Treat Colitis in Dogs Naturally

Colitis in dogs, as in anyone, is an inflammation of the colon, or the lower intestines. This condition is becoming more and more common. Yet only a few decades ago, it was a rare condition. This shows that the cause is in what has happened in the intervening years. This can be undone by using a system of natural dogs health care.

The common symptoms of colitis in dogs include:

• straining to pass a bowel motion
• frequent attempts to pass a bowel motion
• diarrhoea, sometimes starting out as normal, but finishing off loose or watery
• blood or mucus in the stool
• constipation
• vomiting
• abdominal pain
• loss of appetite, with the resulting loss of weight

If you have experienced dog health problems in the past, then you will be aware that many of these symptoms are also common to other health problems. So how is colitis diagnosed?

Veterinary diagnosis of colitis is normally with a urine sample, a stool sample, a colonoscopy and a biopsy. A blood analysis may also be used. Other tests such as an X ray or scan may be used, rather to eliminate other diseases than to confirm colitis. However, the results are often inconclusive. Many tests are invasive and some, such as biopsies, are not without risk.

Whenever a dog is ill, he will always have a proliferation of parasites – bacteria, worms, etc. Contrary to popular belief, these are not the cause of the colitis, they are simply opportunistic scavengers. By giving antibiotics, wormers and the like, you are contributing to lowering the immune system of your dog, making it harder for him to recover from the colitis.

Your vet is also likely to suggest a special (and expensive) diet.

However, the cause is never isolated and treated, because it is overlooked.

One of the main causes of colitis in dogs is their diet. No matter what the price tag is, who sells it or what the cover tells you, virtually all commercial dog food is the cause of digestive upsets. Just to give you an idea of the ingredients of most, they include:

• poor quality protein from questionable sources
• high fat content
• high carbohydrate content, often highly processed
• high chemical content to change the appearance, the palatability, the texture, the shelf life, to attempt to redress the absence of nutrients

Does this sound like good dog food to you? Can you see a dog thriving on this and maintaining good health?

A better alternative is to treat colitis in dogs at the cause – by feeding a quality, nutritious, natural diet that will enhance his immune system so he can prevent all manner of disease himself. This is one of the main parts of a system of natural dogs health care.