Diarrhea

• Ingesting a food a pet shouldn’t eat.
• A sudden change in diet.
• Swallowing foreign bodies.
• Parasites.
• Food allergies.
• Pancreatitis or feline hyperthyroidism.
• Stress.
• Viral or bacterial infection.

There are two types of diarrhea in pets, large intestinal and small intestinal. They are very different and have different causes.

• Animals may have 3-5 bowel movements each day without strain or difficulty.
• Animals may also have vomiting and weight loss.
• Viruses can cause small intestinal diarrhea, especiallyin young pets who have not received protective vaccinations. These viruses include canine distemper, canine parvovirus and coronavirus and feline panleukopenia virus or feline coronavirus.
• Bacteria can also cause small intestinal diarrhea. Bacteria include salmonella, clostridia, or campylobacter.
• Treatment can include withholding food but not liquids for 24-48 hours. Then low-fat food like rice can be given 3-6 times a day in small amounts.
• Call your veterinarian if the diarrhea continues.
• To determine the cause of the small intestinal diarrhea a veterinarian may require blood tests, x-rays, ultra-sound, endoscopy or biopsy.
• Continued diarrhea might require hospitalization.

• Animal may have frequent bouts of diarrhea five or more times per day.
• Animal may strain to pass small amounts of stool.
• Stool can be slimy with mucus.
• Animal usually will not lose weight or vomit.
• An adult animal can have one bout of diarrhea and then feel better. However, if these bouts recur, or if there is blood in the stool, contact the veterinarian.
• Small kittens and puppies are more severely affected by diarrhea. Even one bout of diarrhea can cause serious dehydration. If diarrhea occurs, contact the veterinarian.
• Large intestinal diarrhea can be caused by whipworms, polyps, cancer, colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and stress.
• Diagnosis of the large intestinal diarrhea can require blood tests, examination of stool samples, rectal exam, or endoscopy.
• Treatment of large bowel diarrhea may include a high fiber diet and anti-inflammatory drugs.

If you need to take your pet to the veterinarian because of diarrhea, take a small stool sample for analysis. Your veterinarian can determine the cause of your pet’s diarrhea, and then decide on an appropriate treatment.

Call us if you have any questions about Diarrhea and to make an appointment.