None of us like to admit that we spend any amount of time studying our dogs poo… But let’s face it, when something looks a bit unusual sometimes you just need to have a good look! Has your dogs faeces looked unusual recently? They could have colitis!
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What is Colitis?
Colitis is the medical term for inflammation of the colon (the suffix “itis” means inflammation of). The colon is another name for the large intestine; the part of the intestinal system that takes over from the small intestine when it has finished absorbing all the valuable nutrients in the food. Once this part has been done, what is left is basically liquid. It is the job of the large intestine (or colon) to turn that liquid into faeces, mostly by reabsorbing a lot of the water in it. The colon also produces mucus. This provides some protection between the wall of the colon and the faeces, which is full of bacteria. The last thing the colon wants is for harmful bacteria to be absorbed into the bloodstream; so the mucus prevents this from happening.
What are the signs of colitis?
If your dog has colitis, they will have a type of diarrhoea known as large intestinal diarrhoea. This differs from the type of diarrhoea caused by problems with the small intestine. If the problem is with the small intestine, your dog will probably produce large volumes of liquid diarrhoea. Whereas if the problem is in the colon your dog will produce small amounts at a time.
Due to swelling in the colon, they may struggle to pass the faeces. So you may notice them straining a lot and looking like they are struggling to go. When the colon becomes inflamed, it attempts to up its defences by producing even more of the normal mucus. So you will often find that your dog’s poo has a slimy consistency, or even looks like jelly.
Since the walls of the colon are very sensitive to any insult, they can bleed quite easily. So we often find that colitis poo contains streaks of fresh blood. (The blood will be fresh and bright red, as it has just been produced by the colon and then came straight out with the faeces. Blood that is produced in the small intestine or colon has been around for longer and has been partially digested, so that usually appears dark brown or black). It is unusual for your dog to be unwell with colitis, usually they will still be quite bright and have a normal appetite.
Are there different types of colitis?
Colitis can broadly be divided into two categories – acute and chronic. Acute colitis comes on suddenly, and only lasts for a short time (days) before resolving. Chronic colitis is more long term and can go on for a long time, either continuously or intermittently.
What Causes colitis?
Like other digestive problems in dogs, the causes of colitis can be very variable. Acute colitis is often caused by a mild infection which your dog has picked up, or by eating something that they shouldn’t have. Colitis can also sometimes be brought on by stress, such as being in kennels, or excitement such as being on a particularly excellent walk! If the colitis is more chronic, then some investigation may be needed to get to the root of the underlying cause.
Your vet will likely look for infection, parasitic infestations or food intolerances. If all of these have been ruled out, then further investigations that your vet may do could include blood tests, faecal analysis, imaging of the abdomen (by x-ray, ultrasound or CT), colonoscopy (using a small camera called an endoscope to look into the colon, and possibly take some biopsies). It is rare for cancer to cause colitis, but it is always worth looking for it and ruling it out; particularly in older animals. In some rare cases, colitis can be immune mediated (caused by your dog’s own immune system attacking it). This could also be diagnosed on biopsies.
How is colitis treated?
The treatment will very much depend on the underlying cause. In most cases of acute colitis, no particular treatment is necessary. The problem will resolve itself within a few days. If it has been going on longer then the treatment will depend on what the vet has found on their investigations. They may need to treat with antibiotics, probiotics, anti-parasitic treatments, a type of anti-inflammatory that specifically targets the colon called sulfasalazine (salazopyrin) or immune modulating drugs such as steroids.
If your dogs poo looks like jelly but this has never happened before, it has been going on for less than a few days and your dog seems well and happy in himself, then it may be reasonable to try treating him with a bland diet and perhaps some over the counter probiotics for a few days. However, if the colitis isn’t resolving by itself within 3-5 days; if it has happened before; or if your dog seems unwell in himself, then it is very important to take him to see your vet, as some investigation may well be necessary.
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