Jagger’s road to recovery included a probiotic diet and anti-diarrheal medication. Once he felt better, Jenn decided to register him as an emotional support animal. She met with a trainer twice a month for a year, and they motivated Jagger with treats and taught him the commands required for certification: “sit,” “stay,” “lay,” and understanding his name.
“Jagger learned it all and when he needs to go to the bathroom, he knows to wait patiently at my front door,” she says. “The only times he has accidents is when he’s flaring and can’t hold his bowels.”
When Jagger is sick, Jenn draws upon her personal experience of following an IBD-conscious diet. If she notices signs of a flare, like vomiting or blood in his feces, she changes his diet. That may involve adjusting the consistency of his food or having him fast. And she does this all while managing her own, sometimes similar, symptoms.
“I’d say the biggest difference between our IBD experiences would be that Jagger rarely ever has fatigue, and I certainly do,” she says. “He is always ready to play!”
