15.

Acute (Sudden) Dog Diarrhea

Dog Diarrhea has four general reasons for occurring: osmotic imbalances, over secretion, intestinal exudation or motility
disorders. Osmotic imbalances occur when the concentration of food molecules in the intestine is too high. Water is drawn into
the intestine by the excess molecules, causing diarrhea in dogs . Over secretion occurs when the intestine secretes too much
fluid after being exposed to bacteria or toxins. Intestinal exudation describes a slow oozing of blood fluids through ulcers or
other breaks in the intestines tissue layers. This exudation can be mild or very severe.

Motility disorders refer to how active the intestine is and its capability of moving contents through. An intestine that is under
functioning in its ability to muscularly contract and push the contents out of the canal is most common; this condition is referred
to as peristalsis. Conversely, motility can be increased as well, so that the intestine contracts too quickly and fluid which
normally is absorbed is lost into the feces. Sometimes dog diarrhea can be from a combination of these causes. Intestinal
infections can also cause the intestine to over secrete. They also tend to change the motility of the intestine.
Symptoms and Types of Dog Diarrhea

More water in feces than normal

May have an increased volume of feces

Fecal accidents

Vomiting

Blood or mucus in the feces

Straining to defecate

Possible listlessness

Possible anorexia

Depression

Abdominal pain

Fever

Weakness

Causes of Dog Diarrhea

Systemic illness

Eating garbage, nonfood material or spoiled food

Changes in diet

Hypersensitive digestive tract

Addisons disease - less active than normal adrenal glands

Liver disease

Kidney disease

Pancreatic disease

Ingesting foreign bodies

Intestinal blockage

Infection

Viral

Bacterial

Parasitic

Rickettsial bacterial infection typically acquired through parasites such as fleas, ticks, etc.

Fungal

Drugs and Toxins

Diagnosis
Your veterinarian will perform a complete physical exam on your dog. You will need to give a thorough history of your dogs
health, including a background history of symptoms, and possible incidents that might have precipitated this condition. A blood
chemical profile, a complete blood count, an electrolyte panel and a urinalysiswill be performed so as to rule out other causes
of disease. X-rays can help to rule out the possibility that your dog swallowed inappropriate items, which may be blocking or
irritating the intestine.

Blood tests can be performed to rule out an inflamed pancreas, or a pancreas that is not producing enough digestive enzymes.
Blood tests can also be used to check levels of cobalamin and folate (vitamins) as these are normally absorbed in the intestine.

Laboratory tests can be performed on fecal samples to check for Giardia, Parvovirus and Cryptococcus infections. A smear of
feces should be checked for parasite eggs as well. Your veterinarian may perform an endoscopy to take a sample of your dogs
intestine for histopathologic examination at the laboratory.

Treatment
If your dog is only mildly ill, it may be treated on an outpatient basis, but patients with severe dehydration and/or vomiting
should be hospitalized for fluid and electrolyte therapy. Shock fluid therapy may be necessary. Potassium supplementation may
be required in very ill patients but it should not be given simultaneously with the shock fluid therapy. Patients that are mildly ill,
and are not vomiting should follow a period of fasting (1224 hours), which is often followed by a bland diet, such as boiled rice
and chicken or a prescription diet.

Patients with obstruction or foreign bodies may require surgery to evaluate the intestine and remove the foreign objects. Your
veterinarian will prescribe the appropriate medicine for your dogs diagnosis. Anti-secretory drugs, intestinal protectants or
dewormers are the most commonly prescribed medications. Rarely, antibiotics are prescribed.
Living and Management
Be sure to follow your veterinarians time guidelines for deworming puppies. Parasitic infections that can cause diarrhea in dogs
can be easily prevented. Watch your dog so that it does not eat from the garbage or from other inappropriate sources. Garbage
can be dangerous to your dogs health, especially if very fatty food is eaten, or if foreign bodies, such as bones are ingested.
Also, there are several infectious causes of dog diarrhea that may infect people as well. Caution must be taken when cleaning
up diarrhea and feces.