What to Do If Your Dog Has Diarrhea

Diarrhea often ensues from several systemic and other problems. It's occasionally caused by bad feeding. If it occurs only once or twice, it could be nothing more than a slight intestinal upset. A sudden shift in diet can bring it on; a swap from one brand of food to another is best done over a period of a few days, the new food gradually blended in increasing amounts with the old. Often diarrhea results from nervousness or fear brought on by unaccustomed journeys or exhilaration. Spoiled food, likewise, will cause it.

Diarrhea can be an sign of canine distemper or canine parvovirus, in which case the fecal matter emit a particularly foul odor. Intestinal parasites like hookworms and whipworms are also a chief cause. Serious diarrhea involving numerous daily evacuations, evil-smelling or blood-streaked stools, must be treated right away by a veterinarian.

Mild or casual cases may be eased by the same treatment as for vomiting: withholding food and water for 12 to 24 hours, giving only ice cubes to lick, then extending water gradually, after a period of time. At the same time, Kaopectate or Donnagel, given based on your veterinarian's instructions, will help to stop the diarrhea and calm the stomach. Begin giving bland food after twenty-four hours.

By Tip Writer

Dog Health Issues: Vomiting

Vomiting often happens in dogs of all ages since the dog can vomit at will. When you dose him with a foul-tasting medicine, he might throw it up simply because he doesn't like the flavor. Give him a piece of candy and probably he will throw this up as well. Occasional vomiting, hence, may just show dislike. It's often induced by grass which the dog eats when his stomach feels uncomfortable.

 

Frequent vomiting, nevertheless, can be a symptom of several diseases, among them canine distemper, kidney and liver disease, canine parvovirus, pancreatitis, and bloat (gastric dilation/torsion complex), also digestive upsets. Overloading the stomach is a popular cause; the cure, give less food fed at more frequent intervals. Relentless vomiting of just a little food may entail a change in diet is necessary. Worms can also be responsible; eliminating them solves the problem. Then there are what may be known as mechanical causes, among them poisoning and drug intoxication.

 

To treat everyday vomiting, keep back food and water for 12 to 24 hours to relieve the stomach. After a period, allow the dog lick a few ice cubes when he is thirsty, then water or Gatorade can be given bit by bit in small amounts. During the fast, an antacid product having a protective coating action, like Pepto-Bismol or Maalox, would help sooth stomach upset. Give one to two teaspoons per 20 pounds of body weight every 4 to 6 hours. After 24 hours, give small quantities of bland food: two parts whole-grain rice mixed with one part lean chopped beef or chicken that was boiled to remove the fat; cottage cheese; cooked egg; or baby cereal.

Don't experiment with the persistent vomiter too long, though. Better consult your veterinarian if it does not clear up within 24 hours. And when blood is vomited, particularly a profuse quantity, or if blood clots are present in the vomitus, seek veterinary help straightaway.

By Tip Writer 

Some Facts About the Canine Parvovirus

Canine parvovirus is an extremely contagious viral infection that first came out "out of the blue" in 1978. A series of epidemics spanned across the United States, Australia, Canada, and several European countries, causing a rattling mortality rate. It was particularly grave in young puppies, and spread quickly at dog shows and in places where dogs were housed together, like kennels and pet stores. There's proof now that parvovirus didn't exist before the 1978 epidemic.

 

Parvovirus is spread mainly via contact with the feces of a contaminated animal. A susceptible dog can be infected by ingesting less than a thousandth of a gram of infected fecal material. The virus could also be carried on the hair and feet of infected dogs, and on the clothing and shoes of people who manage them. It can pollute cages and other objects too.

Symptoms come along inside a three to twelve day period and include fever, vomiting, pale gums, and bloody diarrhea. The onset of the disease is sudden and might be preceded by listlessness and loss of appetite. Death may occur in dogs of all ages, though it's more likely in young pups.

 

Success in treatment depends on early and precise diagnosis made by a vet, as death can happen within 2 to 4 days after the onset of the disease. Treatment comprise of intensive fluid and electrolyte replenishment therapy having antibiotics and vitamins. Numerous days of intensive care is often demanded during the crisis period.

When this lethal virus swept the country, scientists immediately started to formulate vaccines. Nowadays, thanks to the development of an effective vaccine, parvovirus is in check. However, it's vital that puppies be immunized at the proper time. A lot of pups are exposed and most susceptible to the virus at a time while they have too few maternal anti-bodies to protect them but too many to allow for a successful vaccination. Decisions about how soon and how often to vaccinate, thence, should be made on an individual basis by the vet in charge of the dog.

The virus causing this disease is among the most hardy and resistant ever known. It can thrive on many surfaces at room temperature and stay infectious for twelve months or longer. It is also resistant to most antimicrobials. You can help bring down contamination, though, by cleaning kennels or other areas the dog frequents using a solution of chlorine bleach.

© 2011 Tip Writer

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