Any alternatives?

You can have super good luck treating IBD with acupuncture -- where are you located?  http://www.tcvm.com is the Chi Institute - it's a qualifying agency for acupuncture and vets who use Chinese herbals -- on the left is a locator and if you are not in the US there is a sentence link under it that will give you a whole huge list of acupuncture vets all over the world.

I don't know of any alternatives, but my dog had IBD for almost 8 years of his life.  He was on Prednisone for 5 years.  And those 5 years were wonderful.  I had him on the lowest dose possible and he had a great quality life.  With that low dose, the side effects were never bad.  We finally got good night sleeps again and his stomach was great and his poop was a #10.  In the end, he was almost 15 when he died and it was from cancer.  I never regretted giving him the prednisone.  I am sure there are alternatives out there, but I was at such a loss, I couldn't find any.  Good luck in your search. 

kaytee576

I have spoken to my vet who says steroids are the best option, Can't seem to get anyone to understand how I feel. Do you know of any pills that are good for IBD work like the steroids but with less side effects?

I have an IBD Scottie and and IBS and Colitis issue Westie..... I took them both to a specialist and Im hear to tell you that steriods were the first thing I was given and I was told to find a novel protein that they have never been exposed too. Those steroids made my dogs weird and I hated every minute of giving them a pill but I stuck with the program. Both dogs slept a ton on it and swelled up. Long story short....Its a work in progress and Max is doing great on Duck and Potato Natural Balance but there are days if I give him something he really shouldn't have. Louie My Westie was my biggest work in progress. After MANY YEARS of trying to homecook.. do raw... buy the best food known to man and every suppliment he does best on " Science Diet canned W/D" Yes you are reading that right. That crappy paste of what they call dog food has given him quality of life and I couldn't be happier :)

 I found keeping the gut healthy is important. I found that the FortiFlora that the vets sell has work for Max very well. Its quick and easy and a no brainer and I like that. I do use digestive enzymes and L Glutamine and slippery elm is great too.

 Both my boys are doing good. IBD and IBS is not a one size fits all. Every single dog is going to be different. What works for one will not work for the other. I worked so darn hard on Louie there were times I thought I would be bald with the stress of him not wanting to eat...and his stomach hurting and making noise..... I did grain free... I did homecooking and like I said above I left no stone unturned. And again found that W/D gave him quality of life...

 So hang in there and in trial and error you will soon learn what works best. And I hear you LOUD and clear on PRED.... I was the same way and refused to do anymore after the 3 months of starting with 20 mil till we got down to 5 mil... that was enough for me.

 I know that there is "steroid fear" which circulates on the web, but there are certain indications and patients that have been PROVEN to benefit from immunosuppression in the IBD population.  In particular those with hypoalbuminemeia.  In addition, poorly controlled IBD will greatly increase CANCER risk in addition to extra-intestinal manifestations of IBD.  Instead of focusing on the steroids, focus on the disease.  Single protein/carb diets have been shown in retrospective analysis not to have any effect on outcome for dogs with IBD too.  I think it's reasonable to add supplements or accupuncture (Under the direction of a DVM) but the focus should be on controlling a disease that can be DEADLY.  Regardless of what many say about steroids, I use them daily and they can be used safely under proper circumstances for IBD human patients, and I know for a fact the same is true for our furry counterparts as I took care of a kitty for many years with IBD.  Too much on this forum IMO people become focused on the medication and not the fact that IT IS HELPING SYMPTOMS AND IMPROVING LONG TERM OUTCOMES.  If you can get off medications, GREAT, if you can't you have not failed your pet nor has your vet, you are doing the best you can to take good care of them.