to your dog's symptoms is key. Report any worsening of symptoms to your vet. Try to make your dog's environment relaxed, regular and as stress-free as possible---this includes not hovering over the dog, stressed and worried by his condition. Give medications on time and on a regular schedule. Feed as directed by the vet and do not be tempted to give table scraps, treats or rawhide chews outside the prescribed new diet. Symptoms may reoccur during therapy---make note of any changes in activity or situation that might have triggered the symptoms.
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