Canine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic intestinal disorder causing persistent vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and abdominal discomfort that significantly impairs quality of life.
IBD causes chronic, fluctuating gastrointestinal discomfort that significantly affects daily life. Dogs with active disease experience nausea, urgency, abdominal cramping, and the exhaustion of chronic malabsorption. The episodic nature of the disease — flares followed by partial remission — makes management challenging and the welfare impact highly variable. PLE complications represent a welfare emergency with rapid deterioration. Dietary management is often effective but requires strict compliance — even single dietary indiscretions can trigger relapse. The welfare impact of successful IBD management is dramatic: dogs in stable remission show return of normal appetite, weight, activity, and social behavior.