Diarrhea in pets – which is identified by loose or watery stool – is a common cause of concern in dogs and cats. If your pet is experiencing diarrhea, you may be wondering:
- How can I help them feel better?
- When should I seek veterinary care?
- What is causing my pet to have loose stool?
Depending on the cause, some treatments may be simple, while others will require the expertise of a veterinarian, as this symptom could be indicative of a larger medical issue. Fortunately, there are steps you can take at home to learn about potential causes and decide whether or not to seek professional care for your pet’s symptoms.
What causes diarrhea?
There are many causes of diarrhea in pets, ranging from simple and short-term issues to complex and challenging diseases.
Common causes of diarrhea in cats and dogs include:
- Stress, like changes in routine or environment
- Change in diet or ingestion of something irritating
- Parasites, such as Giardia, hookworms and roundworms
- Infections (viral and bacterial)
- Toxin or poison ingestion
- Disease or illness
Common diseases that cause diarrhea in pets include:
Acute gastroenteritis is one of the most common causes of veterinary emergency room visits. It’s defined by the sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhea, which is often caused by inflammation, irritation or infection of the lining of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
One of the more common causes of acute gastroenteritis is dietary indiscretion, which is the tendency of pets (especially dogs) to eat anything, whether it’s food or not. Your pet may experience acute gastroenteritis if they eat things like:
- Table scraps
- Cat feces
- Household items
There are many diagnostic tests that may be involved in diagnosing acute gastroenteritis, including a physical exam, laboratory work, abdominal radiographs or ultrasound.
Treatment options are wide-ranging depending on severity and each pet’s individual case. Common treatments include hydration, dietary changes and medications. Some cases are treated on an outpatient basis, while pets with more prolonged or significant signs of dehydration and nausea may benefit from hospitalized care. In mild cases, acute gastroenteritis may resolve on its own.
Chronic enteropathy is defined as signs of gastrointestinal disease lasting longer than three weeks. It is a broad term that can have a number of causes. It can affect multiple parts of the body, including the lining of the stomach, small intestine, large intestine or a combination.
Signs that your pet may have intestinal cancer or a tumor in their GI tract include decreased activity or appetite, weight loss or pain, which often looks like crying, increased respiratory rate and decreased socialization.
Intestinal cancer is treated by surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or a combination of those methods.
Other causes of diarrhea.
Diarrhea is a common symptom in pets, and it’s often present in other conditions aside from the ones mentioned above. Other illnesses that cause diarrhea in pets include:
- Acute diarrhea: Dietary indiscretion, change in diet, stress, infectious diseases
- Chronic diarrhea: Addison’s disease, chronic pancreatitis in dogs or cats
When should I seek veterinary care?
If your pet has diarrhea, there are a few factors to determine your next steps in seeking care, including:
- Frequency: Large volumes of diarrhea frequently can result in fluid loss and dehydration.
- Length of time: Seek veterinary care for diarrhea lasting longer than 24-48 hours.
- Stool evaluation: Diarrhea with blood or black tarry discoloration warrants veterinary care.
- Other symptoms: Vomiting, lack of appetite, decreased water intake, lethargy and abdominal pain are all reasons to seek veterinary care.
Diarrhea is an incredibly common symptom in dogs and cats, and it can be caused by many conditions ranging from simple and self-limiting causes to a complex or chronic illness.
If you’re concerned about your pet’s diarrhea, seek veterinary care to discuss treatment options. BluePearl pet hospitals are located throughout the United States and offer emergency and specialty care for pets in need. Find your nearest BluePearl hospital.
Kuanza kuhara kwa wanyama wa kufugwa - ambayo hutambuliwa na kinyesi cha mvuke au cha maji - ni sababu ya kawaida ya wasiwasi katika mbwa na paka. Ikiwa mnyama wako ana ugonjwa wa kuhara, huenda ukajiuliza: - Ninaweza kumsaidiaje ahisi vizuri? - Ni wakati gani unapaswa kutafuta matibabu ya mifugo? - Ni nini kinachosababisha mnyama wangu wa kufugwa awe na mkojo mnyororo? Kulingana na sababu, baadhi ya matibabu yanaweza kuwa rahisi, wakati wengine watahitaji utaalam wa daktari wa mifugo, kwani dalili hii inaweza kuwa ishara ya shida kubwa ya matibabu. Kwa bahati nzuri, kuna hatua ambazo unaweza kuchukua nyumbani kujifunza kuhusu sababu zinazowezekana na kuamua kama au si kutafuta huduma ya kitaalamu kwa dalili za pet yako. Ni nini husababisha kuhara? Kuna sababu nyingi za kuhara kwa wanyama wa kufugwa, kuanzia matatizo rahisi na ya muda mfupi hadi magonjwa magumu na yenye changamoto. Vipengele vya kawaida vya kuharisha kwa paka na mbwa ni pamoja na: - Mkazo, kama mabadiliko ya kawaida au mazingira - Mabadiliko ya chakula au ulaji wa kitu cha kukasirisha - Vimelea, kama vile Giardia, hookworms na roundworms - Maambukizo (virusi na bakteria) - Toxin au sumu ya kula - Ugonjwa au ugonjwa - Magonjwa ya kawaida ambayo husababisha kuharisha kwa wanyama wa kufugwa ni pamoja na: Ni hufafanuliwa na mwanzo wa ghafla ya kutapika na kuhara, ambayo ni mara nyingi husababishwa na uchochezi, kuchochea au maambukizo ya utando wa gastrointestinal (GI) njia. Moja ya sababu za kawaida za gastroenteritis kali ni usumbufu wa lishe, ambayo ni mwelekeo wa wanyama wa kufugwa (haswa mbwa) kula chochote, iwe ni chakula au la. Mnyama wako anaweza kupata gastroenteritis kali ikiwa anakula vitu kama: - Vipande vya meza - Damu ya paka - Vitu vya nyumbani Kuna vipimo vingi vya utambuzi ambavyo vinaweza kuhusika katika kugundua gastroenteritis kali, pamoja na uchunguzi wa mwili, kazi ya maabara, radiografia ya tumbo au ultrasound. Chaguzi za matibabu ni mbalimbali kulingana na ukali na kila pet's kesi ya mtu binafsi. Matibabu ya kawaida hutia ndani maji, mabadiliko ya lishe, na dawa. Baadhi ya kesi hutibiwa kwa msingi wa mgonjwa wa nje, wakati wanyama wa kipenzi wenye dalili za muda mrefu au muhimu za dehydration na kichefuchefu wanaweza kufaidika na huduma ya hospitali. Katika visa vyenye upole, gastroenteritis kali yaweza kutoweka yenyewe. Ugonjwa wa utumbo wa muda mrefu hufafanuliwa kama dalili za ugonjwa wa utumbo wa tumbo unaodumu kwa zaidi ya wiki tatu. Ni neno pana ambalo laweza kuwa na visababishi kadhaa. Inaweza kuathiri sehemu nyingi za mwili, ikiwa ni pamoja na utando wa tumbo, matumbo madogo, matumbo makubwa au mchanganyiko. Ishara za saratani ya utumbo au uvimbe katika mfumo wa tumbo ni pamoja na kupungua kwa hamu ya kula, kupoteza uzito, maumivu, ambayo mara nyingi huonekana kama kulia, kuongezeka kwa kiwango cha kupumua na kupungua kwa ushirika. Saratani ya matumbo hutibiwa kwa upasuaji, kemotherapy, radiation au mchanganyiko wa mbinu hizo. Sababu nyingine za kuhara. Kuanza kuhara ni dalili ya kawaida katika wanyama wa kufugwa, na mara nyingi inapatikana katika hali nyingine mbali na zile zilizotajwa hapo juu. Magonjwa mengine ambayo husababisha kuhara kwa wanyama wa kufugwa ni pamoja na: - Kuhara kali: Uchafu wa chakula, mabadiliko katika chakula, mkazo, magonjwa ya kuambukiza - Kuhara kwa muda mrefu: Ugonjwa wa Addison, pancreatitis ya muda mrefu katika mbwa au paka Ni lini ni lazima nitafute huduma ya mifugo? Ikiwa mtoto wako ana ugonjwa wa kuhara, kuna sababu kadhaa za kuamua hatua za pili za kutafuta huduma, ikiwa ni pamoja na: - Mzunguko: Kiasi kikubwa cha kuhara mara nyingi kinaweza kusababisha upotezaji wa maji na upungufu wa maji mwilini. - Muda: Tafuta huduma ya mifugo kwa kuhara kwa muda mrefu kuliko masaa 24-48 - Tathmini ya mkojo: Kuanza kuchacha na damu au rangi nyeusi ya lami kunahitaji matibabu ya mifugo. - Dalili nyingine: Kutochoka, kukosa hamu ya kula, kupungua kwa unywaji wa maji, uchovu na maumivu ya tumbo ni sababu zote za kutafuta huduma ya mifugo. Kuvuja ni dalili ya kawaida sana kwa mbwa na paka, na inaweza kusababishwa na hali nyingi kuanzia sababu rahisi na za kujizuia hadi ugonjwa tata au wa muda mrefu. Ikiwa una wasiwasi kuhusu kuhara kwa mnyama wako, tafuta matibabu ya mifugo ili kuzungumzia njia za kutibu ugonjwa huo. Hospitali za wanyama wa kufugwa za BluePearl ziko kote Marekani na hutoa huduma za dharura na maalum kwa wanyama wa kufugwa wanaohitaji. Tafuta hospitali ya BluePearl iliyo karibu zaidi.