Diarrhea in Pets – Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

By | August 12, 2014

Diarrhea in Pets

Pets often go through the problem of loose and frequent stools. This problem is termed as diarrhea and it occurs due to many reasons. But something worth mentioning is that it is a process by which the immune system throws off germs, bacteria or foreign bodies that are not good for the pet’s body. Diarrhea in pets is quite common and is not a dreadful disease. When it stays for more than a day or two that is when it needs to be a cause of concern for pet parents.

Prolonged diarrhea results in dehydration and weakness in a pet. It is an indication of an underlying health problem, which needs to be addressed by a veterinarian. As a pet parent, you need to find out why your pet goes through these difficult times and need to get him treated without any delays. There can be several reasons for pets suffering for loose motions but you need to zero down on the exact cause and make sure to prevent it so that the pet remains healthy.

Reasons for diarrhea in pets:

Diet changes: When you give him new diet, his body takes some time to adopt it. In the beginning, it may not accept it and would throw it off the body in the form of loose stools. Therefore, it is advisable to make gradual changes in the pet’s diet as it may cause food intolerance and upset his system resulting in diarrhea or vomiting.

Wrong food: When the pet ingests toxic substances, spoiled food, garbage, harmful foreign bodies like rubber band or plastic, infectious poop then his body reacts through loose bowels. It is better to check the pet’s meals in advance and monitor his food.

Infections and parasites: Bacterial and viral infections are another important reasons for stomach upsets in pets. In addition, internal parasites can also disrupt his stomach and cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Kidney and liver diseases: If the pet is suffering from kidney or liver diseases then also he would show up some of the most common symptoms of diarrhea. Even digestive tract problems would give the same symptoms.

Stress and anxiety: Just like humans, pet’s digestive system also gets upset due to stress or anxiety. Be it any reason, if pets go through stressful times then they would end up peeing around the place or suffer from diarrhea for a time being.

Most common symptoms of diarrhea in pets:

  • Flatulence
  • Appetite issues
  • Lethargy
  • Dehydration
  • Quick and untimely defecation
  • Fever
  • Vomiting
  • Weight loss

Treatments:

The best treatment is to prevent occurrence of such a simple yet severe health problem. Watch your pet’s food, maintain hygiene, be regular with parasitic preventives, keep away infectious food and animals and keep him stress free. If your pet still suffers from diarrhea or vomiting then, take him to a vet and find out the underlying reason. Follow his advice and go for a complete treatment of the underlying disease.

On a concluding note, we would suggest that pet parenting is all about loving your pet like your child. So, make sure you give attention to every little detail of hygiene. You also need to consider the sensitivity of the pet. Give him what suits him! All this and the veterinarian’s advice will help you combat any health issue of your pet, be it diarrhea or something else. So, just be careful and keep your pet healthy and happy!