Sunday, August 5, 2012

How to help a pet with diarrhea

By Jerry Welsh


We know that dogs are hardy animals. Before domestication these animals have stayed and survived in the wild for hundreds of years without any human intervention. Modern day dogs seem to lack the resilience and the strength of their ancestors. In spite of the care provided by the owners, dogs suffer from a lot of medical concerns. Can the rather weak constitution be brought about by commercial food or by the pampering of the doting pet owner? One of the most common health concerns of dogs is diarrhea.

Dogs would suffer from watery, unformed and frequently excreted rancid smelling poop in their life time. A pet with diarrhea is a messy and smelly situation as the dog's rear end can spurt anytime and anywhere. .

Most pet owners are not concerned if the pet has diarrhea as this is not considered as a disease. Dogs, apart from having big appetites are scavengers and indiscriminate eaters as well. A pet parent should not be surprised if the dog would suffer from diarrhea. The diarrhea can as well result from eating foods the dog is allergic to. A bout of diarrhea can be the result of a diet change. Pet owners not concerned with the pet's watery stool would just let diarrhea to run its course. The dog has to purge from its stomach whatever toxic substance it has ingested thus medication is normally not given.

To deal with the dog's diarrhea, an owner would simply withhold food and water to rest the stomach. Mature dogs are commonly fasted for 24 hours and 12 hours for younger dogs to empty the stomach of the toxic substances. Withholding food is not recommended for very young puppies. After the fasting small amounts of boiled chicken and rice can be given as these foods are easy to digest. Dehydration can be a life threatening outcome of diarrhea thus an owner has to be watchful to prevent the dog from being dehydrated. Provide the dog with plenty of drinking water.

Chronic diarrhea is a more serious concern. Chronic diarrhea can be caused by a parasite infestation or it can be a sign of an underlying medical concern. Dogs with chronic diarrhea will be lethargic and feverish and pass bloody tinged stool. Dogs are voracious eaters but one with chronic diarrhea may not be interested in food. The pet must have medical attention stat as oftentimes the dog's chronic diarrhea is a sign that the dog has a more serious disease.




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