Diarrhea, very simply, can be defined as too much water in the feces. Too much water can end up in the feces several ways. These include:

If the intestines are over full with food, they can no longer absorb them. The common factors that create this problem are over eating, stress and rapid changes in your dogs diet. In the case of over eating, the stomach and intestines may not produce enough enzymes in order to properly breakdown the food. With changes in your dogs diet, the stomach and intestines do not have sufficient time to produce enzymes that can adjust to the new food introduced. Finally, stress can create diarrhea as the stomach becomes upset, creating a fluctuation in the amount and type of enzymes produced. In all three of these situations, the intestines hold onto the food particles which then hold onto water in the intestines, which can not be absorbed.

If a dog has an infection or has eaten food from the trash, excess water can be present in the intestines which results in diarrhea. This situation can also be caused by intestinal parasites, E. coli and Salmonella.

For many dogs, diarrhea is caused by over eating, stress, eating from the trash and intestinal parasites and in many cases does not cause severe illness. However, diarrhea can be the result of a serious systemic illness and in this case should be taken to a veterinarian immediately.

The visit to the Veterinarian

Many dogs with simple diarrhea may not need a trip to the veterinarian. If a dog has mild diarrhea that is not making it uncomfortable, has no other symptoms, and does not otherwise feel bad, it is OK to wait 24-36 hours to see a veterinarian. Many cases of simple diarrhea will resolve on its own. If a dog has diarrhea and seems uncomfortable, if the diarrhea appears bloody or like tar, if the dog has other symptoms, or seems sick, then it is wise to see the veterinarian right away. Even if the diarrhea does not go away any faster after the veterinary visit, the veterinarian can evaluate the dog and make sure nothing more serious is going on and can give medication to make the dog more comfortable.

The veterinarian will require a sample of your dogs stool. This can either be done by you simply collecting a fresh sample from home no older than 30-40 minutes before your vet visit. If this is not possible, your veterinarian can collect the sample in the office. After the sample is collected, it will undergo many different tests including:

Fecal Flotation – This test searches for intestinal parasites

A direct fecal smear to check for red blood cells, white blood cells and abnormal or unusual bacteria.

A fecal smear with abnormal bacteria (the ones that look like tennis racquets)

When diarrhea, vomiting, blood stools and a very sick dog has been experiencing symptoms for several days, the veterinarian will want to perform x-rays and blood tests in order to check for other systemic illnesses that could be causing the diarrhea.

Heather Fox is an experience veterinarian and passionate teacher on Clivir.com where you can find more of her lessons about Dog Atopic Dermatitis Causes and Dog Parvovirus Treatment.

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A dogs digestive system is highly reliant on the mouth or oral cavity. As food is chewed, it is broken into tiny particles which can then be digested by enzymes in the stomach and small intestines. Therefore, teeth play a major role in digestion. The front teeth and tongue of a dogs mouth allow him/her to pick up food while the back teeth work to grind the food into smaller pieces.

In total, a dog has 42 teeth. They are comprised of the incisors and canines which are located in the front, and the premolars and molars which are located in the back. Each of these teeth have a part that is visible above the gum line called the crown as well as a part below the gum line called the root. Enamel covers the crown which is the hardest substance in the body. The dentin is below the enamel as well as the pulp which makes up most of the tooths blood vessels and nerves.

The gingiva is the tissue that surrounds the tooth at the gum line and is tightly attached to the jawbone just underneath. The root of a dogs tooth is attached to the jawbone as well. Sometimes, a tooth can have one root or several.

What are the Reasons for Plaque, Tartar and Gingivitis?

Just like us, food, saliva and bacteria remain on the teeth after eating. This is commonly referred to as plaque. While this is perfectly normal, it does need to be removed which can be done easily with brushing. Plaque releases toxins which can inflame the gum line. When this inflammation occurs, it is referred to as Gingivitis.

If plaque is allowed to sit on the teeth for a lengthy period of time, it becomes hardened and referred to as tartar or calculus. Tartar allows for more bacteria and debris to accumulate causing the inflammation to increase. Once this occurs, the gum line begins to recede and the bacteria begins to attack the jawbone. Once there, the tooth will become loose and eventually fall out. Contrary to popular belief, tartar can be seen above the gum line, but can also occur below.

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Although diabetes is a disease recongnized in some humans, it can also develop in domesticated animals. Healthy pets are frequently diagnosed with diabetes.

It’s a situation that the owner is not familiar with and they should talk to the veterinarian about the symptoms and the disease in animals. With proper care and possibly medication, the animal should live a long, healthy life.

The treatment of the animal depends of the overall health, with age playing a factor in the issue of diabetes.

With commitment and medical attention, older pets can live with the disease for many years.

Like previously stated, this takes a lot of commitment and determination on the owners part. They have to constantly watch their pet daily, and make sure they are patient with their pet to make sure they get the proper care that they need.

Most pets require a daily routine of medicines and diet in order to treat the animal’s disease. Commitment from the owner provides the pet with a comfortable life.

This is a very time consuming and financially frustrating endeavor. Having a sick pet takes up a lot of time and money. This does not mean you are going to have to quit your job to constantly watch your pet. It just means that you are going to have to pay more attention to the diet you provide your pet and make sure you give him his medicine on a daily basis. Make sure you talk to your vet at length about the health of your pet.

What does it mean for me as an owner when my pet may have diabetes? Don’t worry overly much. Educate yourself to be able to detect the signs and symptoms of the disease. Part of this education should be knowing what to do if something serious happens.

The financial aspects of the treatment should be discussed with the animal’s veterinarian.

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