IBD in Dogs: Do They Need Steroids for Life?

"The medication helps, but whenever we start reducing the dose, the diarrhea comes back..."

For pet parents caring for a dog with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), this situation may sound all too familiar. Beyond worrying about their dog's health, many find themselves asking, "Will my dog need to take steroids for the rest of their life?"

The good news is that not every dog with IBD requires lifelong steroid treatment. When the disease is well controlled and symptoms remain stable, veterinarians may gradually reduce the dosage and, in some cases, discontinue the medication altogether.

Interestingly, research has suggested that stem cell therapy may offer an additional approach to managing IBD, potentially supporting steroid reduction or discontinuation in some dogs under veterinary supervision.

So, what are the available treatments for canine IBD? And how might stem cells play a role in supporting intestinal health?

PetGeneX invites pet parents to explore the possibilities and better understand the science behind this emerging approach.

What Is IBD in Dogs, and Why Do Symptoms Keep Coming Back?

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a condition involving chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. It is associated with abnormal immune responses that interfere with normal intestinal function and may affect digestion and nutrient absorption.

Normally, the immune system in the intestines protects the body against harmful pathogens while tolerating food components and harmless microorganisms.

However, in some dogs, the immune system may react excessively to these substances, triggering persistent inflammation and disrupting the normal function of the intestines.

Pet parents may notice symptoms such as:

• Chronic diarrhea: Frequent or loose stools that repeatedly come and go.
  
• Frequent vomiting: Recurrent vomiting or signs of nausea.
  
• Loss of appetite and weight loss: Even when dietary adjustments have already been made.
  
• Low energy: Reduced activity, tiredness, or a noticeable change in behavior.
  
• Nutritional deficiencies: In some cases, intestinal inflammation may interfere with nutrient absorption.

One of the challenges of managing IBD is that symptoms can return even after a period of improvement, making long-term care particularly important.

Important note: Chronic diarrhea does not always indicate IBD. Food-related conditions, parasites, infections, and other diseases can cause similar symptoms. A veterinarian must evaluate and rule out other potential causes before establishing an appropriate treatment plan.

How Is IBD in Dogs Treated, and Why Do Some Dogs Need Long-Term Steroids?

The primary goal of treating canine IBD is to control intestinal inflammation, relieve diarrhea and vomiting, and help dogs return to comfortable eating and everyday activities.

Treatment often begins with dietary management, such as hydrolyzed protein diets or diets containing carefully selected protein sources. Nutritional deficiencies may also need to be addressed.

For dogs whose symptoms do not respond adequately to dietary changes, veterinarians may prescribe corticosteroids such as Prednisolone to help control inflammation and regulate excessive immune responses.

However, some pet parents face a recurring challenge:

Their dog's symptoms improve while taking medication, but diarrhea or vomiting returns when the veterinarian begins reducing the dosage.

As a result, some dogs may require ongoing medication, while their owners become increasingly concerned about the potential side effects of long-term steroid use.

This has led to growing interest in additional approaches that may help maintain disease control and support a better quality of life.

How Might Stem Cells Help Dogs with IBD?

As discussed earlier, IBD is associated with an excessive immune response in the intestinal tract. In some dogs, the immune system may react abnormally to food components or intestinal microorganisms, contributing to ongoing inflammation.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) have attracted scientific interest because of their immunomodulatory properties — their ability to influence immune system activity and signaling pathways involved in inflammation.

By helping regulate excessive immune responses, MSCs may support a healthier intestinal environment and create conditions that allow the intestines to function more effectively.

Researchers are exploring several potential benefits of this approach.

1. Reduced Diarrhea and Vomiting
By influencing immune responses associated with intestinal inflammation, MSCs may help support improved intestinal function.

This could potentially lead to fewer episodes of diarrhea and vomiting, allowing dogs to eat more comfortably and enjoy better daily well-being.

2. Improved Intestinal Health and Nutritional Status
Chronic intestinal inflammation can interfere with nutrient absorption, sometimes resulting in weight loss or low blood levels of essential nutrients and proteins, including albumin and vitamin B12.

If inflammation becomes better controlled and intestinal function improves, dogs may be able to absorb nutrients more effectively.

Veterinarians can monitor this progress through clinical symptoms, blood test results, and overall health assessments.

3. Potential to Reduce Reliance on Steroids
For many pet parents, one of the most encouraging possibilities is reducing their dog's dependence on long-term steroid medication.

If IBD symptoms can be kept under control and the disease enters a sustained period of remission, a veterinarian may consider gradually reducing the steroid dosage.

In some cases, it may even be possible to discontinue steroid treatment.

Research Suggests Some Dogs with IBD May Be Able to Discontinue Steroids

In 2021, a study published in the scientific journal Animals investigated the use of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) in 32 dogs diagnosed with IBD who had experienced chronic gastrointestinal symptoms and inadequate responses to previous treatment.

An interesting aspect of this study was that it included not only dogs receiving stem cells without concurrent corticosteroids, but also dogs who continued taking steroid medication during stem cell administration.

All 32 dogs received a single intravenous administration of MSCs and were monitored for 12 months.

What Did the Study Find?

Gastrointestinal symptoms began improving within the first month.

Following stem cell administration, both groups showed reductions in disease severity scores. Symptoms related to bowel movements, vomiting, appetite, and overall health showed signs of improvement.

By the end of 12 months, all 32 dogs had achieved clinical remission.

Clinical remission means their symptoms had improved to a level classified as remission according to the study's clinical assessment criteria.

Most notably, all 13 dogs who had received stem cells alongside corticosteroids were able to gradually discontinue steroid medication by the end of the study.

These dogs had previously shown inadequate responses to steroid treatment. As their symptoms improved, the veterinary team gradually reduced their medication until all 13 dogs were no longer receiving corticosteroids at the 12-month follow-up.

The researchers also reported that dogs with initially low albumin levels returned to the normal range, while vitamin B12 levels improved in most dogs.

These findings are encouraging, although the study was relatively small and did not include a steroid-only control group. Further research is needed to determine how much of the observed improvement can be attributed specifically to MSC treatment and whether similar outcomes can be achieved in other dogs.

Interested in Stem Cell Therapy for Your Dog? Where Should You Start?

For pet parents considering stem cells as an additional option for their dog's health, one of the first questions is often:

"Where do the stem cells come from?"

Stem cells can be collected from a dog's own body. Two potential sources of MSCs are peripheral blood and adipose tissue (fat), each involving a different collection procedure.

1. Stem Cell Collection from Peripheral Blood
Peripheral blood collection involves taking a blood sample from the dog, similar to a routine veterinary blood test.

The collection procedure does not require surgery or general anesthesia.

The collected blood is then processed in a specialized laboratory, where cells are isolated, cultured, expanded, and evaluated for quality.

This approach may be particularly appealing to pet parents who are concerned about surgical procedures, especially when their dogs have existing health conditions or require additional caution regarding anesthesia.

2. Stem Cell Collection from Adipose Tissue
Adipose-derived stem cell collection involves obtaining a small sample of fatty tissue from the dog's body.

This generally requires a minor surgical procedure and anesthesia, making a veterinary health assessment important before proceeding.

For dogs with IBD who may already be experiencing poor health or more severe symptoms, peripheral blood collection may offer an alternative that avoids an additional surgical procedure and general anesthesia.

PetGeneX: Innovative Stem Cell Banking from Your Dog's Own Blood

At PetGeneX, we have developed an innovative approach to collecting stem cells from pets' peripheral blood, without requiring surgery, general anesthesia, or stem cell mobilization drugs before collection.

This enables pet parents to preserve stem cells obtained from their own dogs through a non-surgical collection procedure.

Cell preparation takes approximately 30 days after sample collection, including cell isolation, culture expansion, and quality testing, before the cells are stored or prepared for potential release following veterinary assessment.

Conclusion

Although IBD is a chronic condition that requires ongoing management, it does not mean that dogs must spend their entire lives struggling with diarrhea, vomiting, or gastrointestinal discomfort.

With appropriate control of intestinal inflammation, many dogs have the opportunity to eat more comfortably, regain their energy, and enjoy a better quality of life.

Stem cells represent an emerging area of interest because of their potential to modulate immune responses and support the control of intestinal inflammation.

When symptoms remain well controlled, veterinarians may also consider gradually reducing steroid medication where appropriate.

If your dog is living with IBD, PetGeneX can provide information about stem cell banking and help you explore the next steps, while your veterinarian assesses whether stem cell use may be appropriate for your dog's individual health needs.

Contact PetGeneX for more information
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Do Dogs with IBD Need Steroids for Life?
Not necessarily. If the disease is well controlled, a veterinarian may gradually reduce or discontinue steroid treatment. However, some dogs may still require long-term medication depending on their condition and disease severity.

2. Can IBD Come Back After Stopping Steroids?
Yes. IBD is a chronic condition, and symptoms may recur. Steroid reduction or discontinuation should always be managed by a veterinarian, with ongoing monitoring of the dog's health.

3. Can Stem Cells Really Help Dogs with IBD?
Some studies have reported improvements in gastrointestinal symptoms following MSC administration, and certain dogs have been able to discontinue corticosteroids. However, further research is needed to confirm treatment effectiveness and determine which dogs may benefit.

4. How Soon Might a Dog Improve After Receiving Stem Cells?
In the 2021 study, improvements in clinical disease scores were observed at the first follow-up, one month after stem cell administration. However, individual responses and timelines may vary.

5. Can Dogs Taking Steroids Receive Stem Cell Therapy?
This should be assessed by a veterinarian. Research has investigated MSC administration alongside corticosteroid treatment, but the suitability of combining treatments depends on each dog's condition and medication regimen. Pet parents should never stop or adjust prescribed steroids without veterinary guidance.


References
- Cristóbal, J. I., et al. (2021). Effects of Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation in Dogs with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treated with and without Corticosteroids. Animals, 11(7), 2061.
- Heilmann, R. M., et al. (2026). ACVIM-endorsed statement: Consensus statement and systematic review on guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic inflammatory enteropathy in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 40(1).
- Pérez-Merino, E. M., et al. (2015). Safety and efficacy of allogeneic adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells for treatment of dogs with inflammatory bowel disease: Clinical and laboratory outcomes. The Veterinary Journal, 206, 385–390.