Inflammatory bowel disease in zoo-housed animals: three case studies

Citation

Kappen K. 2023. Inflammatory bowel disease in zoo-housed animals: three case studies. In Brooks M, Fidgett A, Kendrick E, Treiber K Eds. Proceedings of the Fifteenth Conference on Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition, Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition Foundation and AZA Nutrition Advisory Group, Hybrid.

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to a group of disorders that cause chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Common symptoms of IBD include diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, and inappetence, but in some cases, there may also be extraintestinal manifestations of IBD affecting liver, kidneys, skin, eyes, or joints. Long-term inflammation from IBD also increases risk of colon cancer, abscesses, strictures, or fistulas, and addressing symptoms early is key to mitigating this risk. Since diagnosis by gastrointestinal biopsy is not always pursued in veterinary patients, presumptive diagnosis by ruling out other causes is common. Treatment for IBD across species focuses on reducing inflammation and managing symptoms and often includes both medical management and dietary intervention.

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