While a robust breed, the German shepherd is susceptible to inflammatory bowel disorders like Crohn's disease.
Humans and dogs share similar diseases; Crohn’s disease is no exception. The inflammation of the small intestine strikes German shepherds more often than other breeds of its class, though the pathology rarely mimics the disease process observed in humans. Veterinarians typically call the symptoms of Crohn’s disease in canines inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but IBD is a catchall phrase. The name can refer to colitis, spastic colon, granulomatous enteritis and Crohn’s disease, depending on your shepherd's symptoms.
Significance
German shepherds displaying fever, chronic diarrhea and fatigue might have Crohn's disease.
When the lining of your dog’s intestines becomes inflamed, vets usually suspect some form of IBD as a possibility. Chronic loose stool, watery diarrhea and frequent accidents indicate intestinal inflammation that makes food pass through too quickly, preventing the absorption of water in healthy digestion. German shepherds are most prone to the lymphocytic/plasmacytic enteritis form of IBD, characterized by lymphocytes and plasma cells in excess along the intestinal walls. According to PetPlace.com, some dogs show no signs of disease, while others manifest life-threatening symptoms.
Identification
Vets believe Crohn's disease in German shepherds has an autoimmune basis.
Regional granulomatous enteritis, although rare, replicates Crohn’s disease in German shepherds. Intact males--those that aren't neutered--seem to be most susceptible to this form of IBD.
The disease is characterized by severe inflammation in parts of the intestine, typically the small intestine and colon, causing chronic diarrhea. Like Crohn’s, regional granulomatous enteritis attacks only parts of the intestine, leaving other sections (called "skip areas") unaffected by inflammation or dysfunction. Abdominal pain, fever, weight loss and fatigue characterize this disease.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing Crohn’s disease in dogs requires blood tests and urinalysis to detect signs of inflammation and to rule out other disease such as liver or kidney damage. Radiographs or X-rays of the abdomen can reveal the possibility of intestinal obstructions, which produce symptoms of Crohn’s disease. Your vet may also perform a fecal test to rule out parasitic infestation.
Once other possible causes are ruled out, the more intricate (and expensive) diagnostics follow. Your vet may perform an endoscopy. This procedure is performed under general anesthesia to suppress the gag reflex as a tiny tube is inserted down the shepherd’s throat and into the small intestine where a biopsy of skin is taken for examination. Surgical exploration is also used to diagnose Crohn’s disease.
Cause
The cause of Crohn's disease is unknown.
The cause of Crohn’s disease or regional granulomatous enteritis is unknown, though veterinarians theorize that an unspecified infection triggered the original immune response causing uncontrolled chronic inflammation as seen in Crohn’s.
In a healthy German shepherd, the immune system sends out antibodies to fight infection, but in an unhealthy shepherd the immune system attacks normal cells, resulting in what’s called an autoimmune disease. Vets believe Crohn’s disease has an autoimmune component.
Treatment
While as of 2010 a cure for Crohn’s disease eludes veterinary medicine, you can keep your German shepherd's symptoms in check with a change in the dog's diet and the consistent administration of anti-inflammatory drugs. Vets typically start shepherds on a high dose of prednisone and gradually taper off once the symptoms are relieved. Other treatments could include cyclosporine or azatheoprine for further immune suppression. You can also minimize gastrointestinal symptoms by restricting fats in the shepherd’s diet. Along with this treatment, a vet typically will require regular testing of prednisone’s effects on the dog’s immune system.
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