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Diarrhea in a dog or cat is characterized by abnormally frequent, watery stools. Other signs include frequency of evacuation of loose feces which result in a increase in the volume of feces passed. The diarrhea feces contains not only increased amount of water and electrolytes, but many also contain mucus, blood, fat or undigested food.
Diarrhea can originate from the small intestines or the large intestine and is further subclassifed as acute or chronic.
Acute diarrhea originates in the small intestine usually last less than 48 hours. The feces seldom contains mucus, but it is not uncommon to find blood in the feces. The pet usually loses it's appetite or is anorexic (loss of appetite. Anorexia can be caused by a nervous condition. It is more of a symptom than a disease.) The feces is brown or reddish-brown in color. The pet exhibits a sense of urgency to defecate as well as an increased frequency and may continue straining after defecation.
Chronic diarrhea origination in the small intestine last 7-10 days or longer. The pets passes a large volume of watery feces and has bowel movement two to three times as often as its normal frequency. The feces is brown in color unless there is blood in the stool in which case it will have a black, tarry appearance. Little or no mucus is found in the stool.
Causes of diarrhea vary widely but include bacteria, viruses, internal parasites, and stress-induced factors. Diarrhea may also be caused by toxic substance which the pet ingests or by food allergies. A change in the pet food, eating table scraps or rich snacks, or eating spoiled food from the garbage may result in diarrhea. Organ dysfunction especially the liver and pancreas can cause diarrhea.
Diarrhea caused by internal parasites may be a continuous, chronic problem or be intermittent with a normal stool being passed between abnormal stool. Some parasites causing diarrhea in dogs and cats are transferable to humans.
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Diarrhea: It is often caused by spoiled food, non-food items, worms (parasites) or harmful bacteria. Put the animal on a short 24-hour liquid diet, with vegetable juice or broth and lots of water. Mix drops (?) With 1-cup liquid. Repeat in 2-3 hours. Follow up with maintenance program.
