You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Colitis is a common problem in veterinary patients - but what is it ?

Colitis literally means inflammation ( "..itis") of the colon ( "col...) - the large intestine/bowel. It can be caused by a variety of things including :

• Parasites
• Infectious agents eg bacteria
• Toxins
• Allergic reactions
• Psychogenic - stress
• Genetic factors ?
• Secondary to tumours

Clinical signs of colitis include :

• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting - sometimes
• Increased frequency of defaecation
• Straining when passing a motion - or passing mucus
• Passing clear mucus with or without faeces. Mucus can form a clear film over the faeces.
• Passing fresh bright-red coloured blood 

Treatment depends upon the underlying cause - which may only be diagnosed by taking tissue biopsies. Treatments include :

• Dietary management
• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Anti-parasitic drugs
• Surgery for tumours

CLICK HERE for Risk Factors associated with Colitis

Updated October 2013