Acute Diarrhea Dog Treatment

A sudden onset of acute diarrhea may or may not require dog treatment. There are many factors that may contribute to dog diarrhea, and not all of them are serious. When other symptoms are present, you may have an easier time figuring out which dog treatment will be most effective. Often, this condition will pass, but medication or natural remedies may be required to return your dog to normal health. If dog diarrhea persists longer than a couple of weeks, or intermittently returns for long periods of time, this is considered chronic diarrhea and any underlying causes will need to be diagnosed.

Concerns with Acute Diarrhea

While diarrhea can be indicative of one of many serious health risks, rushing to have antibiotics prescribed as a first resort of dog treatment may create more unwanted problems. Over-prescription of antibiotics can lead to bacteria which are resistant to the medication and may become ineffective when infection or disease persists. It's important to monitor a dog's acute diarrhea situation very closely. Acute diarrhea usually lasts one to two weeks and will commonly pass without causing any additional harm to the dog.

Purpose of Acute Diarrhea

Diarrhea is one of processes the body uses to heal itself from unwanted toxins. Dog treatment should be limited until other symptoms begin to appear, such as dehydration or large amounts of blood in the stool. If the dog becomes lethargic, experiences noticeable behavior changes or loses weight rapidly, a more serious condition may be at hand. Acute diarrhea will generally pass with no other symptoms. The dog's body is likely reacting to something disagreeable to the digestive system that was eaten, licked or ingested. Watery or soft stools with possible mucus or blood mixed in are normal to see during this process. You may even notice the dog straining with intermittent bouts of soft stool, or none at all.

Dog Treatment of Acute Diarrhea

If your dog seems to be healthy, happy and strong, besides showing signs of diarrhea, changes in diet may assist the body's process of healing naturally. Feeding a bland diet of about half the size of the dog's normal portion will assist in clearing up diarrhea and getting rid of any bugs that may be contributing to the condition. Use of a probiotic supplement may also be beneficial, and make sure the dog is drinking ample amounts of water if signs of dehydration are starting to show. If a dog's gums feel sticky, dehydration may become a serious issue.

Acute Diarrhea in Puppies

When puppies get diarrhea, there may be cause for concern. Because a puppy's immune system is still growing and strengthening, he is much more susceptible to infections, viruses and disease. Puppies may also contract certain ailments by nursing on a mother dog who's ill. If you notice a puppy with diarrhea, it's recommended to collect stool samples for examination. The dog treatment provided will be based upon results and findings. Puppies can become dehydrated much more easily than adult dogs. Since dehydration is one of the major concerns in any dog with diarrhea, make sure the puppy is receiving ample amounts of water.

 

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