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COLITIS ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT COLITIS
WHAT / WHERE IS THE COLON?
DIARRHEA CAN COME FROM EITHER THE SMALL INTESTINE OR THE LARGE INTESTINE AND THE APPROACH IS DIFFERENT IN EITHER CASE In classifying diarrhea, it is important to determine whether the problem originates from the small intestine, from the colon, or possibly both. Small intestinal diarrheas tend to be more serious as they involve fundamental problems with obtaining nutrients from food. Diarrheas of the colon are less debilitating but still uncomfortable. The following are characteristics of large intestinal diarrhea:
A diagnosis of colitis is generally straight forward given the above classic findings though how one should proceed depends on the course of the signs. Is the problem acute (i.e. suddenly there) or chronic (been happening for several weeks regularly) or episodic (happens then goes away then happens again)?
COLITIS SUDDENLY ("ACUTE COLITIS"): A pet that has sudden symptoms of colitis probably has a stress-related colitis (common after boarding, moving, severe weather or other change) or a dietary indescretion-related colitis (related to treats or raiding the garbage). These episodes are generally minor and can be cleared with a short course of medication such as metronidazole or sulfasalazine and/or dietary therapy. Parasites, especially giardia and whipworms, can also cause colitis and may have to be ruled out as well with testing or deworming. In general, a few days of medication and bland diet should resolve the problem and the pet will be back to normal quickly. During recovery it is common to find the pet has no stool at all for a couple of days. This is normal and not a sign of constipation. If, however, the pet's diarrhea is not clearly improved in 2-3 days, the owner should contact the veterinarian's office with an update to see if further testing is needed.
COLITIS CHRONICALLY OR IN RECURRENT EPISODES If the symptoms of colitis have been going on for a month or more or if they keep recurring and resolving over and over, then a medical work up is needed. It is important to make sure simple causes of colitis have been ruled out so parasite testing becomes especially important. A good fecal examination for worms and coccidia plus additional testing for Giardia should be performed. If any of these tests are positive then obviously the parasite in question can be addressed; it is always best to identify the cause of the colitis is it is possible to do so. That said, even if these tests are negative, it is still a good idea to include a broad spectrum de-worming and coccidia treatment should probably be given as these treatments are safe and inexpensive. Whipworms, in particular, are difficult to detect and commonly cause colitis symptoms. We want to be sure we have ruled out the simple causes of colitis before more advanced diagnostics begin. Similarly, a week or so of metronidazole, sulfasalazine, or tylosin may effectively treat a toxin-producing Clostridium perfringens infection and potentially solve the entire problem. Of course, a basic blood panel and urinalysis are in order, as they are with any chronic disease, to assess the patient's general health.
After all the preliminaries above are all covered the patient is assessed for results. If it doesn't look like one-time treatment of deworming, antibiotics, or diarrhea medication is going to solve the problem then diagnostics continue to the next level. Most reference labs now have the capability to do PCR (DNA) testing for more obscure organisms such as Tritrichomonas in cats, Cryptosporidium in dogs and cats, and more. This is testing uses a fecal sample and can be used to non-invasively rule out unique infections. The last step in colitis diagnostics is colonoscopy with biopsies with the idea of examining colon tissue under the microscope to classify the inflammation present. Depending on the type of cells infiltrating the colon lining, the colitis can be classified as lymphocytic/plasmacytic (a form of inflammatory bowel disease), histocytic (which tends to stem form a special type of E. coli infection,) or not truly colitis at all and the entire problem may be the psychosomatic condition known as irritable bowel syndrome. All these conditions have different treatments. Colonoscopy requires a period of fasting (usually a couple of days) and enemas or some other kind of fluid to clear the colon of residual stool so the naked tissue of the colon can be viewed and sampled. Referral to a specialty hospital is likely needed. Colonoscopy is performed under general anesthesia and not every patient is a candidate for that plus expense may be a concern. These disadvantages must be weighed against the quality and quantity of information that can be obtained through evaluation of an actual tissue sample from the colon.
MANAGEMENT TIPS FOR COLITIS Colitis is best managed when its cause is known and specific therapy can be instituted. When this is not possible, symptomatic management is often attempted. The following are therapeutic medications and strategies that can be helpful in the treatment of colitis. Metronidazole and Tylosin: These medications have anti-inflammatory properties in the large intestine as well as ability to kill harmful organisms. For more information on this medication, see the links. Sulfasalazine: This medication consists of a sulfa antibiotic bound to a salicylate anti-inflammatory. The sulfa bond protects the anti-inflammatory medication until it gets to the large intestine thus saving the anti-inflammatory effect for the disease of the large intestine. This is a very effective medication but is typically given three times a day which is an inconvenience. Cats are sensitive to salicylates thus this medication is primarily used in dogs. Again, see link for more details. Dietary Fiber: The role of fiber in colitis is confusing as there are an assortment of fiber preparations (soluble fibers, insoluble fibers, and mixtures). In general, colitis is felt to be a “fiber-responsive” disease but there are so many combinations of fiber types that it is hard to know what the patient may be responding to. Insoluble fibers, like cellulose, bulk up the stool and are stimulating to the colon lining. This may not be what is in order if the colon is already irritated though giving some structure to diarrhea may be a good thing. Soluble fibers, like psyllium, are fermented by the colon bacteria into nutrients for the colon cells which helps them heal. Prescription high fiber diets often have a mixture of soluble and insoluble fibers that have been scientifically determined to help colitis patients. Alternatively, a low residue diet (one of high digestibility) could be used and soluble fiber added to it. The idea with this strategy is to have maximum intestinal absorption of nutrients in the small intestine so less material is entering the colon but once the material gets there, the soluble fibers added help the colon cells to heal.
Prebiotics such as Fructooligosaccharides (FOS): Prebiotics are basically food for beneficial colon bacteria. Feeding a diet rich in prebiotics promotes a healthy colon bacterial population which in turn helps resolve diarrhea. Fructooligosaccharides are carbohydrates involving fructose (fruit sugar) units attached to glucose (starch sugar) units. Regular dietary carbohydrates are digested by the bacteria of the small intestine leaving only the undigested fibers and other dregs for the teeming masses of the large intestine. FOS’s are not fibers but they are digested in the large intestine (not the small intestine) in the same way that fibers are, yielding the same biochemicals that fibers do. Why is this good? Tests in healthy animals indicate that this will help remove pathogenic bacteria from the large intestine and promote the growth of helpful bacteria. Think of it as an anti-crime program in the New York City of bacteria. Diets that contain FOS’s or other prebiotics may be helpful in the management of colitis. Several such diets are available.
Elimination Diet: Colitis can result from a food intolerance (an example would be lactose intolerance from which numerous people suffer). Intolerances can result from dyes, preservatives, contaminants or even natural proteins in the food. Similarly, colitis can result from an actual food allergy. The solution for these intolerances is the feeding a “pure” diet, ideally a home cooked food made with carbohydrates and proteins that are novel or new to the patient. An 8-10 week diet course is typically needed and no other chews or treats can be offered during the time of the trial. Food allergy cannot be diagnosed by blood test or skin test. At this time, response to elimination diet is the only test for food allergy or intolerance. Most people are not in a position to home cook an appropriate food for the pet. Fortunately, several novel protein diets and hydrolyzed protein diets have been developed. For more details on using an elimination diet, please visit our food allergy page.
Prednisolone: Prednisolone is the cornerstone of treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease and inflammatory bowel disease must be diagnosed by biopsy. Sometimes a trial course of this medication is suggested for colitis but it is important to keep in mind that such trials can interfere with future diagnostics and can create some degree of immune suppression. Prednisolone could be disastrous in the event of an E. coli-related histolytic colitis, for example. Many patients with inflammatory bowel disease are never able to fully discontinue prednisolone so be sure to discuss the pros and cons of attempting this therapy in the absence of a biopsy.
HISTIOCYTIC ULCERATIVE COLITIS - A SPECIAL FORM OF COLITIS
Histiocytic ulcerative colitis can be confirmed by biopsy though signs of colitis in a young Boxer are highly suggestive of this condition. Page last updated: 7/2/2024 |