Dog Diarrhea: Identifying the Severity

Eating indigestible objects and garbage are two of the main causes of minor bouts of dog diarrhea. Chronic cases of dog diarrhea can be a bit more complicated, so understanding the different types of dog diarrhea is the key to identifying the severity and selecting the most appropriate treatment.

Types of Dog Diarrhea

There two basic types of dog diarrhea include acute and chronic. Acute diarrhea may sound serious, but it’s not. It is a temporary condition characterized by soft or watery stools, frequent bowel movements, and minor abdominal discomfort. Acute dog diarrhea is not typically caused by disease or other serious condition. Acute diarrhea is basically a way for the dog’s body to heal and rid itself of harmful or unwanted toxins. Eating bacteria-laden trash and table scraps as well as indigestible objects such as rocks, sticks, grass, and dirt can cause acute dog diarrhea.

Chronic diarrhea is characterized by watery, explosive, and blood and/or mucus coated stools. In some cases watery stools will be followed by normal stools, then water stools again. Chronic diarrhea can persist for days and it can cause weight-loss, lethargy, tiredness, and an unkempt look to the coat.

Causes of Dog Diarrhea

Eating bacteria-laden trash and table scraps as well as indigestible objects such as rocks, sticks, grass, and dirt can cause acute dog diarrhea. Chronic dog diarrhea can have a number of causes such as food allergies, bacteria infections, intestinal parasites, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), leaky gut syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, or liver, thyroid or kidney disease. Chronic dog diarrhea can also be caused by eating indigestible foods on a regular basis or by a condition called dysbiosis. Dysbiosis is a condition that alters the system from a normal intestinal microbial flora to an abnormal bacterial, protozoal or fungal population.

Treating Dog Diarrhea

Severe cases of dog diarrhea, such as chronic diarrhea should be treated at the vet hospital. The vet will administer intravenous fluids, any necessary medications or antibiotics and he will also monitor the dog’s progress. At home treatments for acute diarrhea include: 24-hour fasting, a white rice and chicken diet, plenty of fresh water, Pedialyte, and rest. If the dog has acute diarrhea, it will typically clear up within two days. Chronic diarrhea may take a bit longer depending on the cause.

Dog Diarrhea Prevention

Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to control everything that goes into your dogs mouth. Simply feed your dog a high-quality all natural diet, provide plenty of fresh water, and do your best to keep him away from indigestible objects whether you are at home or outdoors. You should also keep trash in a secure location and avoid feeding your dog table scraps.

 

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