What is Diarrhea?
Pets, like humans, can occasionally encounter a bout of diarrhea. Diarrhea usually occurs when something that your pet has eaten does not agree with his stomach or irritates it. It is characterized by loose, watery stools that are passed frequently. Sometimes there may even be blood present in the stools. It affects dogs and cats of all ages and breeds.
Warning signs that you should be aware of include loss of appetite, vomiting, weakness, fever, a sense of urgency to defecate several times during the day as well as continue to strain after defecating. Diarrhea may be mild or severe. This condition affects loss of fluids within the body, which can lead to dehydration, acid-base imbalance or electrolyte interference.
What Causes Diarrhea?
There are various causes of diarrhea that range from eating spoilt or rotten food, garbage or roadkill, overeating, ingesting chemicals and toxins, sudden changes in diet, food allergies or a reaction to certain medications. More severe episodes of diarrhea may develop because of parasitic infestation, bacterial, viral and fungal infection, colitis, ulcer, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney and liver disease, or stomach cancer.
Help for Diarrhea Read more... (697 words, 2 images, estimated 2:47 mins reading time)
What is Diarrhea?
Pets, like humans, can occasionally encounter a bout of diarrhea. Diarrhea usually occurs when something that your pet has eaten does not agree with his stomach or irritates it. It is characterized by loose, watery stools that are passed frequently. Sometimes there may even be blood present in the stools. It affects dogs and cats of all ages and breeds.
Warning signs that you should be aware of include loss of appetite, vomiting, weakness, fever, a sense of urgency to defecate several times during the day as well as continue to strain after defecating. Diarrhea may be mild or severe. This condition affects loss of fluids within the body, which can lead to dehydration, acid-base imbalance or electrolyte interference.
If diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting, fever and your pet refuses to drink water, this is cause for concern and you need to consult your vet as soon as possible.
What Causes Diarrhea?
There are various causes of diarrhea that range from eating spoilt or rotten food, garbage or roadkill, overeating, ingesting chemicals and toxins, sudden changes in diet, food allergies or a reaction to certain medications. More severe episodes of diarrhea may develop because of parasitic infestation, bacterial, viral and fungal infection, colitis, ulcer, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney and liver disease, or stomach cancer. Read more... (562 words, 2 images, estimated 2:15 mins reading time)