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What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Holly Nash, DVM, MS

Inflammatory bowel disease is a condition in which the stomach and/or intestine is chronically infiltrated by inflammatory cells. It is characterized by certain cells invading the wall of the intestine. The cells are those associated with inflammation, which is the body's result to an insult or injury.

Inflammatory cells include lymphocytes and plasmacytes which are directly responsible for the body's immune response. Eosinophils are another cell commonly present in inflammation. Other inflammatory cells called neutrophils are responsible for the actual destruction of foreign invaders such as bacteria or clean up of damaged tissue. Finally, in chronic inflammation, normal tissue may be replaced by fibrous (scar-like) tissue.
The types of cells infiltrating the intestine determine the type of inflammatory bowel disease that is present.

How is inflammatory bowel disease treated?

The treatment of inflammatory bowel disease usually involves a combination of change in diet and the use of various medications.

Dietary Management: A food trial using hypoallergenic diets is usually one of the first steps in the initial treatment, and is used to verify the diagnosis. The key is to use a protein source and carbohydrate source the animal has never eaten before. The pet must eat nothing else, including treats, and the trial should be maintained for two to three months.

Diets low in fat are generally better tolerated in dogs with IBD. Carbohydrates low in gluten may also be helpful; avoid wheat, oats, rye, and barley. Homemade diets are sometimes used, however, they often are not completely balanced and commercial diets are preferred for the long term.

As you can see, multiple diets may have to be tried before one sees improvement in the pet's condition. This takes a lot of patience on the part of the owner.
Fatty Acids: Some studies have suggested that diets enriched in omega-3 fatty acids may help decrease the inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Eicosapentanoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (fatty acids from fish oil) have been beneficial in human patients. More research needs to be done to determine their benefit in dogs and cats with inflammatory bowel disease.

References and Further Reading

Dimski, DS. Therapy of inflammatory bowel disease. In Bonagura, JD (ed.) Current Veterinary Therapy XII. W.B. Saunders Co. Philadelphia, PA; 1995;723-8.

Leib, MA; Matz, ME. Diseases of the large intestine. In Ettinger, SJ; Feldman, EC (eds.)Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. W.B. Saunders Co. Philadelphia, PA; 1995;1241-48.

Marks, SL. Management of canine inflammatory bowel disease. The Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian. 1998;317-32.

Sherding, RG. Diseases of the Intestines. In Sherding, RG (ed.) The Cat: Diseases and Clinical Management. Churchill Livingstone. New York, NY; 1994;1239-50.

Sherding, RG. Lymphocytic-plasmacytic inflammatory bowel disease of cats. Veterinary International. 1994;11-20.

Sherding, RG; Johnson, SE. Diseases of the intestines. In Birchard, SJ; Sherding, RG (eds.) Saunders Manual of Small Animal Practice. W.B. Saunders Co. Philadelphia, PA; 1994;704-9.

Zoran, DL. Pathophysiology and management of canine colonic diseases. The Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian. 1999;824-41.