Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Dogs

Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Dogs

By: Dr. Erika de Papp

Section: Diagnosis In-depth

  • A history and physical exam are necessary to guide the diagnostic work-up. Careful history taking should help determine if the clinical signs are primarily consistent with upper or lower GI signs, or both. Physical exam findings of animals with IBD may include thickened intestinal loops and evidence of malnutrition due to intestinal disease.

  • Complete blood count. The CBC evaluates the red and whiteCrystal Eye 4oz
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  • Biochemical profile.
    The biochemical profile helps to evaluate liver and kidney function as well as assessing blood sugar, protein and electrolyte levels (sodium and potassium are examples of electrolytes). This is imperative in ruling out diseases of other body systems such as liver and kidney disease. In severe cases of IBD the blood proteins may be low due to protein loss into the GI tract and decreased absorption of protein. Other biochemical parameters are usually within normal limits.

  • Urinalysis. Evaluation of the urine together with the biochemical profile is necessary to assess kidney function, as well as to rule out protein loss through the kidneys in animals with low blood proteins.

  • Fecal tests. Fecal analysis is necessary to diagnose bacterial and parasitic infections. A fecal float looks for worm eggs. A fecal culture is necessary to rule out the bacterial causes of infection, and there is a specific fecal test to look for Giardia.

  • Trypsin-like immunoreactivity (TLI). The TLI assesses production of digestive enzymes by the pancreas and rules out pancreatic insufficiency. This would be more commonly run in dogs, as pancreatic insufficiency is rare in cats. Additionally, pancreatic insufficiency causes signs consistent with upper GI disease, so testing would be limited to animals with the appropriate clinical signs.

  • Bacterial overgrowth can be assessed in several ways. One method involves getting samples of intestinal juice and culturing it to evaluate the total number of bacteria present. Bacterial overgrowth can also be implied by measuring blood levels of cobalamin (Vitamin B12) and folate. Cobalamin is often consumed by bacteria and folate is a substance produced by bacteria. Therefore, alterations in the levels of these two substances can be suggestive of bacterial overgrowth.

  • Thoracic radiographs. Chest X-rays are useful to rule out evidence of spread of cancer to the lungs. Since cancer has to be considered in animals presenting with chronic GI illness, chest X-rays are a good idea prior to any invasive diagnostic procedures.

  • Abdominal ultrasound. Ultrasound exam of the abdomen may help pinpoint the site of the problem. Animals with IBD may have completely normal exams, or they may show evidence of intestinal wall thickening, loss of normal intestinal detail and enlarged abdominal lymph nodes. Ultrasound exam may also be useful in identifying solitary intestinal tumors or abnormalities associated with other abdominal organs such as the liver and kidneys.

  • Food trial. Switching the animal's food to a new diet or a hypoallergenic diet may indicate an allergy to a specific food if the signs resolve following cessation of the previous diet.

  • Intestinal biopsy. Biopsy of the intestine is the only way to obtain a diagnosis of IBD. The microscopic evaluation of tissue from the intestine is required to confirm a suspected diagnosis. However, it is important to rule out other causes of GI disease prior to obtaining a biopsy, as different disease processes can cause a similar appearance on microscopic exam. Intestinal biopsy may be obtained either via endoscopy, which is a scope placed into the GI tract either via the mouth or the rectum, laparoscopy, in which a scope is paced into the abdominal cavity through a small incision made in the body wall, or surgery. The largest biopsies may be obtained via surgery but this is also the most invasive method to obtain a biopsy. Endoscopic biopsies only sample the innermost layer of the intestinal wall.

     
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