Dietary Strategies for Managing Colitis in Dogs: A Veterinarian's Perspective

Can Diet Alone Help a Dog With Colitis?

"My dog has several health problems and has been on a special diet for colitis that bothers him from time to time. The diet is quite specific, and I have to feed him early in the morning, several times throughout the day, and even give him spoonfuls of yogurt during the day. We work and it is hard to keep on top of this. Is there an alternative that might work?"—Nellie

Dietary Treatment for Colitis

When a dog has colitis, the large bowel is inflamed, and in many cases the exact cause remains uncertain. Treatment with medication to reduce inflammation is necessary for some dogs, while others improve with dietary changes alone. Finding the right combination of drugs or food often requires trying different options.

In a study of dogs with idiopathic chronic colitis—meaning no identifiable cause—all of them improved when placed on a special diet, which supports the idea that dietary modification is the primary approach for managing this chronic condition. (1)

The diet described below has proven useful in certain colitis cases. Although your veterinarian likely formulated a diet specifically for your dog, I would like to offer an alternative that may be simpler for you to handle.

Common Symptoms of Colitis in Dogs

Typical signs of colitis include:

Loose or watery stool
Blood or excess mucus in the feces
Frequent defecation
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Weight loss

Fundamental Dietary Principles for Colitis Management

For dogs showing these signs—and for all colitis cases—certain guidelines should be followed.

Plenty of Fresh, Cool Water

Colitis causes excessive water loss through the stool, which can hinder recovery. A reliable way to encourage your dog to drink enough is to offer a continuous supply of fresh water via a ceramic fountain.

Protein That's Easy to Digest

Raw meat fits this requirement, though some veterinarians recommend hydrolyzed protein—protein already broken down into simple amino acids. I haven't found that necessary, and I would hesitate to feed my own dogs or patients highly processed prescription diets, even though some owners find them more convenient.

Fat Content Should Be Low

Dogs get most of their energy from fats rather than carbohydrates like the grains in kibble, but a fresh food diet can still work if you avoid very fatty cuts. Some dogs with colitis tolerate higher fat levels without problems.

Fiber Is Essential

Fiber is a crucial component of the colitis diet, though it's not a major concern for healthy dogs. A high-fiber diet supports a beneficial bacterial population in the colon, which helps prevent inflammation and reduces toxin buildup. (Prebiotics also nourish these bacteria.)

To build the diet, include:

Around 10% Raw Bones: Provided you've determined that the skin issue isn't due to a meat allergy, you can use almost any bones available. Butchers often sell parts not intended for human consumption, such as legs and other bones. If you can obtain chicken carcasses, necks, and feet, they are economical and nutritious. Raw chicken bones are safe to swallow and easy to digest.
Approximately 50–65% Meat: If the bones you use already have a lot of meat attached, you can reduce this portion, but choose very lean cuts. Beef tongue, heart, and beef cheeks are relatively inexpensive because they aren't commonly sold for people.
About 10% Organ Meats: To cover all vitamin needs, add organs such as kidney, liver, and spleen. Trim away any fat surrounding the organs.
Roughly 10–25% Vegetables: Vegetables and other carbohydrate sources aren't strictly required but can supply vitamins your dog might otherwise lack. Some dogs will eat a carrot piece, but most vegetables need to be finely blended for better digestion.
Eggs: An egg provides many essential vitamins that might be missing from the rest of the diet, so I add an egg, including the shell, several times a week. There's no scientific reason to avoid using more egg protein, so if meat is expensive where you live, you can replace more of the meat portion with eggs. (You still need to provide bones for calcium and other minerals.) Some nutritionists think egg white is more digestible if lightly cooked, but the yolk should remain raw to preserve vitamins; poaching or soft-boiling achieves this.
Fruit: 5% or Less Fruit isn't necessary but dogs enjoy it. Determine which fruits your dog likes, keep the amount to no more than 5% of the diet, and if a new fruit triggers colitis diarrhea, stop giving it.
Fish: If fresh fish is available, you can add a sardine or a small piece of mackerel once or twice a week.
Supplements: One dietary change that has helped many dogs with colitis is a high-fiber diet. You can still feed the diet described above, but add about one tablespoon of fresh or canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix, which contains spices). This is a starting amount; if diarrhea persists, increase to two tablespoons, then three tablespoons per 20 to 30 pounds of body weight. Psyllium husk is a good alternative, and many other insoluble fiber sources exist. Probiotics and prebiotics can also benefit dogs with colitis, which is why you're giving fresh yogurt throughout the day.
Treats: Low-carbohydrate, high-fiber treats are best for dogs with colitis. You can use the probiotics mentioned above as treats, as well as raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries. Please avoid processed treats from the grocery store, as they contain excessive preservatives and other processed ingredients.

Making a homemade raw colitis diet is fairly straightforward. As this video explains, you can prepare it just once a week.

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Simplifying the Colitis Diet for Busy Owners

Follow the guidelines above to formulate the diet and remove excess fat for a dog with colitis. If you prepare the food once a week, you can take out a portion in the afternoon or when you return from work and thaw it in the microwave. Save half of the daily portion for the morning feeding. This makes it manageable even with a work schedule.

Many of these raw dog foods can be found quite cheaply, so you don't need to spend a lot to feed your sick dog well.

Source

Nelson RW, Stookey LJ, Kazacos E. Nutritional management of idiopathic chronic colitis in the dog. J Vet Intern Med. 1988 Jul-Sep;2(3):133-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1988.tb02809.x. i.nlm.nih.gov/3225807/

This article is not intended to replace diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or personalized advice from your veterinarian. Animals showing signs of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.