Essential Cat & Dog Diarrhea: Causes, Symptoms, & Treat

Let's delve into the inner factors first: These primarily refer to the gastrointestinal dysfunction in dogs and cats, which arises due to changes in their organ functions and tissue structures.

The causes of these changes can be attributed to a variety of factors, including bacterial infections, viral infections, parasites, dysfunction of the liver, gallbladder, and kidneys, the inability to effectively excrete metabolic byproducts, the presence of gastrointestinal hyperplasia, and even tumors or diseases affecting accessory digestive organs, such as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Common representative diseases include parvovirus infection, salmonellosis, pancreatitis, and more.

Now, let's discuss the external factors: These are generally gastrointestinal issues that are influenced by external elements.

Firstly, let's talk about food. Potential issues with food can include allergies, spoilage, inappropriate protein ratios, overeating, and more.

Secondly, eating things other than food can also lead to gastrointestinal problems. This can range from digestible but unwanted items to indigestible ones, causing chemical damage or physical cuts. All of these can lead to symptoms ranging from mild to severe in the digestive system.

Common scenarios we encounter include cats consuming plants like lilies or orchids, dogs picking up spicy chicken bones or spoiled meat from outside. Food allergies can also trigger diarrhea in pets. By the way, I'd like to address allergies briefly: Even if a pet has been eating a certain type of cat or dog food without any issues, a change in their health can suddenly cause an allergic reaction. It's not a lifelong guarantee that a pet will never be allergic to pork if they haven't shown an allergy before.

Among the external factors, some are related to temperature, humidity, and drastic changes in weather. For instance, heatstroke can cause bleeding in the digestive system of dogs and cats, and sudden drops in temperature can lead to diarrhea.

Among the issues mentioned, pet owners can definitely tackle the problem of parasites by ensuring regular deworming, which can prevent allergic reactions and mechanical damage caused by migrating parasites. A severe infestation of parasites is quite可怕, as they can migrate to any part of the body. There have been reports of pork tapeworm migrating to the brain and causing epilepsy in humans.

For bacterial issues, the most mild cases can sometimes be managed with probiotics, which can be quite effective.

Moreover, during the early stages of acute diarrhea, a brief period of fasting can be considered to alleviate the burden on the gastrointestinal system. The principle is to not fast for more than 24 hours. Brief fasting generally won't have a significant impact on adult dogs and cats, but it's not advisable for diabetic pets, weak animals, or very young, small pets, as it could lead to hypoglycemia.

If diarrhea persists or if there are noticeable abnormalities in the stool, it's time to consult your veterinarian to avoid any delays in treatment.

Tip:

Click on 'Medications for Treating Pet Diarrhea and Soft Stools' to learn more about the treatment of diarrhea and soft stools in cats and dogs.