• A dogs diet can play a role in triggering IBS symptoms.Close up of dogfood and rewards. image by Saskia Massink from Fotolia.com
  
  Dogs can get diarrhea for a number of reasons. In 10 to 15 percent of the cases Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is the cause of diarrhea. There is no one test for IBS. Vets need to rule out other conditions before they can assume that the dog has IBS. Other IBS symptoms include gas, cramping and a sudden urgency to defecate. There is no cure but IBS symptoms can be controlled through lifestyle changes and medication. IBS is sometimes confused with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) but the two conditions are quite different.
  
  

Diet

• IBS symptoms can sometimes be controlled through the dog's diet. Dog's respond to different types of dog food but quite often a dog will start showing signs of improvement if fiber is added to its diet. This can be done through a high-fiber dog food or by supplementing the diet with fiber. The fiber soothes the digestive tract and helps reduce intestinal spasms.
  
  

Anti-anxiety

• Dogs with IBS often have worse symptoms when they are in stressful situations. This will vary for each dog. Some dogs are stressed out by being alone or meeting new dogs. Other dogs may only show signs of stress if they are taken to places where they have negative associations like the vet clinic or a kennel. Reducing stress factors can help IBS symptoms.
  
  In addition to controlling the dog's environment, your vet may suggest using an anti-anxiety medication like amitriptyline.
  
  

Other Medications

• Your vet may recommend an anti-diarrheal or an anti-spasmodic to help control IBS symptoms. These can be used in combination with other methods or when symptoms are particularly severe. Sometimes drugs are given to help reduce gas as well.