Taken from: Mar Vista Vet; (COMMENTS MINE)
HISTIOCYTIC ULCERATIVE COLITIS - A SPECIAL FORM OF COLITIS
This condition is also called "Boxer Colitis" (WHAT?!) because the Boxer breed seems predisposed. This form of colitis is particularly ulcerative (SUPER... "particularly ulcerative"...) and involves infiltration of the tender colon lining with cells called "histiocytes." These cells are the cells that are normally called into the scene of inflammation relatively late so that they can absorb the dead cells and debris that have been created by the inflammatory event.
Dogs with this condition typically show symptoms at an early age (less than 2 years)(DAMMIT! Copper qualifies!) and become more debilitated by their symptoms than the usual colitis patients do (NO KIDDING). It is currently believed that this condition results from an inappropriate immune response against the common bacteria of the colon. Dogs with this form of colitis do not respond well to the usual remedies but instead seem to show an excellent response to the antibiotic enrofloxacin.
Histiocytic ulcerative colitis can be confirmed by biopsy though signs of colitis in a young Boxer are highly suggestive of this condition (AND MY BOXER HAS IT -- BOO!).
Don't mean to gross you out, Avid Reader, but indeed Histiocytic Ulcerative Colitis has likely descended on the Moore household. Poor Copper is el-sicko and has been for the past week. She was having VD (volcanic diarrhea) as of last weekend and blood began to show in her stool as of last Monday. She started a couple of meds this week that only stablized the condition, but it never improved. After some blood-free samples, Copper took a turn for the worse today and I took her in only to have more probing (Copper took it like a champ!), more meds and her first x-rays. We're on what I call "horse meds" now as she's getting Clydesdale doses of anti-bacterials now. But more white rice/cottage cheese meals, runny diarrhea, and colon challenges for Copper. Cross your fingers she improves for her first birthday party in three weeks!
5 comments:
Hi,
If your dog has "boxer colitis" or HUC (histiocytic ulcerative
colitis), which can be verified by biopsy, and is considered fatal,
you may find this helpful. Even if you can not afford biopsy or are
worried about perforating intestinal walls, and all conventional
treatments fail (typical of HUC) I recommend you give it a try. It
saved my girls life, after months of suffering she was all skin and
bones, and I was considering euthanasia.
My advice is to forget any attempts to treat HUC with various diets
(like raw) or probiotics, they bring temporary improvement at best,
often not even that. It seems HUC is caused by E. Coli and can be
treated easily (sorry about all caps - I copy from my one of my
earlier emails):
I HAVE A BOXER GIRL THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BACK IN 2005, AND VETS
HAD NO IDEA HOW TO TREAT IT (AND WE WENT TO MANY)! AFTER A LOT OF TIME
AND MONEY THE SOLUTION CAME FROM AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY: ENROFLOXACIN
1x150mg (5-10mg/kg) DAILY FOR AT LEAST 6 WEEKS. IT IS A COMMON
ANTIBIOTIC AND NOT EXPENSIVE. AFTER 2 WEEKS SHE WAS GETTING BETTER. IN
THE END SHE WAS CURED AND WE HAD NO MORE PROBLEMS!!! IT SEEMS
SOMETIMES THERE IS A REMISSION, BUT REPEATED THERAPY WORKS AND IS
USUALLY NEEDED ONLY ONCE. GOOD LUCK AND DON'T WORRY, IT WORKS ALMOST
100% OF TIMES!
By the way, enrofloxacin is called "Baytril" in US (i think)...
Personally, back in 2005, I contacted mr. Roger A. Hostutler directly
for help, he was very helpful and sympathetic...
Good luck,
Uros.
-- SOURCES:
J Vet Inter Med 2004 Jul-Aug; 18(4):499-504 "Antibiotic-responsive
histiocytic ulcerative colitis in 9 dogs"
Roger A. Hostutler, DVM, MS, DACVIM
Veterinary Specialty Hospital of the Carolinas
6405 Tryon Road, Suite 100, Cary, North Carolina 27511
919-233-4911 (Phone), 919-854-1155 (Fax), hostutler.4@osu.edu (email)
and
NEW THERAPEUTIC APPROACH TO BOXER COLITIS
Michael E. Matz, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM, Veterinary Specialty Center
of Tucson, Tucson, AZ
North American Veterinary Conference, January 7, 2006
and
Remission of Histiocytic Ulcerative Colitis in Boxer Dogs Correlates
with Eradication of Invasive Intramucosal Escherichia coli
Authors: Mansfield, C.S.; James, F.E.; Craven, M.; Davies, D.R.;
O'Hara, A.J.; Nicholls, P.K.; Dogan, B.; MacDonough, S.P.;
Simpson, K.W.
Source: Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Volume 23, Number 5,
Sep/Oct 2009 , pp. 964-969.
Thanks for the post, Zec. Indeed we started my boxer on Baytril just yesterday! In my research, I had also read up on Enrofoloxacin, so we're already on the right path. Thanks for your insights and validation!
I am happy to hear you started therapy already. It is fortunate your vet knew about the antibiotic treatment. As with all bacterial infections it is important to stick with it for at least 6 weeks, even when symptoms subside... Good luck and let us know how your pup does!
Ooh, this sounds like a major sucko sandwich Todd. How stressful and worrisome. Thinking of you and your sad pup.
We are sending the love your way--to Coppersweetie and you. She is a trooper. Can't wait to see you both real soon. Love, Meg and kids
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