This chronic inflammatory bowel disease occurs in dogs and cats, with a genetic predisposition suspected in certain dog breeds (boxers, German shepherds). IBD is triggered by an excessive reaction of the immune system, can affect both the small and large intestines, and is incurable.
Although a genetic predisposition to certain breeds is suspected, no actual genetic defect that promotes the disease has yet been identified. The exact causes of IBD therefore remain unknown. It is likely that it is an autoimmune reaction of the intestinal mucosa triggered by various factors.
The small and large intestines are usually affected; in rare cases, the inflammation is limited to one section of the intestine. The recurring inflammation in the intestine leads to an excessive accumulation of inflammatory cells and immune cells in the intestinal mucosa. The intestinal wall thickens and significantly restricts the intestine's mobility and nutrient absorption.
The consequences of reduced intestinal function are chronic, recurrent, watery diarrhea, severe flatulence, and vomiting. If the small intestine is also affected, severe weight loss often occurs, as the absorption of nutrients and energy in this section of the intestine is disrupted. The disease progresses in episodes, between which the affected animal may appear healthy again. Depending on the severity of the disease, dehydration, anemia, protein loss, and ascites may develop as the disease progresses.
Since the symptoms are quite unspecific, at least at the onset of the disease, it is essential that the treating veterinarian receives a very detailed preliminary report. This is the only way to make accurate statements about the severity and duration of the disease. All other causes of diarrhea must now be ruled out in order to indirectly arrive at a diagnosis of IBD. These can include parasites, pancreatic diseases, tumors, or food allergies.
Depending on the preliminary report and findings, the veterinarian will perform further blood tests, ultrasound, and X-ray examinations. However, this suspicion can only be confirmed with certainty by a colonoscopy and subsequent microscopic examination of a tissue sample from the intestinal mucosa.
Due to a lack of knowledge about the exact causes of IBD, there is still no cure for the disease. Treatment of IBD is therefore aimed exclusively at alleviating the symptoms. As a pet owner, it is important to know that your pet will require lifelong treatment. Anti-inflammatory drugs are used, and in severe cases, preparations that suppress the immune system's overreaction. Your vet will draw up a detailed treatment plan for your individual case and can send you the medications for your dog digitally via petsXL, so that you can find all upcoming medication doses in your timeline and set reminders for yourself.
Special foods must also be fed to avoid putting unnecessary strain on the dog's hypersensitive gastrointestinal tract.
Regular check-ups and a treatment and nutrition plan tailored precisely by your veterinarian require a lot of patience, time, and consistency on your part, but they allow affected animals to live a largely normal life. However, relapses, known as acute episodes of the disease, must always be expected.
A horse is quite large, and the damage it can cause is considerable. In the event of an accident, the costs can easily run into several thousand dollars. A substantial sum may also be required if our horse falls ill or even needs surgery. Not to mention the financial worries if we lend our horse and it has an accident while being ridden. It is therefore very sensible and important to think about what would happen in the worst-case scenario. There are plenty of insurance policies available. Every horse owner and rider should find out exactly what is available and choose the right policy for their needs. Below is a list of some insurance policies and situations where they might be needed.
Before acquiring a dog, it is important to consider not only the important questions regarding a suitable living environment, daily routine and care options. You should also address safety issues, which often begin with "What if...?" Yes, you guessed correctly: we are referring to insurance.
Not all cats are the same – but most of them do have some characteristic traits in common! Here are a few things you should know about cats and our special relationship with them.
Glaucoma describes a condition of increased intraocular pressure (physical pressure on the inner wall of the eye, leading to a constant, smooth curvature of the cornea), which causes damage to the retina and optic nerve. The medical term glaucoma comes from Greek and means "sea-colored," because the cornea turns blue due to the increase in pressure in the eye.
HCM is the most common heart disease in cats. Hypertrophy refers to the enlargement of an organ, in this case the thickening of the heart muscle. Cardiomyopathy refers to a heart muscle disease. As a result of the thickening of the heart muscle, the heart can no longer fill itself sufficiently with blood and cannot pump enough blood into the body's circulation. This leads to a backflow of blood into the pulmonary circulation, which in advanced stages can lead to water retention and shortness of breath.
Most horse owners are familiar with and fear this scenario. The horse suddenly stops eating, becomes restless, scrapes its hooves and kicks its belly. Colic basically describes any type of abdominal pain in horses. Unfortunately, colic in horses is a very complex problem and should never be taken lightly.
Rabies is a viral infection that has been known for thousands of years. Most mammals, including humans, are susceptible to it, and it can also be transmitted between animals and humans (zoonosis). The infection caused by the rabies virus almost always results in fatal brain inflammation. Rabies is a notifiable animal disease in Germany, which means that even suspected cases must be reported to the competent authorities. Germany has been recognized as free of rabies in non-flying animals since 2008. It continues to occur in bats.
Blood in the ear, which primarily occurs in dogs with drooping ears, refers to a specific type of hematoma in the outer ear. Affected dogs display a sudden swelling and warmth in the ear. In most cases, an underlying disease is the cause of a bloody ear. It is therefore extremely important to have your dog examined by a veterinarian in order to successfully treat the underlying disease and the hematoma itself.
Tympany refers to the accumulation of gas in internal organs; accumulations of gas in the intestines are colloquially referred to as flatulence. Due to their special digestive system, guinea pigs are relatively prone to tympany, which can sometimes be life-threatening.
Dogs are pack animals. They need clear structures and consistent rules to feel comfortable. Your dog should know its place in your family from the very beginning. A dog that obeys well is socially acceptable. Your fellow human beings will appreciate this. And you will enjoy being out in public with your dog more. Loving but consistent training is the basis for peaceful and stress-free coexistence between dogs and humans.
As the name suggests, this is not a separate disease, but rather a complex of various manifestations of inflammatory changes in the mouth and skin of cats.
They're back again in late summer and fall – fall mites. They cause allergic reactions in animals and humans, with severe itching and skin inflammation. Find out how to recognize them, treat them, and, ideally, prevent an infestation here.
