Saturday, November 14th, 2009

Diarrhea is one of the most common illnesses of puppies. It frequently occurs in pets housed in kennels and exposed to salmonella or parvo infections. Diarrhea is also common in pets that eat garbage, or poor quality dog foods, or food to which they are allergic. Diarrhea can be caused by pets drinking water contaminated with wild animal feces, which often contains giardia.

Causes

Diarrhea can be caused by problems from within the digestive system itself, or by problems from outside of the digestive system. The most common causes from within the digestive system include: ulcers, food allergies, infections, poisons, worms, foreign bodies and cancer. Your puppy can also get diarrhea if you switch his food too quickly. The most common causes from problems originating outside of the digestive system include: anxiety, Addison’s disease, liver disease, kidney disease, and a pancreatic disease called Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency.

Acute or Chronic Diarrhea in Puppies
Diarrhea can occur suddenly and resolve quickly (acute) or it can be chronic and last for months. Most cases of diarrhea are acute, isolated incidents that resolve easily.

Pets with acute diarrhea need medical attention if the diarrhea is bloody, or if it is accompanied by general signs of illness: fever, dehydration, abdominal pain, or weakness. All pets with chronic diarrhea need medical attention.

Bacteria within the Intestines

Bacteria and microorganisms (also called flora) within the intestines can be friendly, good microorganisms or pathogenic, disease-causing organisms. Friendly bacteria help make vitamins and fatty acids, and they help produce mucus that lines the digestive system and protects it from infection and physical damage.

Supplements that supply good microorganisms to colonize the intestines are called probiotics. Probiotics maintain healthy bacteria in the intestines and help to prevent diarrhea. Probiotics protect against inflammation, infection, diarrhea, and cancer. NaturVet Enzymes & Probiotics and Probiotics is an excellent source of gut-friendly probiotic microorganisms, such as Aspergillus Oryzae, Trichoderma Longibrachiatum, Aspergillus Niger, and Lactobacillus Acidophilus.

Home remedies

Treating your puppies diarrhea at home should be your first step prior to visiting a vet. Feeding your dog yogurt, canned pumpkin, or slippery elm can help the symptoms. Slippery Elm can be obtained at a health food store and it is very soothing for bowels. It is advisable to put your dog on a temporary fast from eating his or her normal food. Be certain to hydrate your dog by offering plenty of clean water and offering small amounts of broth or Pediolyte every few hours. After 24 hours, continue on Slippery Elm and introduce some bland chicken or hamburger and plain rice for fiber.

To maintain good gut bacteria, it’s helpful to feed prebiotics. Pre (before)-biotics, such as chicory and FOS (fermentable oligofructose fiber), are the nutrients that good microorganisms use to stay healthy. In pets fed FOS, intestinal cells are larger and healthier, have a thicker protective mucus layer, and are almost 100% more efficient at absorbing nutrients from food. Apple pomace and inulin, which are contained some dog food brands, are also excellent nutrient sources for good gut bacteria.

Tags: diarrhea, enzymes, Health, probiotics
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