What Is Histiocytic Ulcerative Colitis?

Colitis is inflammation of the colon (large intestine). Histiocytic ulcerative colitis (HUC), also called Granulomatous Colitis and Boxer Colitis, is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that occurs predominantly in the Boxer breed, but is also diagnosed in the:

• Alaskan Malamute
• Doberman Pinscher
• French Bulldog
• Mastiff
• Cats²

Aetiology

It causes inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the large intestine that bleeds and produce pus. The disease is similar in many ways to Whipple’s Disease in humans. The cause of this disease is unknown, although infections have been suspected, including colonization by Escherichia Coli.

Signs & Symptoms

Affected dogs, which are usually less than 2 years of age, pass soft tan faeces, which are often mixed with blood, up to 15 times a day. Profuse diarrhea does not occur, and throughout the disease, the affected animal maintains normal body temperature and weight. In advanced cases, lymph nodes may be enlarged. Young Boxer dogs with relatively mild signs of HUC may respond moderately well to medical and dietary therapy with fair prognosis.

Treatment

Sulfasalazine and corticosteroid therapy is the treatment of choice for histiocytic ulcerative colitis. High-fiber diets should be avoided.

References

1. Simpson et al. – Adherent And Invasive Escherichia Coli Is Associated With Granulomatous Colitis In Boxer Dogs
2. Cerquetella et al. – Inflammatory Bowel Disease In The Dog: Differences And Similarities With Humans