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| Acute and Chronic Diarrhea In Dogs |
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What your dog eats or is made to eat largely impacts their health. You thus need to always monitor and control the diet of your pet dog to avoid diarrhea. Diarrhea in a dog is when you observe less than solid stools in your dog. They may be watery or semi solid. Even an abnormal color of the stools can make you alert to diarrhea in your dog. The diarrhea may be mild or severe. It may either last for a day or two or continue for up to two weeks at a stretch in acute diarrhea, or more than that in chronic diarrhea. Causes Bacteria (most often salmonella or E Coli) ingested through food or trash licking are the most common causes of acute diarrhea in your pet dog. The small intestine is affected in it. Parasites (roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and coccidia) and pesticides can also cause it. An incorrect diet or inopportune dietary changes and electrolyte imbalance is most common cause of such diarrhea. Moreover, the breed of your dog also decides the specific food items that can likely cause diarrhea in him/her. Symptoms The usual symptoms of irritable bowel movement due to acute diarrhea in your dog include watery or softer than usual stools. Mucus or blood in the stools is also a sign. Dehydration in your dog is the most often effect of diarrhea in your dog. He/she may have no inclination whatsoever towards eating in such cases and can appear to be somewhat subdued, unusually inactive, and tired looking. Vomiting/nausea and/or fever may also accompany the symptoms. The chronic diarrhea symptoms are almost similar and oft-recurring, but in it the large intestine is affected. Chronic diarrhea Although it is quite an infrequent occurrence, your dog can become afflicted with chronic diarrhea. Food allergies are largely a cause of this condition. Pancreatic abnormalities, protozoa, fungi, clostridium and giardia infections, stress, and parasitic inflammation in the bowel can also cause it. You may think that commercial dog food is good, but all of it is not. Inorganically grown or manufactured commercial dog food can cause chronic diarrhea due to certain preservatives or pesticides used in them. The poor quality of drinking water in your home or certain non-meat proteins can also cause diarrhea in your dog. Treatment Acute diarrhea in pet dogs is mostly home treatable under a vet’s supervision. Purging the bowels of your dog is the first step. This translates into nil orally for 24 hours, except drinking water. Next prepare a reduced-quantity fat-restricted home-cooked special meal. It needs to comprise a broth of bland (fat-skimmed) boiled chicken, rice, and potatoes. Feed it to your dog along with plantations and elms. He/she may not feel like eating, but you need to somehow feed him/her. Hydration and herbal therapy, probiotic electrolyte balance resurrection, and immodium in the right dose are also a mandatory part of the treatment. Chronic diarrhea in your dog requires examination and treatment by a qualified vet. Treatment (mostly natural) depends entirely on the results of the cause-identifying diagnostic tests conducted by the vet on your dog. |