My dog keeps throwing up, suspected IBD. What's the next step?

There is no specific test for IBD except intestinal biopsy which is a very invasive procedure. an expert ultrasound can be done to achieve an approximate diagnosis for IBD but this is not a 100% test. i would suggest going ahead and follow your vet's recommendation about this, i usually recommend a prescription diet and steroid treatment for severe cases of IBD.

I'm sorry to hear that Mercedes is sick. If IBD or GI lymphoma is suspected the next steps may be ultrasound or even biopsy. Biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis of IBD. However, I will frequently treat if it is strongly suspected on ultrasound. If IBD is confirmed it's worth doing a trial of a prescription GI diet. Although a/d is a good recovery diet it is probably not the best one to use as a maintenance diet if IBD is suspected. It would also be worth giving your veterinarian a call to see if they can give a Cerenia injection. This will help to resolve the vomiting and can be continued if necessary. Vitamin B12 injections can also be helpful when a cat is experiencing GI distress and will be needed if IBD is confirmed. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and best wishes to Mercedes!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Remi. In the bloodwork that was run, did it include GI specific testing such as cobalamin, folate, PLI and TLI levels. These are values that will give information such as the location of GI disease (small intestine vs pancreas) and treatment options. I typically do this planel in conjunction with an abdominal ultrasound. This information with the ultrasound can give insight into conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, food sensitivities or as you mentioned cancer. The anti-inflammatory properties of the antibiotic she was on could help even with a tumor in GI tract, but there are so many other causes of diarrhea that would respond as well. I think it is worth pursuing further bloodwork and the ultrasound. If you can get a diagnosis, then a treatment plan can be developed. I hope this information helps!

The bilirubin is a bit high, as is the ALP (alkaline phosphatase) but neither of these values is super specific in terms of what the cause or the best treatment is. We can see the ALP be elevated with stress, age, and sometimes even normal cell regeneration within the liver. The bilirubin can be slightly elevated when the blood sample is what we call "hemolyzed," which can sometimes happen when blood is spun down for a blood test to be run. Therefore, if he is still showing symptoms of illness, I would echo what Dr Ana said; it may be time to consider imaging. Either X-rays or an abdominal ultrasound maybe helpful in identifying the problem and therefore identifying the best way to treat it. Take him back to the vet if he's still having troubles, as he probably is in need of some more fluids as well. Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach, I hope he's feeling better.

The symptoms do overlap for all of these disorders. Most have vomiting and diarrhea and the appetite is variable. In advanced cancer or gastritis they are anorexic but early on can still have an appetite. An ultrasound is a good way to distinguish cancer and IBD from gastritis though. However IBD and cancer have thickened intestines and are hard to distinguish unless there is an intestinal biopsy obtained.

Poor girl! If she has already had her biopsy results returned and they were clear then I would worry about cancer somewhere. Although unlikely since she is so young it is definitely possible. You could also have your vet send off a GI panel to check her pancreatic enzymes, cobalamin, and folate levels. If the biopsy results have not come back yet, I would wait for those before trying anything new. It could show several different things including inflammatory bowel disease, change in the musculature, and much more that will help your vet treat her. Biopsies are the best diagnosis for dogs that won't eat and all other tests are normal. I hope this helps and she starts to eat and feel better really soon!

I would talk to your vet about submitting a GI panel or performing biopsies. Even with normal ultrasounds, IBD or lymphoma may not be able to be diagnosed. Empirical deworming may be indicated. Steroid trials may help. Has the thyroid level been checked? There is so much more information we need to be able to help you in this complicated case. I would recommend choosing a Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach consult so we can better evaluate what the tests and results have been to help you decide what steps should be next.