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Dog diarrhea

Dog Diarrhea

 

Dog and puppy diarrhea is a common condition that may affect your pet.



In this condition, the dog has to be taken out frequently and passes loose stools. The dog may feel tired and fatigued and could well get dehydrated. Though diarrhea in dogs is common, it should not be taken lightly, because if not treated on time the condition could be fatal for your dog. Along with loose stools, vomiting is another reason why dogs may lose fluids from the body which may disturb the electrolyte balance.




Dog Diarrhea Causes


One of the major canine diarrhea causes is the consumption of contaminated foods. Your pets have different nutritional guidelines and therefore it is best to feed them only that type of food which is meant for them. Bacterial or viral infections and food poisoning may also cause diarrhea. Another common cause of diarrhea in dogs is an intestinal upset.



If the diet of a dog is changed suddenly, the dog may experience an intestinal upset. Feeding scraps from the table often leads to diarrhea in dogs. Worms and bacteria in the small intestines are also possible causes. Diarrhea is not a disease but a symptom. Usually in dog diarrhea, watery feces are characteristic. If the loose stools have been continuing for some time, or if the underlying problem is severe, blood may also be seen in the stool. The loose stools may be occasional; however, a continuous stream of loose, watery feces is not very uncommon. Fluid edema and swelling of belly or the chest and loss of weight are some other dog diarrhea symptoms.

Dog Diarrhea Treatment


Though there are over the counter medicines available to cure dog diarrhea, it is recommended that you get your pet checked before you begin self medication. Since diarrhea is a symptom of an underlying cause, it is best to ascertain the cause and treat it permanently than to remedy it for intermittent relief. If your dog is usually very excitable, the cause of diarrhea may simply be increased stress. However, if the diarrhea is due to any other cause, tests are used to identify the exact cause. Blood tests and stool examinations are often recommended. If your dog has been suffering from bloody feces or if the feces contain mucus, a rectal examination may also be done. If the veterinarian suspects a problem in the large intestines, endoscopy might be used to examine the intestines. This may also help in rejecting the possibility of cancer or polyps in the intestines.


 
  Submitted on May 20, 2010  
 
 
 

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