Every dog will suffer from a bout of diarrhea at some point in his or her life. While diarrhea is obviously easy to see, it can be extremely difficult to diagnose because it is a symptom of many diseases – some that are very serious and others that are not so severe.
In many cases, diarrhea is a result of dogs eating something that does not agree with their systems. The cause can be as simple as the dog eating garbage or spoiled food or drinking contaminated water. Allergies to food can also cause canine diarrhea.
If a dog swallows a foreign object – rings, bathtub stoppers, small toys and pins and needles are just a few of the items that veterinarians have removed – diarrhea may occur.
Toxins are another cause of canine diarrhea. It is important to keep your dog away from all pesticides, insecticides and household or farm chemicals.
Intestinal parasites and viruses are also common causes of diarrhea among dogs.
Canine diarrhea can also be a result of life-threatening diseases such as cancer.
Canine diarrhea is either chronic or acute. Symptoms reoccur over a long period of time in chronic cases. Symptoms that arise quickly and last a short period of time are classified as acute cases.
It can be very difficult to properly diagnose the cause of diarrhea. Don’t be surprised if you end up having to take the dog to the veterinarian where it is up to you to describe the frequency, consistency and other information about the dog’s stools.
A dog can have trouble passing stools when the diarrhea stems from a problem in the large intestine. Diarrhea that starts in the small intestine is often described as a larger than normal amount of feces. It will also have a fouler than usual odor to it.
Diarrhea is a means of ridding a dog’s system of toxins. The frequency and duration of the diarrhea can help determine whether or not it is an underlying serious medical condition.
Never allow a case of diarrhea to go untreated. Diarrhea accelerates the loss of fluids from the body, leading to dehydration, which can be fatal if not treated.
There are a few treatments you can try at home if you don’t think the diarrhea stems from a serious underlying problem. If your treatments don’t provide quick relief for the dog, call his or her veterinarian immediately!
When treating the problem at home, the over-the-counter medicine Kaopectate can be used. Be sure to dose the dog accordingly to his or her weight. If you are unsure of the dosage, ask your dog’s veterinarian.
Another remedy is Gastriplex, a treatment that contains glutamine. Glutamine is an essential amino acid that has proven to help in the cure of diarrhea.
Reduce the amount of food you are feeding for a day or two to allow for the stomach and intestines to “calm down.” Some vets recommend stopping all food. Others suggest cutting food portions in half. It is up to you to decide what is best for your dog.
At the very least, it is important to feed the dog a bland diet until normal bowel movements return. Try boiling rice in beef or chicken broth. Rice can also be cooked with hamburger. A general rule of thumb is to use two parts of rice to one part of lean, cooked mean.
Hopefully, these suggestions will have your dog feeling better in a short period of time. If not, the diarrhea could well be a symptom of a more serious medical condition. Don’t waste time scheduling an appointment with the dog’s vet!
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