Diarrhea in Dogs

Diarrhea is an alteration in the flow of fecal matter through the digestive tract. Rapidly flowing stools, are soft and watery, and there is reduced absorption of water, electrolytes and nutrients.

Diarrhea in dogs can be acute or chronic, depending on their causes. When it is acute, suddenly appears, it can be very severe and quickly disappears. When it is acute, it is milder but lasts for a long time if not treated.

The four types of diarrhea are:

• Osmotic. Excess non-absorbable substances in the intestine prevents liquids can be absorbed.
• Secretory. The excessive secretion of ions reduces the absorption capacity of intestinal fluids and nutrients.
• Exudative. Damage to the intestinal mucosa permeability increase, also increasing fluid and proteins into the intestine. Such damage can be caused by inflammation or foreign body ulcers, bacterial infections, viral infections, parasites, poisons, drugs or autoimmune problems.
• By abnormal intestinal motility. Digestive bowel movements become faster than normal (hypermobility), causing food to move faster and can not absorb nutrients or water or well.

SYMPTOMS

Diarrhea is not actually a disease in itself, but a symptom common to many diseases. However, due to the malaise that generates and dehydration that occurs it should be treated promptly to avoid causing other major damage. Therefore, it is important to recognize the signs of diarrhea in dogs in time.

These signals are:

• Watery, soft and shapeless stool.
• Soft or pasty stools with fresh blood (bright red).
• Soft or pasty stools digested blood (dark red).
• Soft stools with mucus.
• Blood or mucus in the hair or the skin around the anus.
• Increase in the volume or frequency of defecation.
• Urgency to defecate.
• Defecation in inappropriate or unusual places (especially in dogs that have been trained to go to the bathroom, but can not stand).
• Vomiting.
• Abdominal pain.
• Depression and lethargy.
• Dehydration.
• Weakness.
• Weight loss.
• Loss of appetite.
• Sounds in the stomach.
• Flatulence.

Causes and risk factors

The main causes of acute diarrhea in dogs are:

• Ingestion of toxic substances (heavy metals, organophosphate drugs for humans, poisonous plants, detergents, glues, paints, etc.).
• Canine gastritis.
• Food intake in poor or non-digestible material.
• Abrupt changes in feeding the dog.
• Metabolic diseases (Addison's disease, kidney disease, liver disease, pancreatitis).
• Bowel obstruction by foreign bodies.
• Viral infections (parvovirus, coronavirus, rotavirus and distemper).
• Bacterial infections (Salmonella, Campylobacter, Clostridium, Escherichia coli, etc.)
• Extreme stress (travel, household shifting, death of human or canine family, birth of a baby, arrival of a new pet, etc.).
• Fungal infection.

The most common causes of chronic diarrhea in dogs are:

• Food allergy.
• Dietary changes.
• Renal disease.
• Liver disease.
• Irritable bowel syndrome.
• Cancer.
• Bacterial, viral and fungal infections.
• Internal parasites.
• Gastric ulcers.
• Intestinal ulcers.
• Rectal polyps.
• Pancreatitis.
• Extreme stress.

Those most likely to suffer diarrhea dogs are:

• Cubs.
• Dogs with weakened immune systems.
• Dogs fed raw foods.
• Dogs living in crowded environments and poor hygiene.
• Dogs roaming freely in the streets.
• Dogs who are traveling.

Diagnosis

Veterinary diagnosis is based on the story of the dog, leading diet, vaccination status and the circumstances under which appeared diarrhea. The physical exam will include a rectal examination and most likely a stool test to see if there are internal parasites or bacteria.

When the veterinarian considers it appropriate, it shall also:

• Blood and urine.
• Screening for pancreatitis, pancreatic insufficiency, thyroxine and Addison's disease.
• Bile hormone and blood studies.
• X-rays and / or abdominal ultrasound.
• Biopsy.

All this is not to diagnose diarrhea, which is obvious, but to detect the underlying causes that must be addressed.
Treatment

In most cases of acute diarrhea, the treatment consists of rest to allow the lower intestine inflammation. This is achieved by reducing the amount of food given to the dog for a few days, giving a soft low-fat diet (boneless chicken boiled with rice, boiled hamburger and rice, boiled pasta, etc.). This diet should be maintained until four days after the dog has recovered and then to reintroduce normal diet gradually.

It is necessary that the dog has fresh water available at all times to prevent dehydration from diarrhea. In some cases they can be administered rehydration salts, but that should only be prescribed by a veterinarian professional, even if these are counter sales.

Treatment for dogs with more complicated, persistent, chronic or other associated symptoms (vomiting, fever, depression, blood in stool, etc.) diarrhea is variable and must indicate the vet after evaluating the sick dog.

The prognosis is usually good for dogs with acute diarrhea. For dogs with chronic diarrhea, the prognosis depends on the cause of diarrhea and general health of the animal.
Prevention

To prevent diarrhea in our dog, we must:

• Keep up to date vaccines dog.
• Prevent the dog eat garbage.
• Do not feed the remains of our meals.
• Provide a healthy diet.
• Do not stress him unnecessarily.
• Maintain hygiene.
• Keep out of reach of the dog toxic substances such as drugs and detergents, which can cause gastric damage.