IBDogs is a limited membership list which serves as a support group for direct caregivers of dogs with a clinical diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD); It is not a list which deals with nonspecific, generalized or undiagnosed GI problems in dogs.

Significant information about IBD can be found on the IBDogs public website at http://www.geocities.com/ibdogsintl. (Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is NOT the same disease condition as IBD.)

Confirmation of diagnosis can only be made via tissue biopsies taken during endoscopy/colonoscopy or abdominal surgery to identify the type of inflammatory cells and site of the disease. IBD cannot be diagnosed on the basis of routine blood or fecal testing or imaging such as x rays or ultrasound. IBD has the same or similar symptoms to many other diseases/conditions and in some cases the treatment could be conflicting and your dog will then be at greater risk of treatment failure when a correct diagnosis is eventually made. IBD should not be diagnosed simply by trying to "rule out" everything else.

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 of application please contact the list owner/moderators at doggieibd@yahoo.com and one will be forwarded to you. Your application will be considered on return of the questionnaire.

All suggestions and input by members of this list is based on hands on experience in caring for IBD dogs from a personal point of view. The listowner/moderators and members are not veterinarians and as such it is important to remember that this list is not a substitute for your veterinarian and any suggestions offered by members should be discussed with your vet.