Diarrhea and vomiting in pets can have many causes. Especially in young pets, dietary indiscretion/food allergies and intestinal parasites, including roundworms, hookworms and whipworms may cause digestive upset. Particularly in young, stressed animals at pet stores or kennels, coccidia are also common intestinal parasites diagnosed. Foreign body ingestion is always a concern, especially in young and inquisitive pets. Metabolic diseases of the liver, pancreas, kidneys and intestines may also cause diarrhea and/or vomiting. Inflammatory bowel disease is probably the most common cause of chronic vomiting and/or diarrhea in adult pets. Finally especially in older pets, and those suffering from weight loss and/or loss of appetite, cancer must also be ruled out in many cases.
For pets with acute diarrhea and vomiting, over the counter remedies including Pepcid AC or Immodium may be helpful. Slippery elm and probiotics and enzymes such as Fast Balance G.I. and NatureVet Digestive Enzymes are often useful in many cases. Many pets with acute digestive upset will benefit from brief 12 to 24 hour periods of fasting, after which a bland hamburger and rice or turkey and sweet potato home-cooked diet can be introduced for a few days until symptoms pass. Any pet with chronic or severe diarrhea or vomiting should have a complete veterinary exam and medical workup to assess for underlying causes and for the best treatment plan.
Constipation is a condition where an animal either does not defecate, or does so very infrequently; this causes retention of feces in the colon or rectum. There are many different conditions which can cause constipation. Constipation can lead to a disease known as megacolon. Fecal materials begin building up in the animal and the body cannot find a way to get rid of them. Over 12 percent of the cases of megacolon are present in Siamese cats which puts them at a greater risk than average for this disease. Read More »
Malabsorption syndrome is a general term which applies to a chronic condition of the digestive tract where the absorption of critical nutrients and proteins is impaired. This results in varying degrees of digestive upset, which can range from diarrhea of often mucousy or fatty character, as well as sometimes vomiting if the upper digestive tract is involved as well. Changes in appetite, as well as weight loss may occur in chronic cases.
There are many chronic diseases that may cause malabsorption syndrome in pets including diseases such as food allergy/hypersensitivity, lymphangectasia, inflammatory bowel disease, and even cancer. When presented with a pet with chronic diarrhea, it is important during a workup to differentiate malabsorption syndromes from maldigestion syndromes caused by diseases of the pancreas.
While a basic CBC/chemistry blood workup and stool check for parasites are often important baseline workups in these pets, in more chronic cases special dietary trials with hypoallergenic diets are often tried, as well as even intestinal biopsies for definitive disease diagnosis. This is important so that the best long-term treatment plan can be implemented. In many immune mediated diseases of the digestive tract, trials with antibiotics like Metronidazole, tylan powder, as well as immune suppressive medications such as Prednisone may be needed for long-term management and control of clinical signs. Prognosis will be determined by the primary disease process involved, as well as early and aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic treatments.
With the recent pet food recalls due to possible Salmonella contamination, animal guardians across the country are increasingly concerned about possible risk in their pets, particularly those that may have eaten potentially contaminated foods on the recall list. While some pets may exhibit no symptoms on exposure to Salmonella, other pets may develop varying degrees of digestive upset most commonly mucoid and/or bloody diarrhea, in addition to loss of appetite and occasional vomiting. There is also the concern about human exposure to this potentially human pathogen. With strict hygiene and cleaning, potential human exposure and infection can be minimized.
Diagnosis of salmonella poisoning is made by both a history of eating potentially contaminated brands of foods, but also upon special cultures of the feces in suspect animals. Treatment is usually supportive with IV fluids in severe cases, and antibiotics based on results of fecal cultures. Prognosis with early diagnosis and treatment is favorable for recovery. If there is any possible exposure, please see your local veterinarian as soon as possible for a complete digestive tract workup for the best possible results.
Enteritis in pets is defined as an inflammation of the intestines. Inflammation of the intestines can have many causes. Intestinal parasites, as well as viral and bacterial infections all may cause enteritis. Foreign body ingestion, as well as dietary allergies and hypersensitivity also may be involved. Pets with metabolic disorders, including pancreatitis and hepatitis, also may have enteritis present at the same time.
The clinical signs of pets with enteritis may include loss of appetite, as well as vomiting and diarrhea. Where in the digestive tract the inflammation is present will determine whether the diarrhea has mucous, blood, and whether the stool color changes. Any pet with chronic symptoms should have a full medical workup, including blood work, stool testing, as well as possibly x-rays and ultrasound. Treatment of enteritis will be based on the specific underlying causes found through such a workup. Supportive care including feeding bland diets, and symptomatic medications and supplements such as probiotics and enzymes like NaturVet Digestive Enzymes and Fast Balance GI may be helpful.
Regurgitation is defined as the passive reflux of food and/or liquids secondary to some sort of inflammation or abnormality of the esophagus. Vomiting, on the other hand, is defined as the active eructation of food and/or liquid secondary to inflammation of the stomach or intestines. In veterinary medicine, it is important to differentiate regurgitation from vomiting, as they are both treated differently, and have different underlying causes.
Most commonly, regurgitation consists of undigested food and/or liquids. Causes of regurgitation include various disorders of the esophagus, including esophagitis, foreign body ingestion, as well as a condition known as megaesophagus. Differential diagnoses of regurgitation are distinguished by history, physical exam and possibly x-rays and contrast studies. Treatment usually consists of feeding a bland, easily digested diet, as well as often antacids (i.e. Pepcid AC, Sucralfate) as well as medications to promote the forward movement of food (i.e. Metoclopramide) down the esophagus. Prognosis will vary depending upon the diagnosis.
A workup for chronic vomiting also includes the above testing, but may also include further imaging such as ultrasound or endoscopy, as well as more involved blood work. Treatment will also be based on determination of an underlying cause, as well as symptomatic medications such as the ones mentioned above, as well as newer drugs such as prescription Cerenia.
Coccidia is an intestinal protozoan parasite seen in dogs and cats, most commonly seen in young pets under stressful conditions such as in kennel or pet store situations. In fact, low numbers of coccidia are present in the digestive tracts of healthy pets. During periods of growth or stress, these parasites may overgrow causing clinical signs of diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight loss. Transmission may also occur through the feces of affected pets to other nearby animal.
Coccidiosis is most commonly diagnosed by detecting the characteristic eggs on fecal exam. While some pets may develop severe and even bloody diarrhea, treatment is usually highly effective, and most commonly includes drugs of the sulfa class such as Albon. On occasion vets have used Metronidazole, which is also effective in some cases. Most healthy adult pets usually do not have problems with these parasites. If an infection is detected in adult pets, I will usually place these animals on a good source of probiotics and enzymes such as NaturVet Digestive Enzymes to help strengthen the immune system of the gut. .
Blood in the stool can have many causes in pets. Usually the presence of blood indicates some degree of inflammation of the colon, or colitis. Amongst the many possible causes include parasitic or viral infection, dietary indiscretion, as well as dietary allergies. Metabolic causes include inflammation of the liver, pancreas or a more chronic disease known as inflammatory bowel disease. Rectal polyps and/or tumors may occur in older pets.
Any pet with blood in the stool for more than a few days should have a veterinary exam and at least a stool check for parasites. Preventative worming and/or dietary trials may be needed in some cases. Intestinal antibiotics including Metronidazole are often prescribed. Depending upon the length of time of symptoms, a full medical workup, including CBC/chemistry blood work and urine analysis may be indicated. With patience and appropriate workup, most pets with blood in the stool can be successfully and easily treated.
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Diarrhea is a very common presenting complaint in both dogs and cats, and can be acute or chronic in nature. Causes of diarrhea may include viral/bacterial infections, gastrointestinal parasites, dietary indiscretion or food allergies, various metabolic diseases such as inflammation of the liver or pancreas, as well as primary bowel disease involving the intestinal lining resulting in malabsorption and secondary diarrhea. |
Animal guardians will often ask for palliative measures they can use for treating diarrhea at home. I only recommend at-home treatment if a pet is still energetic and active, as well as if the diarrhea has only been going on for a few days at most. Treatment of acute diarrhea may involve restricting food for 24 to 48 hours to allow the digestive tract to heal. During this time I will sometimes use small amounts of Immodium or Lomotil to help calm an inflamed digestive tract.
I find that the herb slippery elm, as well as oral charcoal products from health food stores are also quite helpful with acute diarrhea. I often direct animal guardians to the diarrhea section in book Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats by Richard Pitcairn, DVM, Ph.D., for an in-depth discussion of treatment of diarrhea using slippery elm and other natural methods. The probiotic Fast Balance-G.I. is wonderful to use on all pets with acute diarrhea, changing to NatureVet Enzymes and Probiotics for long term use, once the acute episode of diarrhea is over.
During the first 24 to 48 hours of a fast, I will often recommend allowing access to water several times daily, as well as using oral electrolyte solutions like Gatorade or Pedialyte to maintain hydration and electrolyte balance in pets with diarrhea. After 24 to 48 hours, a bland diet is introduced while some of the above measures are continued. Bland easily digested diets such as a 50-50 mixture of sweet potatoes and lean white meat turkey, as well as turkey and chicken baby foods, can be used when re-introducing solid food intake. I usually recommend 3-4 small meals a day, and then gradually changing back over to original diet, once the diarrhea has resolved.
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While it is normal for a dog or cat to become occasionally gassy or flatulent, when the problem is more chronic, this can indicate more than just an inconvenience to an animal guardian in the line of fire. Most pets with chronic gas or flatulence often have an underlying intestinal imbalance or improper bacterial overgrowth in their intestinal tract. Since over 75% of our immune systems resides and starts in the digestive tract, imbalances at this level can eventually lead to many sorts of chronic systemic issues as well, including chronic skin/ear allergies, joint, airway and urinary tract issues, all because of a “leaky gut”.
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That is why it is important not to ignore that chronically gassy pet. The most important initial action in solving this problem is in looking at that pet’s diet. Many gassy pets are on processed commercial dry pet foods, which often contain an excess amount of grain often used as a cheap and economical protein source. Dogs and cats did not evolve to digest large amounts of grain, so when eating such foods, incomplete digestion often leads to such gas. Unless your pet has a kidney, liver, or special urinary tract problem, meat-based high protein, high fat, low carb foods are much closer to what dogs and cats evolved to eat.
Natural diets such as Eat Great Be Well, Pet Guard and Wysong are all excellent commercial diet choices. Properly made homemade diets as found in Donald Strombeck’s book or Richard Pitcairn’s book are even better. Adding digestive enzymes and probiotics such as NaturVet Enzymes & Probiotics can often help in digestion, as well as restoring and maintaining normal gut bacterial populations. This is even more important when a pet is under physical or emotional stress, or on any sort of chronic antibiotic therapy.
Other useful products include Prozyme to help in digesting nutrients as well. With dietary and supplement therapy, not only can the inconvenience of gassy pets be often solved, but animal guardians are also promoting long term good health at the same time as well.
