Dog’s Diarrhea: causes And treatment
Written by: Anastasia Spevakina
Diarrhea is the most common digestive problem for dogs of all breeds. It often occurs as a result of poor nutrition and overeating. That’s why you have to know how to feed your dog in a right way, not to let him suffer. Sweets, spices, fat dishes, pastries – in 90% of cases it causes the diarrhea. Of course, not always diarrhea becomes a serious harm to the dog’s health, but it’s better to avoid it.
In what cases you have to immediately contact the veterinary clinic to take care of your dog?
-Diarrhea + high temperature = a symptom of an infectious disease (enteritis, adenovirus, infectious hepatitis) or a non-contagious disease (pyroplasmosis)
whitish or greenish fieces, with mucus and sharp unpleasant odor – > infectious disease
dark color of fieces – > non-contagious disease
It is important not to miss the first signs of the disease and timely consult a veterinarian to treat the dog’s health.
-Diarrhea+ abundant purulent discharge from eyes and nose = indicator of carnivorous plague
-Diarrhea+ general lethargy + abdominal pain, but normal body temperature = may indicate acute poisoning
-Diarrhea+ swollen stomach + hiccups after eating + vomiting = severe helminthic infestation (infestation of worms)
Causes of the dog’s diarrhea may be also following:
- Drastic change in a dog’s diet;
- Swallowing foreign objects that cause imbalance in the intestine, damage of the dog’s intestine;
- Poisoning by chemicals;
- Helminths;
- Manifestation of allergic reactions;
- Lack of vitamins and minerals;
- Malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract;
- Severe disorders of the digestive system;
- Cancer.
Treatment of the dog’s diarrhea
If your dog has a diarrhea, firstly, you need to understand for how long he has it and whether it’s long, intermittent or chronic. Secondly, it is necessary to find out the exact cause of dog’s diarrhea to be able to treat the disease.
For dogs, which just started to have a diarrhea, treatment can be done even without the help of veterinarians. Just give activated carbon (1 tablet per 10 kilo of body weight) to the dog. Activated carbon can be given up to 5 times a day.
For dogs,which have a long or chronic diarrhea, the vet must prescribe special medicine and treatment. Drippers with disinfecting and anti-inflammatory substances can stop the diarrhea, and special pills for dogs have an anti-inflammatory effect. In some severe cases veterinarians also prescribe antibiotics.
! Self-treatment of acute diarrhea, diarrhea with blood or mucus is forbidden ! In such cases dogs need medical intervention to get rid of the disease.
How to feed dogs when they have diarrhea?
Skip 2 feedings and give the bowled rice on the third one. Don’t force dogs to eat, if they don’t want to. 2-3 spoons of rice will be enough for the hurting stomach of your pet.
Instead of water give the sweet tea to your dog. It has an astringent effect and gives the lost energy to the body.
Once diarrhea is cured, you can start giving other products to the dog. But it’s recommended to limit consumption of fatty, fried and spicy foods and dishes.
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