Diarrhea In Dogs Is Preventable

When diarrhea afflicts man’s best friend the first step is to isolate what may have triggered the intestinal distress. Diarrhea commonly presents with loose, watery stools, but it can also manifest as slimy stools or insufficient or discolored stools. Such occurrences almost always result from the ingestion of something inappropriate. Spoiled food, sticks, rocks, dead bugs and wildlife, toxic house or yard plants, cooked animal bones, pet food additives, household and garden chemicals, parasites, worms, drugs and certain dog-deadly human foods are just some of the culprits responsible for canine diarrhea. Observing consumption provides the best clue for resolving the problem.

Diarrhea is the body’s natural way of washing away the damage caused by harmful influence in the digestive system. Allow this instinctive defense do its job but support your dog during the process. Provide fresh filtered water to prevent dehydration. Offer digestible, dog-appropriate natural foods to assist the dog in rebuilding his immune response. Clean up any defecation quickly to prevent a cycle of contamination.

If you’ve improved the diet and abolished recognized toxins from the dog’s environment and still the diarrhea persists, or becomes bloody, or if your pet exhibits signs of lethargy, distress or pain, then seek professional help. Chronic diarrhea may be viral, parasitical, or may indicate an underlying infection or other health adversity that requires prompt intervention. A holistic vet’s treatment protocol will vary from a conventional vet’s course of action. Educate yourself on the differences and decide which path is right for you and your dog.

Acute diarrhea usually requires minimal intervention and resolves itself as the body ejects whatever disagreed with it.

Chronic diarrhea, persisting for more than a couple of days, is dangerous. It robs the body of necessary nutrients, debilitates the immune system and compounds the initial problem into a more complex affliction, not the least of which is the deadly consequence of dehydration.

The best treatment for diarrhea is prevention. Education empowers you to make healthy choices for your dog that will ensure him a long and happy life.

Healthy dogs with strong immune systems rarely suffer diarrhea.