Diarrhea Dog Sickness Symptoms

Dog sickness may be signaled by different symptoms and diarrhea may also be a sign that your pet is not well. Some of the most common illnesses signaled by diarrhea include gastrointestinal problems, food allergies, parasites, infections or poisoning.

Detect Diarrhea

Dog diarrhea is easy to detect, as the dog will have more liquid feces than usual. Any change in the consistency of the feces may signal a problem. However, occasional diarrhea is considered normal.

Diarrhea should be alarming if it persists for over 2 days, as the dog can get severely dehydrated.

Other symptoms to watch out for are black, tarry stool or blood in the stool. The tarry stool contains digested blood and this may signal a serious problem.

Possible Causes of Diarrhea

Diarrhea can be caused by multiple diseases or can also be a simple food intolerance. However it can help to know the most common causes of diarrhea, which include:

• Gastrointestinal problems which can cause the inflammation of the intestinal lining and result in more liquid feces; gastrointestinal infections may be caused by viruses, bacteria or foods
• Food allergies can lead to diarrhea; dogs may ingest garbage or other plants or objects
• Parasites such as hookworms, tapeworms or roundworms can cause chronic diarrhea; you may also notice digested blood in the feces and worms or worm segments in the feces
• Infections in the stomach or intestines can cause diarrhea and vomiting; Salmonella or Clostridium perfringens are 2 common bacteria causing diarrhea
• A sudden change in your pet’s diet can also cause diarrhea. A dietary change should always be gradual and you should have a 2 weeks transition diet
• Poisoning may be due to the ingestion of poisonous plants, chocolate or alcohol and requires immediate veterinary attention
• A heat stroke occurs if the dog stays in the sun or in an overheated room/car. A additional symptoms include vomiting, seizures or sudden collapse
• Cancer (a tumor located in the intestinal tract)
• Stomach ulcer
• Liver problems
• Kidney dysfunction
• Diabetes

Diarrhea Treatment

The diarrhea treatment will be established by the vet, according to the diagnosis.

If the dog has an upset stomach, the administration of fiber supplements will eliminate the diarrhea. There are also a few home remedies that may be applied for occasional episodes of diarrhea including canned pumpkin or a tbsp of olive oil.

However, if the pet has diarrhea and this persists and seems to be a symptom of a more serious health condition, the vet should determine the best course of treatment. The treatment may range from antibiotics (applied for viral and bacterial infections) to stomach cleaning (in the case of poisoning) or chemotherapy (if the pet has a tumor).

Please note that albeit diarrhea may not sound like a severe symptom, if this persists, it may cause serious dehydration, as a lot of water is eliminated through feces. You should ensure that your pet gets plenty water and consult the vet.