My vet thinks my parents Lab has IBS or IBD. They have not tested him for the diesase, because it would be expensive and invasive. I have not spoken to the vet, since I am away at college. But since his only symptom was vomiting bile, I thought he jumped to conclution a little fast. They were feeding him Canidae. Now they are feeding the I/D which I think is crap food. Dana had suggusted feeding him avoderm lite after I hijacked a thread (oops sorry). He was diagonised wih blastomycosis last year and was on fluconizale for 6 months. Could the flucoizale have done some damage? My other thought was he could have pancretitsis.

 Quote: cassie timm

My vet thinks my parents Lab has IBS or IBD. They have not tested him for the diesase, because it would be expensive and invasive. I have not spoken to the vet, since I am away at college. But since his only symptom was vomiting bile, I thought he jumped to conclution a little fast. They were feeding him Canidae. Now they are feeding the I/D which I think is crap food. Dana had suggusted feeding him avoderm lite after I hijacked a thread (oops sorry). He was diagonised wih blastomycosis last year and was on fluconizale for 6 months. Could the flucoizale have done some damage? My other thought was he could have pancretitsis.

Vomiting bile in the morning is not IBS/IBD. IBS is characterized by episodes of abdominal pain accompanied by diarrhea. From my other post:

"IBS isn't usually linked to high fat or high protein in diets. It's usually linked more to a food intolerance and especially dairy. Increasing fiber is what commonly works to help control IBS. The theory with fiber is that it expands the inside of the digestive tract (primarily the colon) which then decreasess the likelyhood of it being able to spasm. Increased fiber also promotes "regularity" of the tract.

I know the old wive's tale is that fiber is used to promote "elimination" but it also works two-fold and where diarrhea is concerned will help adjust the level of liquid by absorption to help to reduce the episodes.

Stress usually plays a big roll in IBS (not a cause but making it worse). I know that athletes across the board are very prone to IBS as well as other gastric problems specifically ulcers.

Unfortunately, there is no true way to diagnose IBS. A colonoscopy can rule out microscopic causes contributing to it, but there is no "test" that says "yes, it's IBS". It's purely diagnosed by symptomology - and ruling out any other cause for episodes of abdominal pain linked with diarrhea.

There are also contributing factors in humans such as smoking, alcohol, etc., etc.,....but not things you'd need to worry about with a dog

Changing the diet can't really hurt. An elimination diet might be the way to go. That way you can find out if there is a certain food that triggers the episodes that they can stay away from."

I'm copying this about pancreatitis from my other post:

"The symptoms of pancreatits and GERD are very similiar in the beginning....however, acute pancreatitis will progress very rapidly presenting with persistent, severe vomiting and abdominal pain. The vomiting combined with their unwillingness to eat or drink can and will lead to dehydration. Dogs (and people) become extremely ill with pancreatitis requiring hospitalization and support with fluids and medications. It's nothing to fool around with. Usually an ultrasound and/or x-ray will give them an idea that the pancreas is involved."

Again, my disclaimer that these opinions are from a human GI nurse perspective.

Good posts! I have almost nothing to add, except to reiterate the Omega 3 reminder (and everything else posted).

It would be better, Cassie, if your parents joined and posted (because all this is now very second- and third-hand), but I too would say that bile vomiting ONLY (if nothing else was going on, that we don't know), and only on an empty stomach, would not lead me to any conclusion except that the dog apparently has non-at-all-uncommon empty-stomach bile-vomiting syndrome.

The "fix" * is so simple, so easy, that before I did anything else, I would put that in place and observe. JMO.




*Bedtime snack

 Quote: dana martin

... Do you happen to know what the pathology of the biopsy shows when they diagnose IBS? ...

A very good overview that I have bookmarked:

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2090&aid=305



eta
"Biopsy: The only definitive way to diagnose inflammatory bowel disease is through a biopsy. The biopsy will demonstrate increased numbers of inflammatory cells in the intestinal wall. The types of cells which are present will denote what type of inflammatory bowel disease is present. Biopsies can be obtained through use of an endoscope or exploratory surgery. The intestines may appear normal to the naked eye, but microscopically the changes can be seen. In other cases, the lesions of the gastrointestinal tract are quite apparent."

A chart follows with the types of infiltrate (Lymphocytes and Plasmacytes;
Eosinophils; Fibrous Tissue and Eosinophils; Neutrophils).

Edited by Connie Sutherland (03/10/2011 01:53 PM)
Edit reason: eta

 Quote: connie sutherland

 Quote: dana martin

... Do you happen to know what the pathology of the biopsy shows when they diagnose IBS? ...

A very good overview that I have bookmarked:

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2090&aid=305



eta
"Biopsy: The only definitive way to diagnose inflammatory bowel disease is through a biopsy. The biopsy will demonstrate increased numbers of inflammatory cells in the intestinal wall. The types of cells which are present will denote what type of inflammatory bowel disease is present. Biopsies can be obtained through use of an endoscope or exploratory surgery. The intestines may appear normal to the naked eye, but microscopically the changes can be seen. In other cases, the lesions of the gastrointestinal tract are quite apparent."

Ahhhh.....I think we need to clarify something....

IBS for us/me is "Irritable Bowel Syndrome" not "Inflammatory"....

IBD is "Inflammatory Bowel Disease".....

Irritable bowel (in humans at least) can't be diagnosed with a biopsy.

Inflammatory bowel disease, yes, most definitely can!

 Quote: dana martin

... IBS for us/me is "Irritable Bowel Syndrome" not "Inflammatory".... Irritable bowel (in humans at least) can't be diagnosed with a biopsy. ...

"Irritable Bowel Syndrome" is indeed an art to diagnose, as far as I know, relying on ruling out physical causes of gastrointestinal disease. A normal biopsy can then rule in "Irritable Bowel Syndrome" by ruling out inflammatory (and cancerous) disease.

JMO.

 Quote: connie sutherland

 Quote: dana martin

... IBS for us/me is "Irritable Bowel Syndrome" not "Inflammatory".... Irritable bowel (in humans at least) can't be diagnosed with a biopsy. ...

"Irritable Bowel Syndrome" is indeed an art to diagnose, as far as I know, relying on ruling out physical causes of gastrointestinal disease. A normal biopsy can then rule in "Irritable Bowel Syndrome" by ruling out inflammatory (and cancerous) disease.

JMO.

Yes, as I stated previously:

"Unfortunately, there is no true way to diagnose IBS. A colonoscopy can rule out microscopic causes contributing to it, but there is no "test" that says "yes, it's IBS". It's purely diagnosed by symptomology - and ruling out any other cause for episodes of abdominal pain linked with diarrhea."

IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) is perplexing at best unless you can determine triggers and causes and how to avoid them.