IBDogs is a membership list which serves as a support group for owners/direct caregivers of dogs with a confirmed clinical diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD); it is not a list which deals with nonspecific, generalized or undiagnosed GI problems in dogs. (Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is NOT the same as IBD.)

Confirmation of IBD can only be made via path examination of tissue samples/biopsies taken during endoscopy/colonoscopy or abdominal surgery to identify the type of inflammatory cells and sites/severity of the disease. IBD cannot be diagnosed on the basis of blood/fecal testing or imaging such as x rays/ultrasound. So we urge you to undertake these tests if possible.

Sometimes financial contraints of age of dog however prohibits this. We can still help and membership will not be excluded if this is not able to be done but your vet is confident this is the issue.

Upon application you will automatically be sent a questionnaire relating to your dog’s symptoms and basis of diagnosis.

If you do not receive this within 24 hours, please contact the list owner at IBDogs-owner@yahoogroups.com and a questionnaire will be forwarded to you. Your membership request will be considered on return of a completed questionnaire.

All suggestions and information provided by members of this list are based on their personal hands on experience in caring for their own IBD dogs.

The list owner and members are not veterinarians; this list is not a substitute for obtaining appropriate veterinary consultation with your own vet concerning your dog's condition;

Any suggestions offered by list owners and members need to be discussed with your vet for your own dog's situation.

Our April Pinup boy is Sage who lives with Ronnie in San Diego