Causes of Dog Diarrhea: Understanding the Reasons
Dysentery refers to a condition where the intestines exhibit hyperactivity, or there is an incomplete or difficult absorption of fluids in the large intestine, leading to the expulsion of intestinal contents that are rich in moisture.
Acute diarrhea is characterized by a sudden onset and persistence for more than a few days. Common causes include infectious bacterial gastroenteritis (such as Salmonella), infectious nonbacterial gastroenteritis (viruses, fungi, parasites), mechanical bowel obstruction, poisoning, and idiopathic acute hemorrhagic gastroenteritis.
Chronic diarrhea is a longterm condition, sometimes lasting for months or recurring, and can be attributed to various factors such as gastric issues (e.g., hypochlorhydria, eosinophilic gastritis), small intestinal disorders (e.g., malabsorption syndrome, Giardia), large intestinal problems (e.g., colitis, trichuriasis, trichomoniasis), pancreatic diseases, and histoplasmosis.
Key Symptoms:
Acute watery diarrhea, often mixed with mucus, accompanied by a fever (ranging from 40 to 40.5 degrees Celsius), and a sense of urgency. As the diarrhea progresses, dogs may exhibit signs of dehydration, such as sunken eyes, lack of skin elasticity, reluctance to move, and cyanosis of the conjunctiva, indicating acidosis.
Treatment:
(1) Diet Therapy. A 24hour fasting period is recommended, followed by the administration of small amounts of oral rehydration salts. The dosage is approximately 50 to 100 ml per kilogram of body weight, taken orally.
(2) Antibacterial and Antiseptic Treatment. Gentamicin at a dosage of 10,000 international units per kilogram of body weight or 1 to 2 ml of 2.5% Hydrargyri subacetatis solution per 10 kg (body weight), and dexamethasone at 2 to 5 mg per dose, administered intravenously or intramuscularly, twice daily.
(3) Symptomatic Treatment. To boost the immune system: intramuscular injections of Vitamin B1 (100 mg) and Vitamin C (0.5 g); for persistent diarrhea, oral administration of Compound Phenergan (2.5 mg, equivalent to 1 tablet) every 2 to 3 times a day.
In conjunction with oral rehydration salts, traditional Chinese medicine can be used for treatment. The principle is to clear heat and detoxify, promote diuresis and stop diarrhea, and correct fluid and electrolyte balance.
① Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula. Prepared with 30g of raw earth榆, 20g of myrobalan诃子, 15g of polyporus猪苓, 14g of atractylodes 苍术, 10g of honeysuckle花银花, 20g of forsythia连翘, and 20g of licorice甘草. Boil the mixture twice, combine the extracts, and administer the combined liquid once daily for three consecutive days.
② Oral Rehydration Salt Solution. Administer 100 ml per kilogram of body weight once daily for three days.
In this case, the dog exhibits symptoms of enteritis, such as yellow, loose stools, and is listless, with mild dehydration. Immediate fluid replacement and antiinflammatory treatment should be provided using the aforementioned methods.
