One of the most prevalent problems seen by veterinary doctors is an upset stomach. The pet owners bring their four-legged patients to the clinic due to soft stool or frequency of bowel movements. While it is understandable that fur parents worry about the health of their pets, some cases of recurrent passing of stool are nothing serious.
If you are one of those pet owners who cannot distinguish between which conditions are healthy and which ones require medical attention, here is some information about dog diarrhea that you must know:
Causes of Diarrhea
There are a lot of factors that can cause loose stools in dogs. But the most common causes include:
- Diet change or dietary indiscretion – Immediate changes in the pet’s diet can cause stomach irritation. Unlike humans, dogs cannot handle sudden food transition. That is why it is advisable to change your pet’s diet gradually to let it adjust to the new food without any problems.
- Parasites – If your dog acquired intestinal worms, it could cause gastrointestinal irritation. It is common for most puppies whose immune system is still developing.
- Medications – Some pets cannot digest medications properly. Prescribed medicines like antibiotics can be harsh on the pet’s digestive system. As a result, they can acquire dog diarrhea before they can even heal from the previous disease.
- Stress – Just like humans, stress can cause a lot of ailments to your pet, one of which is a loose stool. If they are suffering from too much excitement or anxiety, they have a higher risk of acquiring gastrointestinal infection.
Home-based Remedy to Stop Diarrhea
Diarrhea in dogs should be promptly treated to avoid further complications. But before taking them to the vet, you can also ease their discomfort. During their constant bowel movement, one of the first things to do is to try to feed them with their usual diet to keep them nourished. You may also increase their fiber intake since fiber can sweep away the harmful toxins inside the gastrointestinal tract.
However, you must divide their usual meals into four smaller servings to make them more digestible. Some of the recommended food items that you can feed your sick dog are potatoes, rice with small servings of chicken or turkey, pasta, low-fat cottage cheese, and yogurt.
How to Tell if the Diarrhea is a Medical Emergency?
Since you know your dog best, you can quickly determine if it needs immediate medical attention. Frequent watery stools or uncomfortable straining to pass large bowels are just two of the most common signs that there is something wrong with your pet. Once you see these signs, you can call your vet right away. However, if your dog suddenly loses its appetite or refuses to drink, has signs of pain or discomfort, vomits repeatedly, shows no signs of urination, or if its stool has blood, then take it to the clinic immediately.
Diarrhea in dogs can be very concerning, especially if your beloved fur baby is still very young, in its old age, or battling other medical conditions. Thus, it is ideal to see a doctor as soon as possible to start treating the problem.
If you let the dog suffer from diarrhea for a long time, he might begin to get dehydrated and become more uncomfortable. So, act quickly when you notice the first signs of diarrhea in your pet to avoid possible complications.
