When your poor dog eats, food goes in one end and straight out the other. You frequently come home to find that your previously well-trained dog has left you a little surprise on the white carpet. What should you do? If these “little surprises” are occurring more frequently and look like diarrhea, there might be a problem.

At the same time, your dog may be straining to go as you stand in your parka freezing and waiting. And when he or she does go, if the stool is hard and comes in surprisingly small quantities for all the work it took, your dog may be constipated.

 

These are both symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in dogs. Other symptoms include abdominal cramping, gas, and bloating.

 

 

Generally, an inflamed bowel is a short-lived problem. It may be caused by an infectious agent such as bacteria, slight case of colitis, or something the dog ate, and may be resolved on its own or with antibiotics.

 

On the other hand, Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a chronic condition in which the nerves of the large intestine are overly sensitive to stimulus. It is largely believed that there is a glitch in communication between the muscles of the large intestine/colon and the brain, which causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. This oversensitivity may cause ordinary events, such as the passage of food, to trigger bowel pain, diarrhea, constipation, gas, and bloating.

 

 

Irritable Bowel Syndrome can occur in all breeds and both sexes. Because the autonomic nervous system is connected to bowel movement, stress may be a factor. It has been observed that more working, performance, and all-round high-strung dogs have irritable bowel.

 

 

If you think your dog has Irritable Bowel Syndrome, see your veterinarian. Diagnosing Irritable Bowel Syndrome is more of an art than a science. There is no single test that can confirm or deny its presence. But before it can be effectively diagnosed, make sure that your veterinarian has ruled out all other possible bowel problems. It is important to rule out other physical, structural, or infectious bowel diseases such as inflammatory dowel disease, bowel cancer, bowel infection or other bowel disorders.

 

 

Changing your dog’s diet is the first step to managing IBS. Their food should be highly digestible – no more little treats or scraps off the table. Ask your vet for recommendations of special foods. Fiber may help, but it is important to consult your vet on how to administer it. It can be added as a supplement, or recommended as a special high-fiber dog food.

 

If diet isn’t enough, or your dog’s case is severe, your vet may recommend over the counter remedies or give you a prescription. Antispasmodic medications can suppress muscle contraction in the stomach and intestine, in effect controlling spasms. There are antidiarrheal drugs that can bind the stool.

 

The most important aspect of treating your dog – watch them. See how they respond to diet changes and medications. IBS is a highly individualized disorder, and everyone – whether human or canine – responds differently to stimulus.

 

 

While irritable bowel is chronic, it is not life-threatening. But you will be living with it as long as you own your dog. Diet can ease symptoms dramatically, but flare-ups happen. You can expect that, and your dog probably feels as bad about the accidents as you do!

 

Stress will exacerbate their symptoms, so offer your dog a relaxing environment, where they can live in relative calm.

 

Most important – give your dog the love he or she deserves!