IBD has been defined clinically as a spectrum of gastrointestinal disorders associated with chronic i
nflammation of the stomach, intestine and/or colon of unknown pathogenesis and etiology.
Canine I.B.D. Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Therapy
Etiology – Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been defined on the basis of clinical, histologic, immunologic, pathophysiologic, and genetic criteria.
Clinical Definition of IBD
IBD has been defined clinically as a spectrum of gastrointestinal disorders associated with chronic inflammation of the stomach, intestine and/or colon of unknown pathogenesis and etiology. A clinical diagnosis of IBD is considered only if affected animals have persistent (>3 weeks in duration) gastrointestinal signs (anorexia, vomiting, weight loss, diarrhea, hematochezia, mucousy feces), failure to respond to dietary (novel protein, hydrolyzed-, anti-oxidant-, or highly digestible diets) or symptomatic therapies (parasiticides, antibiotics, gastrointestinal protectants) alone, failure to document other causes of gastroenterocolitis by thorough diagnostic evaluation, and histologic diagnosis of benign intestinal inflammation (Jergens et al., 2003). Small bowel and large bowel forms of IBD have been reported in both dogs and cats, although large bowel IBD appears to be more prevalent in the dog. Continue reading Inflammatory bowel disease