WHAT CAUSES DIARRHEA IN DOGS? DIARRHEA CAUSES AND TREATMENT
What causes diarrhea in dogs?
Diarrhea in dogs is a symptom, not a disease. It is loose stool that lasts more than two days.
It is a result of the movement of the intestine faster than normal which leads to decrees amount of reabsorbed water, electrolyte, and nutrient.
When should I be worried about my dog's diarrhea?
The severity of diarrhea depends on the time at which it last and if there are any other signs. If there is bloody diarrhea with general weakness, abdominal pain vomiting, and loss of appetite or it is accompanied by dehydration, you should worry and take your dog to a veterinarian. The veterinarian will ask you to bring a fresh fecal sample with you for examination.
Diarrhea causes:
Many diseases can cause diarrhea, but it can take a variety of forms depending on the disease. Sometimes it is associated with mucus or blood. These diseases may be bacterial, viral, parasitic, or caused by dietary indiscretions.
Some of these bacteria can be transmitted to humans from their dogs.
Campylobacter can be isolated from diseased and apparently healthy dogs (act as a carrier). Humans can be infected with these bacteria. It is transmitted by contaminated food (undercooked poultry) and water.
Diarrhea characterization:
Mucous watery diarrhea with or without blood may last for more than two weeks. In some cases, intermittent diarrhea may continue for months. It becomes severe for puppies. In a pregnant mare, it causes her to miscarry her unborn puppies. Fever may be present.
Helicobacter pylori bacteria present in humans and dogs. Until now, it is unknown if their presence could be a predisposing factor to inflammatory bowel disease, food allergies, or cancer.
Salmonella presents frequently in dogs. It causes inflammation of the intestine and in some cases may progress to severe blood poisoning. In a pregnant bitch, it causes her to miscarry her unborn puppies. Some cases are apparently healthy and are considered carriers of disease.
Diarrhea characterization: sudden diarrhea and blood poisoning.
Clostridium piliforme which causes Tyzzer disease. It rarely presents in dogs. The bacteria infect intestinal cells, liver cells, and cardiac cells. Clinical signs include:
- Decreased activity.
- Loss of appetite.
- Jaundice.
- Fever, and diarrhea.
- Convulsions and coma occur before death.
There are many viruses that can cause diarrhea in dogs, including:
1- Canine parvovirus type 1 (CPV-1) : It was considered nonpathogenic for dogs for a long time. Recent studies have shown a possible role for CPV-1 in reproductive problems and intestinal infections. It can be transmitted from pregnant females to their puppies. It may cause abortion and fetal death. Myocarditis also appears after CPV-1 infection especially in the first week after birth. CPV-1 usually infects neonatal puppies by the oro-nasal route. It may cause small lesions in the small intestines.
2- Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2): which causes severe bloody diarrhea in dogs, vomiting, myocarditis, and generalized disease in young puppies that may lead to death.
3-Canine Coronavirus: diarrhea ranges from moderate to severe.
4- Canine distemper virus (CDV): the incubation period ranges from 3 to 6 days. The acute early phase is characterized by biphasic fever and depression. It affects not only the respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems but also the lymphatic system and the skin. Respiratory symptoms include nasal and ocular discharge, conjunctivitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis, bronchitis, coughing as well as pneumonia and pleuritis in complicated cases. Digestive clinical signs are characterized by vomiting, anorexia, and severe watery diarrhea which may lead to dehydration of the dog before the appearance of nervous signs and death.
5- Canine adenoviruses (CAV-1 and -2): also known as infectious canine hepatitis. Clinical symptoms are vomiting, bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, hemorrhages on the oral mucosa and intestinal wall, neurological symptoms, jaundice, anorexia, depression, leukopenia, and fever.
6-Canine rotavirus: clinical symptoms like watery diarrhea ( yellow in color), and rapid dehydration. It may lead to the death of newborn puppies.
7-Canine calicivirus: associated with fatal diarrhea.
8-Canine astrovirus: it was detected in dogs with or without diarrhea. In addition, it was detected in children suffering from digestive system inflammation.
Parasitical causes of diarrhea in dogs
Parasites can cause diarrhea in dogs, including:
coccidia: Infection with coccidia usually results in diarrhea; however, most cases do not show any clinical symptoms. The infection is considered a transient condition when the coccidial oocysts are presented in the fecal matter of a dog without diarrhea.
Intestinal worm: clinical symptoms of worms in dogs include diarrhea, blood in stool (either bright red or dark purple), vomiting, abdominal pain, pot-bellied appearance, weight loss, poor coat appearance, lethargy, deficiencies in nutrition, anemia, dehydration, intestinal blockage, and pneumonia.
Diagnosis of diarrhea in dogs:
Microscopic examination of fecal sample, X-rays to find if there is any abnormality in the intestine, blood examination, making culture from the fecal sample or DNA tests, ultrasound, biopsies of the intestinal tract, endoscopy.
Treatment of diarrhea in dogs:
In case of simple acute diarrhea in adults, the veterinarian will start with conservative approach insteada of an in-depth diagnostic workup. For conservative treatment, food should be stopped for 12-24 hours or small amounts of a soft and simple digested diet should be given at frequent intervals at further intervals over the course of the day. Also, it should contain prebiotic fibers which improve intestinal tract action. Water should be given all the time to avoid dehydration. As a result of this initial treatment, the body is able to recover. When dog stool becomes normal, the dog can return to its previous food gradually by mixing it with a conservative diet.
Some medications may be prescribed by veterinarians such as Antidiarrheal agents, dewormers, and or probiotics (bacteria that support intestinal health). The veterinarian will determine which antibiotic is appropriate for treatment. Some cases may need intravenous fluid therapy. Unfortunately, dogs may remain carriers of the bacteria in some cases.
Metronidazole (brand name Flagyl®) and tylosin (brand name Tylan®) are usually used as anti-diarrheal agents that reduce inflammation of the intestine which usually causes diarrhea. Panacur®, Drontal®, and Dolpac® are all used as dewormers.
The prognosis for diarrhea:
It varies according to the severity of diarrhea and the response of the dog to treatment. In simple diarrhea, most patients will recover. In case of chronic diarrhea, it will need dietary management or medication to bring the disease under control.
