A situation that is familiar to almost all veterinarians as we regularly receive calls from patient owners: "My dog has diarrhea. Do I need to come to the practice or can I wait?" A good question, but more information about the dog's general condition and the nature of the feces would be helpful. Owners are often unaware of how difficult such an assessment can be for us veterinarians without further information over the phone. It is important to be sensitive, because you do not want to send a dog to the emergency service because of an acute diarrhea due to a sudden change of food. On the other hand, it could also be a hemorrhagic diarrhea, with the extremely contagious differential diagnosis of parvovirosis.
The reasons why dogs get diarrhea are as varied as the types of diarrhea.
It is disturbing for owners when something is wrong with their dog. It is even more difficult when they have no idea how to help them. It is important to listen to owners, ease their fears and get as much information as possible. The more information we receive as veterinarians, the easier it is for us to recognize an emergency and take further steps.
Based on the information we receive from owners, the patient is prioritized. Dogs with worsened general condition, severe diarrhea, hemorrhagic diarrhea, possible stays abroad as well as puppies and seniors should always be called to the practice right away. Severe diarrhea can quickly lead to dehydration, especially in puppies and seniors. If the owners are called to the practice, it is helpful if they bring a fecal sample with them.
Diarrhea is a common symptom of gastrointestinal disease with varying etiologies. When a dog presents with diarrhea there are numerous causes to consider. Basically, the classification is based on the localization and duration of the symptoms. Does it primarily affect the small intestine or the large intestine? Is the course acute or chronic? In the case of small intestinal disease, maldigestion/malabsorption occurs. This subsequently leads to increased nutrient flooding in the large intestine. A large amount of feces is excreted and there is significant weight loss.
In colitis (inflammation of the rectum), the irritated intestinal mucosa results in insufficient chyme thickening. A rather small amount of feces (frequent heel) is excreted, usually with mucus admixtures, and the patient shows hardly any loss in nutritional status. Acute diarrhea occurs, for example, in the case of a viral infection; chronic diarrhea develops over a long period of time in the case of feed intolerance. Bloody diarrhea is always a warning sign. Bright red blood indicates bleeding in the large intestine, while dark blood indicates bleeding in the small intestine. If bleeding occurs, the blood clots in the small intestine before it is excreted in the feces. This causes the feces to appear dark to black in color.
Almost all dogs suffer from digestive disorders many times throughout their life. To minimize frequent calls to the practice, it is helpful to educate owners in this regard. If they are familiar with the main signs of acute diarrhea, they can review the checklist at their leisure before picking up the phone.
A visit to the vet is advisable for your dog if one or more symptoms apply.
Dietary measures for dogs with diarrhea are of great importance nowadays. This includes the use of commercial dietary feeds, especially when a clinical manifestation has already occurred. Indication-based dietetics is a mixed feed formulation. It contains supplements of individual nutrients and enzymes, such as those used in pancreatic insufficiency for example. The spectrum of dietetic agents is extended by dietary supplements with probiotic bacterial cultures. Probiotics are preparations containing viable microorganisms. Lactate formers, for example, are said to have a health-promoting effect on the gastrointestinal tract.
