Bostons are a breed that are known for ‘Irritable Bowel Syndrome’ (IBS) and colitis. It is not always known what causes the condition, but we know diet intolerance plays a big role. When things irritate the lining of your pet's intestine, it causes food to move through it faster. With time, this irritation causes the lining to thicken and become inflamed.
Symptoms: Persistent loose stools, straining and diarrhea leading to accidents in the house. Sometimes there is blood as well as mucus. Cases that go untreated will lead to weight loss, vomiting, gurgling tummies, etc.
Diagnosis: It is recommended to start with bloodwork and a fecal to ensure organs are functioning properly, no worms or bacterial infection.
If tests are positive treat with proper medication prescribed by your vet.
If tests are negative we recommend starting with change in diet. There is no true test for IBS or colitis. MABTR recommends Science Diet Light small bites DRY. We remove all table food and dog treats. You can also add Metronidazole which you would get from your vet. 250mg twice a day for two weeks (this would not be long term). If is truly IBS or colitis you should see improvement in the stools within five days. If this is the cure then this is the diet your dog will need to be on for the rest of his life. Pepcid AC also helps calm down the stomach with such trauma, however this is not the fix. Recommended dose is 5mg twice a day as needed.