Dogs aren’t picky when it comes to putting things in their mouths. They’ll ingest almost anything which often leads to occasional diarrhea. Diarrhea, however, might also signify a more serious health problem that might require the attention of a veterinarian.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR (OR WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE)
Loose stools are a primary sign that your dog has diarrhea. He might also vomit or not feel like eating. He might lose weight and feel tired.
CAUSES
If your dog is healthy and develops diarrhea he’s probably eaten something that’s making him sick. It could also be sign of stress or a change in his diet. Monitor him closely, however, for signs of a more serious illness. Diarrhea is often caused by parasites including roundworm, hookworm, and whipworm. Other causes include bacterial infections, bowel disease, liver disease or even heart disease.
DIAGNOSIS
In order to diagnosis why your dog has diarrhea your veterinarian might request a sample of your dogs poop to perform a fecal exam. He or she might also perform a different procedure that might include: Lab work, x-rays, an ultrasound or even surgery to diagnosis the problem.
TREATMENT
Diarrhea, even in mild form, has the ability to make your dog ill. Puppies, senior dogs, and dogs that have health conditions are most at risk when diarrhea strikes. Don’t hesitate to call your veterinarian for advice on how to treat it. Call right away if your dog has frequent, watery diarrhea, or he has black tarry stools. These are signs your dog might have a serious, life threatening illness.
If your puppy or dog is otherwise healthy, you may be able to treat him at home. If he just has diarrhea consider doing the following:
PROVIDE WATER
Continue to provide clean drinking water to prevent dehydration by offering small amounts of water several times throughout the day. Encourage your dog to drink by adding diluted chicken or beef broth to his water.
PROVIDE FOOD
Remove all food for twelve hours to give your dog’s digestive tract an opportunity to settle down. Once your dog has not vomited for six hours you might want to offer him a small meal of boiled chicken and white rice. If he’s able to hold down food for two hours, feed him again.
Gradually increase the amount of food at each meal but spread his meals further apart until his poop returns to a normal consistency.
MEDICAL CARE
Call your veterinarian if your dogs’ diarrhea continues for more than twenty-four hours. If his condition continues to decline, seek help immediately.
PREVENTION
Once your dogs poop has returned to a normal consistency its’ important to reduce the frequency of his diarrhea or prevent it from occurring all together. You can accomplish this by doing the following:
- Do not suddenly change your dogs’ diet because it might make him ill.
- Do not give your dog bones to chew on because they might splinter and get lodged in his digestive tract.
- Do not allow your dog to play with small toys or other objects that he might swallow.
- Do not feed your dog table scraps.
- Do not allow your dog to be a scavenger.
- Make sure your dog is up to date on his shots and his vaccinations.
When your dog develops diarrhea it’s important not to panic as it could be caused by something simple, such as food intolerance. If the condition of your dog continues to decline, your veterinarian may need to rule out a more serious health condition. Don’t hesitate to contact your veterinarian for help when it comes to diagnosing and treating your dog. The sooner you call, the sooner your dog will feel like himself again.
Today we need to thank http://www.pets.webmd.com for their help with this post. See their website for more helpful tips on keeping your dog happy and healthy for life.
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