Diarrhea in a dog: causes and treatment at home quickly

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Every dog owner has had diarrhea at least once. After all, animals, like people, are very susceptible to intestinal disorders and food poisoning. Temporary increased stools can occur due to inappropriate food, overeating, and even stress. But sometimes the diarrhea drags on, the stools take on an unusual color, and the animal's well-being deteriorates sharply. In such cases, it is necessary to determine the exact cause of the dog's diarrhea. Treatment and first aid should not be delayed. How to alleviate the condition of the pet? And in what cases it is necessary to contact the veterinarian? We will answer these questions in the article.

What to look out for

When diarrhea occurs, you need to look at the condition of the pet. Pay attention to the following manifestations:

• stool frequency;
• general he alth of the dog;
• presence of nausea and vomiting;
• color and consistency of feces;
• impurities in feces;
• Association of diarrhea with the use of a certain product.

If stool disorders often recur, then the animal's body temperature should be measured. Fever may indicate the presence of an infectious process in the intestines or other organs.

Often, when diarrhea appears, owners give their pets antidiarrheal drugs, for example, Loperamide (Imodium). Under no circumstances should this be done. Such drugs are used only for diagnosed colitis as directed by a veterinarian. If diarrhea is caused by other causes, then diarrhea tablets can cause serious harm to the animal's he alth.

Next, we will take a closer look at the causes and treatment of diarrhea in dogs, depending on the color of the feces and associated symptoms.

Uncomplicated diarrhea

There are times when a dog suddenly has a rapid stool. The color of the bowel movements does not change, but their consistency becomes more liquid than usual. At the same time, the dog's well-being is not disturbed and no other signs of ill he alth are observed. Veterinarians call this type of diarrhea uncomplicated diarrhea.

Eating the wrong food is the most common cause of dog diarrhea. Treatment and medication for uncomplicated diarrhea is not always required. Sometimes it is enough to revise the diet of your pet. The following reasons can provoke the appearance of diarrhea against the background of normal he alth:

• eating poor quality prepared food;
• overeating;
• abrupt change in brand of dry food or canned food;
• shifting from natural food to industrial feed;
• allergic reaction to food ingredients.

It is necessary to remember what exactly the dog ate before the onset of intestinal upset. If any product seems suspicious to you, then it is better to exclude it from the menu. If the animal overate on the eve of diarrhea, then you need to reduce portions of food or increase the intervals between feedings.

Most often, after the normalization of nutrition, uncomplicated diarrhea stops. If diarrhea persists for 3-4 days, then you need to show the pet to a specialist. It is necessary to completely stop feeding the day before visiting the veterinarian. Dogs should only be allowed to drink clean water.

It is important to remember that infestation with worms is a fairly common cause of diarrhea in dogs. Treatment and prevention of helminthiasis should be handled by a veterinarian. The anthelmintic preparation is selected according to the results of the analysis for the type of parasite. Usually, diarrhea against the background of normal he alth is observed in the initial stages of helminth invasion.

Vomiting with diarrhea

If diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting, then the situation is much more serious than with uncomplicated diarrhea. It is necessary to pay attention to the nature of the vomit. If they contain mucus and particles of undigested food, then, most likely, nausea is provoked by malnutrition or poisoning with stale food.

If vomiting with diarrhea occurs no more than 2 times a day, then thisis not always a sign of a serious illness. Such symptoms can be triggered by random causes:

• overeating;
• eating too fatty or indigestible food;
• eating stale food;
• abrupt change in food or type of food.

In such cases, the following measures should be taken:

1. You should stop feeding your dog. The fasting period should last about 24 hours. It is only allowed to give the animal clean water to drink.
2. If the dog ate stale food, then you can give enterosorbent: "Polysorb" or "Enterosgel". This will help remove toxins from the body.
3. If the pet whines due to abdominal pain, then Nosh-pa or Papaverine will help eliminate spasms.
4. When overeating, it is useful to give the pet the drug "Pancreatin". This product contains pancreatic enzymes. It stimulates the digestion process.

In the future, it is necessary to review the dog's diet, exclude fatty and indigestible foods and prevent overeating. The introduction of new foods and prepared foods into the diet should be gradual and careful.

If vomiting and diarrhea do not stop and continue for more than two days, then you need to show the pet to a specialist. This may be due to severe food poisoning. In the conditions of a veterinary clinic, the animal will be detoxified and put on drips with saline solutions. At the pre-medical stage, you can give the dog onlyenterosorbents and drugs for intestinal spasms.

Dyspeptic disorders are not always associated with the use of inappropriate or poor quality food. Other causes of vomiting and diarrhea in dogs are possible:

1. Ingress of a foreign body into the digestive tract. Dogs may accidentally swallow small objects along with their food. At the same time, persistent vomiting with an admixture of foam and diarrhea is noted. A foreign body can only be removed in a veterinary clinic. Contacting a specialist should be immediate, otherwise a foreign object may completely clog the lumen of the esophagus or intestines.
2. Helminthiasis. With helminthic invasions, vomiting occurs after eating. Infection with parasites is accompanied by a sharp and causeless weight loss of the animal. In these cases, it is necessary to determine the type of parasite and undergo a course of deworming. Before visiting the doctor, you can only give the dog enterosorbents, this can remove the toxins of the worms from the body.

Diarrhea and vomiting in viral infections

If nausea and diarrhea are accompanied by lethargy, refusal to eat and deterioration in general well-being, then it is necessary to measure the body temperature. After all, dyspeptic phenomena are often observed with dangerous infections. Both fever and too low a temperature can indicate a possible pathology. Gastrointestinal disorders may be a sign of the following viral diseases:

1. Distemper (parvovirus enteritis). This dangerous infection most often infects puppies and young animals. There is a strong diarrhea with a very fetid odor and vomiting of foam. From the nose and eyes of a dogmucus or cloudy discharge. The pet refuses to eat, becomes lethargic and lethargic. With this pathology, the temperature does not rise, but falls below normal. Without treatment, distemper often leads to the death of the dog.
2. Rotavirus infection. This disease can occur in dogs at any age. Rotavirus infection is accompanied by intermittent fever, the rise in temperature is replaced by a decline. There is diarrhea and profuse vomiting. The feces are watery, with a mucous admixture.
3. Adenovirus infection. This virus infects the liver and leads to hepatitis. The animal develops diarrhea and vomiting, and the urine becomes dark. Body temperature rises to +40 degrees. The dog's eyes become cloudy, there is an increased sensitivity to light. In the later stages of the disease, bloating occurs due to an enlarged liver.
4. Coronavirus. At the initial stage of the disease, the dog becomes lethargic and lethargic. Then there is a sharp rise in temperature to +41 degrees. There is severe diarrhea and indomitable vomiting. The stools first become mushy and then watery with a very unpleasant odor.

All viral infections require qualified veterinary treatment. It is impossible to get rid of them at home. Therefore, a sick pet must be urgently shown to a specialist. You should not give your dog antibiotics on their own, these drugs are ineffective against viruses. You need to try to water the animal more often, as vomiting with diarrhea leads to a dangerousdehydration.

Blood impurity

The appearance of scarlet blood in the feces indicates a serious problem in the body. An admixture of red indicates bleeding from the lower intestines. It is very difficult to independently determine the cause of bloody diarrhea in a dog. Treatment and diagnosis of pathology can only be carried out by a veterinarian.

Diarrhea with bleeding from the intestines can be observed in the following pathologies:

• traumatization of the walls of the gastrointestinal tract by swallowed sharp objects;
• plague;
• atypical form of rabies;
• intestinal infections;
• leptospirosis;
• tumors of the lower intestines;
• worm infection.

It's not uncommon for owners to give their pets human medicines without a veterinarian's prescription. This can also cause bloody diarrhea in a dog. Treatment and diagnosis of such conditions is carried out in a veterinary clinic. You must immediately stop giving your dog drugs intended for humans. Most often, bleeding is provoked by non-steroidal painkillers ("Ibuprofen") and antipyretics based on acetylsalicylic acid.

Do not self-treat bloody diarrhea in a dog. The causes and nature of the pathology can only be established with the help of a diagnostic examination. Get your pet to the vet as soon as possible.

Be aware that some foods can turn feces reddish or orange. Often, pet owners take this color of feces forbloody diarrhea in a dog. The reason for staining feces red can be the use of beets or carrots. These vegetables have laxative properties and can cause diarrhea.

Black stool

There are times when animals get tarry stools. This is a very dangerous sign. Gastrointestinal bleeding is the most common cause of black diarrhea in dogs. Treatment and first aid should be provided as soon as possible, as this condition can lead to the death of a pet.

When bleeding from the stomach and upper intestines, feces look like a black sticky mass with a specific odor. They are made up of blood digested by enzymes. Veterinarians call this type of diarrhea melena. If the stomach is affected, diarrhea is accompanied by dark-colored vomiting.

Black diarrhea appears with the following pathologies of the stomach and duodenum:

• ulcer processes;
• malignant tumors;
• damage to the upper intestines by worms.

It is impossible to stop bleeding at home. It is urgent to call an ambulance or take the animal to the clinic. At the pre-medical stage, the following measures should be taken:

1. Do not feed or water the dog.
2. Give your pet complete peace.
3. Apply a cold compress to the abdomen.
4. Inject intramuscularly or subcutaneously hemostatic drugs: "Zantak" or "Vikasol".

When bleeding from the stomach or intestines, it is strictly forbidden to give enemas.

There are more harmless causes of black stools. Activated charcoal, which is used as an enterosorbent for diarrhea, gives this color to feces. If the dog did not take such drugs, then the black color of feces is a warning sign.

Yellow colored feces

The yellow color of feces is due to the bile pigment - bilirubin. Normally, this substance moves through the digestive tract along with the food bolus. Bilirubin is exposed to enzymes and converted to stercobilin, which gives the stool a brown color.

With various pathologies, the process of food passing through the gastrointestinal tract is accelerated. Bilirubin does not have time to turn into stercobilin, and the feces become yellowish. Stool staining can also be observed in liver pathologies, accompanied by an increase in the level of bile pigments in the blood.

The following diseases can cause yellow diarrhea in a dog:

• food intoxication;
• distemper;
• hepatitis;
• pancreatitis;
• gall bladder disease;
• indigestion.

Sometimes this type of diarrhea is observed with an excess of fat in the diet. Especially undesirable for a dog is the use of butter and high-fat cottage cheese.

If yellow diarrhea is provoked by malnutrition or poisoning, but the dog feels satisfactory, then you should arrange a hungryday. During the day, the pet can only drink water. It is also necessary to use enterosorbents to remove toxins. After the diarrhea stops, you can give the dog rice water. Within 3 days after the disappearance of diarrhea, a sparing diet with the exception of fatty foods is necessary.

If diarrhea continues for more than a day, then you need to visit a veterinarian. An emergency visit to the doctor is necessary if the pet's he alth worsens, the body temperature drops and the fetid smell of feces. This is how parvovirus enteritis manifests itself.

Green diarrhea

The green color of feces indicates the processes of putrefaction and fermentation in the intestines. Bacteria give color to stool. Diarrhea is accompanied by increased gas formation and bloating. Most often, such symptoms are observed in the following pathologies:

• food poisoning;
• intestinal infections;
• chronic diseases of the digestive tract.

The exact cause of green diarrhea can only be established with the help of a diagnostic examination. The dog needs to be seen by the veterinarian. Before visiting a doctor, you can give your pet enterosorbents, they will somewhat reduce gas formation and remove putrefactive toxins. Vegetables and sweet food should be excluded from the dog's diet.

Green diarrhea can also be caused by prolonged antibiotic treatment. These drugs destroy pathogenic bacteria, but can provoke putrefactive processes in the intestines. The stool returns to normal after the end of antibiotic therapy.

Causefrequent diarrhea in a dog can also become intestinal dysbiosis. This pathology is accompanied by a decrease in the number of beneficial bacteria and the activation of harmful microbes. In this case, the feces acquire a greenish color. This color of feces is due to the presence of pathogenic microflora. Treatment of dysbacteriosis is carried out with the help of probiotics. It is recommended to include fermented milk products in the diet.

Mucoid Impurity

Diarrhea with mucus in dogs is caused by irritation and inflammation of the intestinal wall. This can be observed in a variety of diseases. Normally, a small amount of mucus is formed in the intestines constantly. This substance has a protective function. However, if mucous secretions are produced in an increased amount and are excreted with feces, then this may be a sign of the following diseases and conditions:

• colitis;
• dysbacteriosis;
• food allergies;
• poisoning with poor-quality food;
• worm infestation;
• intestinal infections;
• side effects of vaccines.

When diarrhea with mucus occurs, you need to follow a starvation diet for 12 to 24 hours. If the diarrhea does not stop, then you should visit the veterinarian and undergo a diagnostic examination.

Stool discoloration

If a dog develops white diarrhea, then most often this indicates the absence of bilirubin in the feces. This is due to blockage of the bile ducts by stones. Pathology is accompanied by yellowing of the whites of the eyes and oral mucosa. Obstructive jaundice is a dangerous condition that requires surgical treatment.

Another cause of white diarrhea can be lipid indigestion. In this case, the feces become shiny and greasy. Such symptoms are observed in liver diseases and pancreatitis. It is impossible to cure such pathologies at home. It is necessary to completely eliminate fatty foods from the dog's diet and consult a veterinarian.

Prevention

How to prevent diarrhea in pets? Veterinarians advise following these guidelines:

1. It is necessary to monitor the quality of food intended for feeding the dog.
2. New types of food and natural foods should be introduced into the diet gradually.
3. The animal should be regularly dewormed.
4. It is necessary to forbid the dog to pick up leftover food from the ground while walking.
5. It is very important to vaccinate your pet against viral and bacterial infections on time.
6. During feeding, make sure that the pet does not overeat.

Following these preventive measures will help minimize the risk of gastrointestinal upset in dogs.