Colitis/Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Warning
Colitis (inflammation of the colon) can be acute or chronic and may be caused by stress, dietary indiscretion, parasites, bacterial infections, or as part of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Chronic cases require diagnostic workup and long-term management.
Symptoms:
- Frequent small amounts of diarrhoea, often with mucus
- Straining to defecate (can be mistaken for constipation)
- Urgency to defecate
- Blood in stool (fresh, red blood typically)
- Increased frequency of bowel movements
- Weight loss in chronic cases
- Vomiting (more common with IBD)
- Abdominal discomfort
Action Steps:
- Contact your veterinarian if symptoms persist more than 24-48 hours.
- Collect a fresh stool sample if possible.
- Consider withholding food for 12 hours (with veterinary guidance).
- Do not administer human anti-diarrhoeal medications without veterinary approval.
Important Warning
While occasional mild colitis may resolve with simple treatment, recurring episodes warrant a thorough veterinary workup. Chronic inflammatory bowel disease requires specialised diagnostic testing and management.