Causes and Treatment of Non-Infectious Diarrhea in Dogs

Diarrhea is a violation of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, in which there is frequent defecation, and the stool becomes liquid.

It is customary to distinguish between acute and chronic diarrhea. Acute diarrhea can last up to 2 weeks, after which it becomes chronic. Running diarrhea, leading to severe dehydration and loss of trace elements, becomes life-threatening. There are many cases when animals died from diarrhea. Chronic diarrhea can lead to the development of other diseases, such as anemia. This is because the body develops a deficiency of vitamins and minerals necessary for the optimal functioning of its systems, and it malfunctions.

Loose stools are not normal. Be sure to consult a veterinarian so as not to endanger the health and life of the pet.

Diarrhea can be caused by a variety of reasons. Most often it is:

• poor quality food or drink 

• drastic changes in diet

• unbalanced diet

• non-compliance with the diet

• parasite infestation

• severe stress

• internal diseases

• taking antibiotics, rehabilitation after illness, etc.

Very often, dogs that have a habit of picking up food on the street suffer from diarrhea. For example, in the spring, when the snow melts, a dog can find a huge number of “snowdrops” that will attract him with their aroma, but, of course, will not be suitable for food. Be careful and careful: this behavior is dangerous for the dog’s life! 

Picking up food on the street, your pet risks getting sick, getting indigestion or serious poisoning. Don’t forget about doghunters. On the scales – the life of your dog!

If a pet has diarrhea, then the work of his gastrointestinal tract is disrupted. What does it say?

Did you know that 75% of the body’s immune system is based in the gut? The gastrointestinal tract is responsible not only for the digestion of food, but also for protecting the body from dangerous infectious diseases. It turns out that the violation of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract strikes the whole body as a whole, including its immune functions. The body ceases to effectively protect itself from negative environmental factors and becomes vulnerable. 

The disease state of animals with gastrointestinal problems can persist for a long time, depending on the cause of the problem and the effectiveness of the treatment. The main task of the owner is to contact a veterinarian as soon as possible, to support the functions of the gastrointestinal tract and, as a result, the correct functioning of the immune system.

If your dog has diarrhea, it’s best to contact your veterinarian right away. Even if the stool quickly returned to normal, we recommend playing it safe and monitoring the health of the dog. It is important to understand the cause of the disorder in order to prevent a problem in the future.  

Depending on the cause of diarrhea, your veterinarian may prescribe medication to treat diarrhea. As a rule, drugs act quickly, but they have a significant disadvantage – an abundance of side effects. Therefore, for the treatment of non-infectious diarrhea, probiotics are most often used – a safe natural remedy that has no contraindications. Probiotics have long been used in human therapy, but now they are being released for pets (for example, Protexin, a synbiotic for dogs). What it is?

Probiotics are live microorganisms that fight acute and chronic disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and strengthen the immune system. Once in the intestine, these microorganisms regulate its microflora and eliminate symptoms: diarrhea and vomiting. They can be used as a standalone treatment or as an adjunct to therapy. In the latter case, probiotics reduce the risk of recurrent symptoms and shorten the treatment period.

The popularity of probiotics – both in human therapy and in animal therapy – is due to their effectiveness and the complete absence of side effects. This natural product is easy to digest and ideal as a first aid for non-infectious diarrhea. 

Probiotics will not solve the problem if the diarrhea is caused by an infection or is a symptom of an internal illness. In this case, the main treatment should be aimed at addressing the underlying cause, but probiotics will be useful as maintenance therapy.

Now you know what to do if your dog has diarrhea.

Prevention of diarrhea and other gastrointestinal disorders in pets are:

• proper balanced diet

• clean and fresh drinking water freely available

• correct conditions of detention that do not involve chronic stress

• scheduled treatments for parasites

• routine vaccination

• proper education of the dog, thanks to which he will not pick up food on the street and will not climb into the trash can

• regular monitoring and health monitoring.

Take care of your pets and do not forget about preventive examinations by a veterinarian!