Dog owners consider their pets as parts of their families. It is, therefore, easy to understand their worries when something is wrong with their furry family member. This is primarily because these animals are not able to communicate as quickly as their human counterparts. A cause of worry for many pet lovers is the onset of medical conditions such as diarrhea.
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What Is Dog Diarrhea?
Very much like its namesake among the Homo sapiens, dog diarrhea is the imbalance in the digestive system of these canines. Humans break down food with their jaws and saliva. The same body parts are used by dogs to tear and to crush their food into small pieces. After which, the food items are subjected to the saliva for the enzymes to eliminate the bacteria.
Also, the acids in the stomach of canines are at least three times more bad-ass than that of humans. In a matter of ten hours, the food is processed from the mouth to the intestines until they are turned into a healthy stool. Overall, dogs have a stronger digestive system than humans do.
Despite such a dependable system of food processing, there are still malfunctions at one point or another. The most visible sign of which is a stinky brown puddle of the digestive result. This can last for a couple of days to weeks and even months. The longer it persists, the more dangerous the condition behind it.
What Causes Diarrhea In Dogs
Dietary changes or modifications in the kind of food you feed to the dogs can actually cause their digestive system to go haywire. The best way to go about this is through a gradual change in case of a need to switch to a new type of food.
It is recommended for one to incorporate the new food into the dog’s meal portion by portion. The part of new food should take the place of the same amount of the old food. It is almost like changing each slice of the pizza with each meal.
Another possible reason for the pet’s digestive problem is the consumption of spoiled food. Most domesticated animals develop a sense of knowledge on the food items that their owners should be giving them.
However, there are situations when taking scrap is necessary. Garbage gut, as the veterinarians call it, is the upset stomach condition that dogs experience. This usually occurs after eating something that is already spoiled. This case can easily be more severe than it might seem. Most garbage gut cases are mild, but pancreatitis can occur depending on what was consumed. In the latter’s case, a veterinary’s professional service would be required.
Certain Foods
Meat that’s not stored correctly or prepared as well as vegetables in the stage of withering is home to bacteria. They can easily cause bacterial infection. This infection is also determined to be potentially viral even when dogs are kept together in one kennel.
Infections
Diseases like coronavirus, Parvovirus, and distemper along with other viruses are contagious. They result in the very bad-smelling stool. They can also put the canine’s life at risk. Symptoms such as coughing, lack of appetite, fever, lethargy, and vomiting may be observed. When this happens, it is highly recommended to visit a veterinary right away.
Parasites
Internal parasites, especially the ones that thrive in the intestines, are very potent causes of diarrhea. These are mostly acquired contaminated waters that are common in stagnant ponds and puddles as well as in animal stool. The parasitic cysts that are present in such sources will go inside the dog’s intestine. Consequently, they will allow parasites to live there. Diarrhea that is caused by this source has a frothy appearance, overpowering lousy odor and contains a massive amount of mucus.
Toxins
Poisonous and toxic substances also lead to diarrhea when consumed. At times, we usually allow our dogs to roam outside. When this happens, they find it easy to get in contact and ingest such substances from the most innocent beings. Plants like bluebells, honeysuckle, ivy, daffodils, holly, and mistletoe are just some of the examples. These canine creatures also play with just about anything they can see. They usually do not know that sunscreen ice packs, lotion, and silica gels can actually cause them harm.
Autoimmune Reactions
In less worrisome cases, diarrhea can merely be the body’s reaction to allergens. This usually is so if the stool problem is accompanied by chewing and licking of the paws. Other symptoms may include scratching more than usual, sneezing and runny eyes. Since different things can trigger such a reaction, it’s best to consult with a veterinarian on this matter.
Digestive Tract Complications
Despite the strength of a dog’s digestive system as mentioned earlier, it still has its limitations. Consuming foreign objects, especially non-food items, is naturally going to cause havoc inside. Because of the discomfort that comes with this situation, it is common for the pet to be aggressive when touched. At times, the item might not be organically toxic. However, its presence in the stomach or intestines can be a threat to the dog’s life. This is because it obstructs the natural digestive process.
A canine’s digestive problem can also be an impact of a prescribed medication. NMDA receptor blockers, as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, are recommended for use to deal with body pain. The substance that binds the medicines, such as lactose, can actually cause diarrhea.
When Should I Be Concerned?
If the dog’s diarrhea takes place for months, it is something a pet owner should look into more closely. Severe conditions such as kidney and liver diseases usually accompany diarrhea. Some of the accompanying symptoms to look out for include the following: >Vomiting>Rapid weight loss>Refusal to move or eat>Frequent urination or the lack of it>Blood in urine>Unhealthy posture All these indicate that there is undoubtedly something very wrong in its overall health.
What To Remember
Diarrhea might seem like a mild issue and merely an inconvenience. At some point, it can be that only. However, you should be aware of such a condition can also be related to more severe health problems. Some pet owners will opt to self-medicate for several reasons. There is nothing wrong with that especially as a form of immediate response.
However, there are a lot of details that the regular guy will foresee, no matter how dog-loving one is.
Conclusion
When the dog has diarrhea, we always highly recommended bringing the canine into the veterinary. You will lose nothing in getting the dog checked right away. After all, early intervention always does good in the end.
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