Why do pet dogs experience diarrhea

When a dog starts to have diarrhea, every excretion is gripping its owner's heart. Dogs cannot express their physical discomfort through words, and can only convey their pain to us in this way. As guardians of dogs, we are eager to understand what causes diarrhea in dogs in order to provide them with timely and appropriate assistance.

Dietary issues are a common cause of diarrhea in dogs. Irregular feeding habits, such as being hungry and full, can make it difficult for dogs' digestive system to adapt, leading to diarrhea. Some owners are busy and unable to feed their dogs on time. After their dogs are hungry for a long time, they will overeat once they have food, which puts a great burden on their digestive system and can easily lead to diarrhea. The quality and freshness of food are equally crucial. Expired and spoiled food breeds a large number of bacteria, which can invade the gastrointestinal tract of dogs after consumption, causing inflammation and diarrhea. Some dogs are also allergic or intolerant to certain foods, such as milk. Many dogs lack the enzyme to digest lactose and may develop lactose intolerance after drinking milk, manifested as diarrhea. In addition, onions, chocolate, and other foods are toxic to dogs. Eating them by mistake may not only cause diarrhea, but also cause more serious harm to the body. Suddenly changing dog food is also a common problem. Dogs' intestines and stomach need time to adapt to the new food formula. If the change is too sudden, the intestines and stomach cannot adapt, which can easily lead to diarrhea.

Infectious factors also play an important role in the causes of diarrhea in dogs. Viral infections are a major category, such as canine distemper virus, which is a virus that poses a great threat to the health of dogs. After infection, dogs not only experience diarrhea, but also symptoms such as fever, cough, and increased eye and nose secretions. In severe cases, it can even be life-threatening. Canine parvovirus is equally dangerous, especially for puppies. After infection, they will experience severe vomiting, diarrhea, and tomato juice like feces with a strong fishy smell. If left untreated, the mortality rate is extremely high. Canine coronavirus is also common. It mainly affects the gastrointestinal tract of dogs. Sick dogs will vomit and have diarrhea. Their feces are porridge like or watery, and the color may be yellow green or orange red, accompanied by odor. Bacterial infections cannot be ignored, such as Salmonella. Dogs may become infected after consuming food or water contaminated with Salmonella, causing symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. Escherichia coli can also cause intestinal infections and diarrhea in dogs under certain conditions. Parasitic infections are also an important cause of diarrhea in dogs. Ascaris worms, hookworms, tapeworms, and other parasites parasitize in the dog's intestines, stealing nutrients from the dog's body, damaging the intestinal mucosa, affecting normal intestinal function, and causing diarrhea. Some parasites can also multiply in large numbers in the intestines, leading to intestinal blockage, which is even more severe.

Gastrointestinal problems can also cause diarrhea in dogs. Dysdigestion is a common condition in dogs. When dogs eat too much, greasy food, or difficult to digest food, their digestive system cannot digest and absorb it properly, leading to diarrhea. In this case, there may be undigested food residues in the dog's feces. Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal mucosa, which may be caused by various reasons such as improper diet, infection, etc. Dogs with gastroenteritis may experience diarrhea accompanied by symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite. When palpating the abdomen, the dog may show a painful response. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota can also lead to diarrhea. Under normal circumstances, there are various beneficial and harmful bacteria in a dog's gut that constrain each other and maintain a balanced state. But when dogs use antibiotics, get sick, or have significant changes in their diet, this balance may be disrupted, the number of beneficial bacteria may decrease, and harmful bacteria may multiply in large numbers, leading to diarrhea.

Environmental factors and stress responses can also have an impact on a dog's digestive system. Sudden environmental changes, such as moving or being fostered, can cause dogs to feel nervous and uneasy when they arrive in unfamiliar places, which can affect their gastrointestinal function and lead to diarrhea. Long distance travel can also make dogs feel uncomfortable, especially those who get carsick and may experience symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea during the journey. Being startled, such as sudden loud noises or fright from strangers, can also trigger a stress response in dogs, leading to diarrhea. During the transition of seasons, the temperature changes greatly. If dogs do not take proper measures to keep warm, they are also prone to diarrhea after catching a cold, especially for young, old, or weaker dogs who are more sensitive to temperature changes.

In addition, some systemic diseases may also be accompanied by symptoms of diarrhea. For example, when dogs suffer from liver disease, the normal function of the liver is impaired, and bile secretion and excretion are affected, which can lead to digestive disorders and diarrhea. Kidney disease can affect the metabolic function of dogs, prevent the normal elimination of toxins from the body, and may also cause gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea. There is also diabetes. When the blood sugar is not well controlled, the dog's body metabolism may have problems, and diarrhea, vomiting and other digestive symptoms may also occur.

The causes of dog diarrhea are complex and diverse, requiring us to carefully observe the symptoms of dogs and make comprehensive judgments based on factors such as daily diet and living environment. Once diarrhea is found in a dog, especially if the diarrhea is severe, lasts for a long time, or accompanied by other abnormal symptoms such as mental fatigue, vomiting, fever, etc., it is necessary to take the dog to see a veterinarian in a timely manner. Veterinarians will accurately identify the cause of diarrhea through detailed consultations, physical examinations, fecal tests, blood tests, and other methods, and develop targeted treatment plans to help dogs recover their health as soon as possible. Because dogs provide us with the purest love and companionship, we should also do our best to protect their health with professionalism and love, and accompany them through every beautiful time.