Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Dogs and cats are always eating things they shouldn't, which is why vomiting and diarrhea are so common in pets. But when they are getting sick for weeks or months instead of days, they could have a more serious digestive problem called inflammatory bowel disease.

Veterinarians aren't sure what causes inflammatory bowel disease, although they suspect it occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks tissues in the digestive tract. Food allergies or problems with the pancreas may play a role in causing it. Even hair balls, which irritate the intestines, may be involved.

The conventional therapy for inflammatory bowel disease is to give medications to stop the symptoms: steroids to suppress the immune system and sometimes antibiotics to control bacteria in the gut. Holistic veterinarians, on the other hand, believe it is possible to cure inflammatory bowel disease by strengthening the body's organs, especially the digestive and regulatory organs like the pancreas and liver, and by helping the immune system work the way it is supposed to.

The Signs of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Your pet is vomiting alot
Your dog or cat has chronic diarrhea
There is blood in his stools
Your pet is losing weight, has diarrhea, and/or is vomiting

Give Digestive Enzymes

Some veterinarians believe that inflammatory bowel disease occurs when the pancreas is working harder than it should to produce enzymes. Giving your dog or cat digestive enzymes made for pets allows the pancreas to work more efficiently. Two excellent products are TF Animal Stress Pack, which contains powerful probiotics with digestive enzymes and Fastrack Microbial Powder (which also contains both probiotics and digestive enzymes).

Ask your Vet about a Change of Diet

Some pets with inflammatory bowel disease are sensitive to ingredients (usually grains, chemicals or additives) in commercial foods. Switching to a high-quality food such as The Honest Kitchen, Wysong OR Life's Abundance, or better yet, to a raw homemade diet will often help prevent the diarrhea and vomiting that accompanies inflammatory bowel disease.

Control Bacteria with Probiotics

The normal acid balance in the intestines can change when the pancreas is overactive, allowing harmful bacteria to flourish. This, in turn, can cause painful inflammation. Giving your pet Fastrack gel or Microbial Powder will help replenish the supply of beneficial bacteria and get the intestines back into balance.

Switch to Purified or Spring Water

Municipal water supplies often contain chlorine, which can kill helpful bacteria in the intestines. Giving your pet bottled water, which doesn't contain chlorine, will help these bacteria thrive.
NOTE: Do not use distilled water on a regular basis at it leaches essential minerals from the body.

Strengthen the Liver with Milk Thistle

The liver produces large amounts of metabolic enzymes. You can help it work more efficiently by giving your pet milk thistle once a day. Milk thistle may help the liver generate new cells.

Give Glutamine Supplements

Inflammatory bowel disease can damage cells in the intestine, causing scarring. Supplements containing glutamine can help rebuild the intestinal lining so that it functions better. It is recommended giving pets with inflammatory bowel disease 500 milligrams of L-Glutamine twice a day.

Absorb Toxins with Clay

Harmful bacteria in the intestines, including bacteria that come from eating rotten food, give off toxins that irritate the gut. You may be able to stop the vomiting and diarrhea by giving pets bentonite or montmorillonite clays. The clays can absorb up to 2,000 times their weight in toxins. (Transfer Factor Plus Canine Complete contains Montmorillonite clay)

You can ask your health food store for a clay called Gastrex, which contains bentonite and other ingredients. Give pets under 20 pounds half a capsule a day. Pets 20 to 50 pounds can take one capsule twice a day, and larger dogs can take two to three capsules twice a day.

Improve Digestion with Homeopathy

The homeopathic remedies Nux Vomica and Arsenicum are very effective at stopping both diarrhea and vomiting. Mix 20 drops of the 6X potency of Nux Vomica in an ounce of spring water and give your pet half a dropperful. When using Arsenicum, give pets weighing less than 15 pounds one to two of the 6X-potency pellets. Larger pets can take three to give 6X pellets. If your pet seems better in a few hours, give him another dose. If he isn't getting better, you will want to call your vet.

Essential Oils

Pure, grade A theraputic Essential Oils such as peppermint and lavender applied to your dogs feet or rubbed into your hands and then massaged into the dogs back and abdomen are very relaxing and will curb vomiting in many cases.

*CAUTION, do not apply oils directly to animals skin untless you are using 100% pure theraputic oils such as Young Living Essential Oils. Also, it may be best to not put oils on your cat at all.

Boost Immunity with Herbs

Echinacea has been shown to strengthen the immune system by increasing the number of specialized cells called T-lymphocytes. Another herb, goldenseal, is a natural antibiotic that helps control harmful bacteria in the gut, giving mucous membranes a chance to heal. Cordyceps mushroom is a highly valued medicinal mushroom in both Classical Chinese Medicine and modern clinical practice. Cordyceps mushroom also increases levels of natural-antioxidants and enhance the immune system.
The top-of-the line immune system booster, highly endorsed by The Whole Dog Store, is TF Pets and TF Plus. It contains Transer Factor and Cordyceps.

The Whole Dog Store now carries Herbs and will continue to carry more. If you don't see the herb or herbal blend you are looking for, please ask.

Soothe your Pet with Slippery Elm and/or Aloe Vera

Long-term intestinal problems are often helped by giving pets Slippery Elm tincture. Dilute 20 drops of the tincture in a one-ounce bottled filled with spring water. Give cats and dogs under 15 pounds a dropperful three times a day. Pets 15 to 50 pounds can have two dropperfuls and larger pets can take three dropperfuls. It is best to give slippery elm about 20 minutes before meals and again at bedtime. It is best to use tinctures that are alcohol-free because alcohol may be harmful for cats.
You may also use dry, powdered slippery elm and sprinkle it on your pet's food.

Aloe Vera
Animal findings suggest continuing research interest in maintenance of normal healthy stomach lining, digestion, general cell growth, and support of normal healthy cell proliferation, blood sugar levels, the immune system, and even longevity. The internal use of Aloe Vera is well documented. Major universities and research groups have published volumes of reports regarding internal applications.
Some wonderful stomach formaula made with Aloe Vera can be found on our Helpful Herbs page. Click Here