# Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Pets UK — Quick answer

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/inflammatory-bowel-disease-pets-uk): Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Pets UK — Quick answer. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) causes long-term gut inflammation — leading to chronic vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss in dogs and cats. It is a diagnosis of exclusion: your vet must rule out parasites, infections and other causes first. Most pets improve with vet-led diet trials and treatment.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/inflammatory-bowel-disease-pets-uk): Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Pets UK — What IBD is. According to the PDSA, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) describes chronic inflammation of the stomach, small intestine or colon. The gut's immune system reacts abnormally — to dietary proteins, gut bacteria, or triggers that are not fully understood — causing ongoing digestive upset. IBD is not the same as a one-off stomach bug. Signs persist for weeks or months and often return after brief improvement.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/inflammatory-bowel-disease-pets-uk): Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Pets UK — Signs in dogs. Chronic gut disease in dogs may show as: - Vomiting — see Dog vomiting causes - Diarrhoea or soft stools — see Dog diarrhoea home remedies for when acute diarrhoea needs urgent care - Weight loss despite a good appetite - Increased hunger with weight loss - Rumbling tummy and flatulence - Poor coat and low energy

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/inflammatory-bowel-disease-pets-uk): Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Pets UK — Signs in cats. In cats, IBD often presents as: - Vomiting — see Why is my cat vomiting - Diarrhoea or very soft stools - Weight loss — see Cat weight loss - Reduced appetite in some cats; increased appetite in others - Hairballs may be confused with IBD vomiting — frequency matters

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/inflammatory-bowel-disease-pets-uk): Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Pets UK — How IBD is diagnosed. There is no single test for IBD. Your vet typically: 1. Takes a full history — diet, treats, worming, duration of signs 2. Runs blood tests to check organ function and rule out hyperthyroidism (cats), pancreatitis (dogs) and other conditions 3. Checks faecal samples for parasites and infections 4. May use ultrasound to assess gut thickness and lymph nodes 5. Sometimes recommends intestinal biopsy — the most definitive diagnosis Do not assume IBD without veterinary work-up. Pancreatitis in dogs, parasites, and foreign bodies can mimic IBD.

Source: https://pethealth.org.uk/health/inflammatory-bowel-disease-pets-uk