All About Dog Diarrhea – dogs hate it too!
Narrated from: Dog HealthWhat is dog diarrhea?
A dog’s diarrhea is pretty much the same as a human’s – the dog will produce soft, unformed stools, which will often be accompanied by watery fluids and a foul odor. Sometimes the diarrhea may manifest only by changing the color of your dog’s feces, but it should still be addressed.
Just like us, our canine friends also experience tummy ache, so show compassion towards their suffering!
Notice the symptoms
One needs to take good care of one’s pet – after all, a dog is not able to pay a visit to the doc when something is wrong. This means that you are the one who has to notice that the dog has diarrhea, and take the necessary measures.
Diarrhea is an easy to notice disease, since the effect is rather obvious, especially if the dog starts to eliminate outside its usual spots.
However, if you miss the change in your dog’s feces, you will probably notice the dog’s straining when it eliminates; listlessness and lack of energy are other secondary signs that might alert you that your dog is suffering from diarrhea.
Is it dangerous?
On its own, diarrhea is not that dangerous – however, with dogs it should not be considered a mere nuisance, as with humans, since dehydration can be very dangerous for a dog.
Treatment
If you know the causes for the diarrhea, and you are certain it is not a secondary symptom of a more serious disease, you can treat at home; however, it is best to consult your vet.
Most importantly, you need to supply the dog with sufficient amounts of water – dehydration can be very dangerous for dogs, especially during the first two or three days of a diarrhea attack! The water needs to be clean and fresh; you can also add probiotic powder to their water.
Human medicines for diarrhea usually work on dogs, but it is best to consult a vet, who can advise you which brands are suitable for pets. In the USA, Pepto-Bismol (dosage about 1 ml for every 10 lbs of body weight, three times daily) and Loperamide Immodium (dosage .5 mg for every 10 lbs of body weight three times a day) are deemed appropriate.
However, it is best to use a medicine designed specifically to address dog diarrhea. Such medicines are surprisingly easy to find, and come in a wide price range. You may need a prescription though.
Causes - the importance of consulting a vet
Diarrhea can be caused by a large number of factors – overexcitement, depression, a change in the diet, some medication your dog is taking, etc. However, it is usually a result (and thus – a symptom) of another illness. It is important to find out what this illness is, since diarrhea can be a symptom of a number of very serious, life-threatening diseases!
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