Inflammatory Bowel Disease for Nurses

The causes of IBD can be multifactorial and therefore more challenging to diagnose. This lecture will explore the different aetiologies for IBD and how these effect what long-term treatment or management regimes are utilised.
The management of IBD can be difficult and involve an element of trial and error. The combined use of anti-inflammatory medication alongside the use of diet, can be useful. A full dietary history is required to ascertain what protein sources the animal has been exposed to in the past, a hydrolysed diet might be needed. When using an elimination diet, it is important to challenge the system to see if the original diet was the initial cause, but many owners might not want to risk the potential of clinical setbacks. When feeding an animal with IBD the nutritional goal is to provide adequate nutrient intake to meet the requirements of the individual, but also to compensate for ongoing losses through the gastrointestinal tract. 

The Australian Veterinary Nurse and Technician (AVNAT) Regulatory Council has allocated (1) AVNAT CPD point to this continuing education activity. 

Recording from 29 September 2021