Diarrhea in dogs: causes, treatment, prevention at home

The appearance of diarrhea in pets is an unpleasant event, but people often neglect it. Diarrhea in dogs does not always require treatment. It goes away easily from overfeeding, but often this disorder develops into a serious problem. Studying the causes, varieties and symptoms of this disease is an important task for a responsible dog breeder.

Causes of diarrhea in dogs

Just like in humans, diarrhea in dogs can be a manifestation of a variety of diseases.
Of course, the most common and obvious cause of indigestion is food poisoning or another malfunction of the digestive system. Due to the powerful bactericidal properties of saliva, dogs are less sensitive than other pets (particularly cats) to low-quality or stale food. Moreover, in the wild, the closest relatives of dogs, foxes and jackals (1), are generally able to feed on carrion, but it is worth understanding that most domestic dogs have gone so far from their wild ancestors that they have long ago lost all these talents. Their body has become as sensitive to food as ours. And the first reaction to any problem in the body is diarrhea or, more simply, diarrhea. There are also many breeds that are particularly demanding on the quality and type of food (for example, Chihuahuas), the same applies to white dogs, most of which are allergic.

But it should be understood that malnutrition is far from the only cause of diarrhea, and sometimes we can talk about really serious diseases, such as enteritis, hepatitis, helminthiases, the gastric form of distemper - officially this disease is called carnivore distemper (2) and others. Also, diarrhea in dogs can be a symptom of other ailments that at first glance are not related to nutrition.

“If you notice diarrhea in a dog, we always recommend seeing a veterinarian,” says veterinarian Ruslan Shadrin, “because what manifests itself as a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract does not always relate directly to it, it may be a secondary manifestation of some then another disease. And if it is viral, then it is quite serious, and the owner, unfortunately, will not help here in any way. Also, many diseases not related to digestion can manifest themselves in the form of diarrhea. This is primarily kidney damage. When toxins are not eliminated in sufficient quantities in the usual way, the body gets rid of them where it can: through the skin, through the mucous membranes, resulting in irritation and inflammation. These may also be problems of a cardiac nature: disturbances in blood pressure due to the work of the heart can also manifest themselves as various dyspeptic disorders. Also, the cause may be problems with the central nervous system, since the control of internal organs by the brain is disrupted. We can also talk about problems of organs that are associated with the digestive tract, but function outside it, for example, the liver. As a result, both the endocrine and exocrine systems of the animal’s body suffer.

Therefore, if you notice that your dog has been suffering from an upset stomach for more than a day, be sure to contact your veterinarian.

With blood or other impurities

The presence of blood or other impurities in diarrhea can have serious consequences. The causes of diarrhea with blood are dangerous infections, for example, salmonellosis, food poisoning, inflammation, internal injuries, damage to the walls of the anus from sharp bones or other objects.

Also, diarrhea with blood can be the result of hemorrhagic leptospirosis, a fatal disease that affects the liver, blood vessels, and other body systems, and parvovirus enteritis, a severe infectious disease with a high fatality rate.

Mucus contained in diarrhea indicates an inflammatory process in the large intestine, which often occurs after the use of deworming medications. In this case, the worms die, are digested and turn into mucus, which leaves the body with diarrhea in the form of mucus.

Classification of diarrhea in dogs

Photo: Tima Miroshnichenko, pexels.com
No matter how unappetizing it may sound, but if you notice that your four-legged friend is moving differently than usual, pay attention to the nature of the stool.

If the only deviation from the norm is its consistency - it is more liquid than usual, then the reason for this is most likely a change in diet: either you recently switched the dog to a different type of food, or treated it to something unusual for it. In a word, the food did not go to waste. Draw conclusions and don’t experiment anymore.

However, if the feces have changed not only the consistency, but also the color or they contain mucus, you should be wary. They can be yellow, black, green and completely watery, and sometimes contain an admixture of blood. And here it’s worth contacting a specialist.

It is also necessary to distinguish between temporary diarrhea due to accidentally eaten low-quality food and chronic diarrhea that occurs against the background of more serious diseases.

Bloody diarrhea

If you notice that your four-legged friend is bleeding heavily, this is a reason to sound the alarm. As a rule, such manifestations signal serious disturbances in the functioning of the dog’s body.

The cause may be severe poisoning, and we are no longer talking about stale food - most likely, your dog has swallowed real poison. Also, bloody diarrhea in dogs, and especially in puppies, is a consequence of infection with an enterovirus. And here it is very important to provide timely veterinary care, since, unfortunately, the mortality rate from it is very high.

Enterocolitis (3), caused by foreign bodies entering the dog’s digestive tract, is unfortunately also a common cause of bloody diarrhea. Dogs, like small children, sometimes tend to swallow objects they play with, which in turn injure the delicate intestinal walls, causing bleeding. Sometimes such carelessly eaten little things are eliminated from the body naturally, but sometimes it’s impossible to do without the intervention of a veterinarian.

Bloody diarrhea can also be a manifestation of such a terrible disease as a tumor. In this case, the sooner you contact a veterinarian, the greater the chance of saving your friend's life.

Yellow diarrhea

If your dog's stool is yellow or yellowish in color, this is a sign that something is wrong with his liver. As a rule, this happens due to the fact that the pet is overfed with tasty handouts from the table. Fatty, overly sweet and rich foods can cause disruption of the liver and bile ducts.

If you know that you are weak in following the lead of your dog, who is a master at begging for tidbits, make a strong-willed effort on yourself and stop it. In this case, the yellow diarrhea should go away in a couple of days. But if this does not happen, take the dog to the veterinarian - most likely, we are talking about more serious disorders in the liver.

Green diarrhea

Photo: Tima Miroshnichenko, pexels.com
If you notice this color in the piles left by your dog, then first you need to observe its behavior. There are usually two reasons.

First: the dog started eating grass. There is nothing wrong with this - in the wild, all canines from time to time eat some types of plants to maintain immunity and their own health. At the same time, instinct tells them exactly which types of grass are worth eating.

Second: if you have not noticed any tendency to eat green spaces, you should be wary - in this case, the green color of the feces most likely means congestion in the gallbladder. You are unlikely to cope with this disease on your own, so without delay, take your dog to the veterinarian.

Black diarrhea

This is quite an alarming symptom that you shouldn’t turn a blind eye to. The black color of stool is given by blood that has had time to coagulate, that is, its source is most likely the upper intestines. The cause may be a peptic ulcer or tumor, so it is better to consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.

However, before you sound the alarm about the color of your pet’s feces, first remember what he ate the day before. It often happens that owners are worried about the dog’s red or black feces, but it turns out that the dog just recently managed to pluck raspberry or blackberry bushes in their garden.

How to feed a puppy

The above describes an approximate list of products allowed for feeding a small pet after suffering from poisoning. Remember the peculiarities of your diet.

Feeding is carried out fractionally and in small portions, at least 4 – 5 times a day. This applies to any sick dog, regardless of age. Breaks between feedings last a couple of hours; giving the dog food too often is not recommended.

When the pet finishes eating, the bowl with the remaining food is removed away. It is permissible to hide it in the refrigerator and warm it slightly in the microwave before feeding again.

The animal always has water. It is acceptable to lightly salt the food, but do not overdo it. Cereals, vegetables and meat make up a ratio of 1 to 3 for puppies in the first months of life. Biokefir is allowed to the affected animal in order to normalize the intestinal flora. Absorbents continue to be taken as recommended by a doctor.

Treatment of diarrhea in dogs

Photo: Ferrari, globallookpress.com
If you notice that your dog often asks to go to the toilet, then be patient and watch it for 24 hours. Keep your pet on a diet: for the first day it is better to abstain completely from food, but you should give as much boiled water as possible. If the animal’s condition does not worsen - it does not become lethargic, inactive, and the stomach does not hurt when pressed, begin to slowly offer it boiled turkey or strictly skinless chicken breast, liquid low-fat broth, or rice water. In short, care for your tailed friend the same way you would a person who has suffered food poisoning. However, if his condition worsens within a day, it is better to take the dog to a veterinary clinic, where all the necessary tests will be carried out, a correct diagnosis will be made and a treatment strategy will be developed.

The main thing is, do not try to treat your pet with folk remedies, which are most often very questionable and can do more harm than good.

Dietary food: features and rules

It is always necessary to provide your dog with a proper diet, and even more so if you have gastritis. If your pet is accustomed to dry food, then choose diets from special dietary lines. Before doing this, be sure to consult a specialist.

Features of dietary nutrition for gastritis:

Eliminate fish and meat completely . You can introduce them back into the diet from 10-14 days of gastritis treatment, but only in the form of minced meat (for example, mixed with liquid porridge).
Add steamed vegetables to your diet. Prohibited vegetables include potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, as well as onions and garlic.
Give your pet vegetable broths and herbal decoctions . This will ensure rapid recovery of his body.
Introduce porridge into your diet . Veterinarians recommend giving your dog rice and oatmeal, previously diluted with warm water to a semi-liquid state.

Diagnostics

It should be understood that unless you are a veterinarian yourself, it is better not to take responsibility for making a diagnosis. When your dog's diarrhea does not go away for several days, you should consult a specialist.

“We will definitely conduct a full examination, take the main indicators: temperature, pulse, breathing, etc.,” explains veterinarian Ruslan Shadrin. – Plus, at the same time, we ask the owners about the methods of keeping, feeding and living conditions of the animal, and treating it from parasites. And this helps us make the right diagnosis and prescribe the right treatment. Because self-medication does not always give the desired result. And sometimes we have to treat a dog not for viruses, but for the consequences of such folk therapy, in particular from alcohol poisoning, which owners often give to their pets, trying to cure them of poisoning or distemper.

When going to your appointment, you should bring your pet's feces with you for analysis, which is necessary to identify the cause of the disease. Also, the clinic will certainly perform an ultrasound of the animal’s abdominal cavity, and, if necessary, an X-ray examination, as well as a blood test. If pathologies in the gastrointestinal tract are not identified, veterinarians will examine other organs, since stomach upset can be caused by a variety of reasons.

What to feed a dog with intestinal inflammation?

Using the results of laboratory tests of blood, feces and intestinal biopsies, your veterinarian will recommend a diet.

This may include:

Special high fiber dog food
Removing food allergens from your pet's diet
Eliminating treats or other foods from your diet
Reduce the amount of carbohydrates your dog eats
Eliminating fat from your dog's diet

To treat your efforts as a true “test meal,” you should stick to the regimen for 6 to 12 weeks.

If you don't see enough improvement, your veterinarian may suggest a small amendment or addition to your dog's diet to see if you notice any changes, good or bad.

Modern methods of treatment

Treatment of diarrhea in dogs is carried out after an accurate diagnosis has been made. Also, in addition to the main therapy aimed at eliminating the causes of the disease, a set of measures is carried out to replenish the supply of moisture in the body, which is lost in large quantities during diarrhea. Anti-inflammatory drugs and probiotics are also prescribed, and an individual diet is developed. During the recovery stages, the dog also receives immunostimulants to help its body recover faster.

In severe cases, when the cause of diarrhea is a foreign body in the intestines or a tumor, surgery is prescribed. It is performed under general anesthesia in the presence of an anesthesiologist, so that the health and life of the four-legged patient is not in danger.

When is it time to go to the vet?

Vomiting or diarrhea that persists for more than a few days without an identifiable cause will likely require a visit to the veterinarian.

You may notice blood in the stool or vomiting if their condition worsens.

Some dogs begin to eat and drink less to prevent symptoms and end up losing weight. This can lead to lethargy and lack of interest in the game.

Any negative changes in your dog's behavior that persist is a reason to visit the veterinarian.

Food allergies in dogs

Parasitic diarrhea (giardiasis) in dogs

Preventing diarrhea in dogs at home

Photo: pixabay.com
Since the most common cause of diarrhea in dogs is improper feeding, it is necessary to monitor your pet’s menu. You need to choose the right diet for him and not deviate from it. Under no circumstances should you overfeed your dog - handouts from your table will do nothing but harm. If you are a supporter of natural food, make sure that your tailed friend’s diet is balanced and that the food is fresh and cooked.

From puppyhood, wean your dog from the habit of picking up anything on the street - through such street “delicacies”, infection with parasites or pathogens of various infectious diseases, such as enteritis or distemper, most often occurs.

And, of course, make sure that your dog is less likely to encounter stressful situations - do not shout at him and do not raise your hand under any circumstances, because nervous shocks often affect the state of the body of our smaller brothers.

Treatment and prevention

If you are sure that the animal is not sick, and there are no other symptoms other than diarrhea, then you can help your pet at home. The first thing to do is to ensure plenty of drinking and frequent walking, and, of course, do not scold the dog if it “could not bear it.” You can also take the following preventive measures to ensure that your pet rarely or never experiences diarrhea:

Keep a close eye on your animal while walking. Do not let him pick up food and foreign objects on the street, dig through the garbage, or take something from strangers;
Do not feed your dog non-recommended foods. Remember that not all food is equally beneficial for both people and animals. Fatty, fried, smoked foods can upset the digestive system. It is also undesirable to overfeed the dog and feed it long bones, pork meat, etc.;
Vaccinate your pet in a timely manner and regularly carry out deworming (a set of therapeutic and preventive measures to combat helminths);
feed the animal high-quality, fresh food;
remove away all small objects and things that the dog can chew and swallow. It is worth paying attention to education. Prohibit your animal from gnawing or chewing any foreign objects.

Accompanied by vomiting

Diarrhea in pincers is often accompanied by vomiting. This may indicate severe poisoning of the animal or an infectious disease and requires immediate contact with a veterinarian for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Dehydration and inflammation are eliminated with the help of a dropper, and the dog’s vital activity is supported by medications.

Important! The combination of diarrhea and vomiting is very dangerous! The Spitz is most at risk of dehydration because it loses fluid twice as much. In this case, you need to visit a veterinary clinic as soon as possible.

Precautions against parasites and infections

If your dog is infected with parasites you need to take the following steps:

An infected pet should be isolated from other pets.
If you have diarrhea at home, immediately remove the stool, wearing gloves, and disinfect these areas.
Change your pet's water regularly to prevent the water from becoming contaminated.
Wash your hands! Parasite larvae (eggs) are sticky, so they can linger on clothes, hands and shoes.

If any of the above symptoms appear, you should contact your veterinarian immediately. Prolonged illness of a pet is not acceptable, since, we repeat, it is dangerous due to dehydration and even death.