Has anyone who raises a dog ever noticed what their dog's poop looks like? Normally, good dog poop should be in a solid shape, easy to collect, and have a neutral smell, not too strong, which we are familiar with. But when your dog is lethargic, the poop is soft or watery, it means that he is having loose stools, or what we call... "diarrhea" That's right. When a dog has diarrhea, they certainly can't tell us. But as owners, we must always observe and pay attention. Let's see how we can take care of our little ones.
Causes of Dogs Having Loose Stools
Diarrhea and loose stools are very common symptoms in puppies. In the case of dogs under the age of 6 months – 1 year It is often found that the cause can be caused by many factors, such as a sudden change in food type that makes the dog unable to adjust to the food in time, eating expired food, indigestion, or a change in the environment that the dog is not familiar with, which can cause the dog to become stressed and have diarrhea. These factors are the common causes of acute diarrhea in puppies.
For dogs aged 1 year and up It is similar to puppies, which have food, environment, and stress factors that cause diarrhea. However, there are additional diseases that may be caused by viral infections or digestive problems.
However, if your dog has severe diarrhea for an unusually long period of time, the stool has a fishy odor, is mixed with blood, or contains mucus, the cause is usually due to parasites in the digestive tract, viral infections in the digestive tract, or bacteria that may be caused by the dog eating food or drinking water contaminated with germs. Bacteria can be found in both young dogs and adult dogs.
If the owner finds that the dog has severe diarrhea, is lethargic, vomits, has a fever, and has loose stools You should take your little one to see a veterinarian immediately.If symptoms are observed, the doctor can perform a thorough diagnosis and provide treatment.
Care and treatment of dogs with diarrhea
In dogs with acute diarrhea, owners should pay more attention to food and cleanliness. Start by observing whether the dog has eaten anything unusual. If you find anything unusual, have the dog stop eating immediately. Then find a clean container and give the dog a little water to drink throughout the day, but do not let the dog eat too much. And do not let the dog eat food at least once. 12 – 24 hours, but for young puppies or small dogs, you should not feed them for 4 – 6 hours.
If after 12 hours your dog's symptoms do not improve, take him to a veterinary hospital immediately. Because the baby may go into shock and die from severe dehydration.
In severe cases, the dog should be taken to an animal hospital for immediate treatment. The veterinarian will administer intravenous fluids, possibly with antibiotics to treat any underlying infections, and the dog's diet may be adjusted to suit the dog's digestive system. If the owner does not promptly take the dog for treatment, shock may occur due to dehydration or sepsis.
In the case of older dogs that have already received the above treatment, their symptoms have not improved. Further diagnostic tests, such as X-rays and abdominal ultrasound, should be performed to rule out other diseases, such as tumors or malignancies, that cause loose stools.
Additional maintenance recommendations
Once your dog's diarrhea has improved, owners can take care of other aspects of their home as recommended below.
1. Sterilize the equipment.
In case of infection, equipment used by the dog, such as food bowls, water bowls, and toys, that are easily contaminated, should be regularly disinfected with an appropriate disinfectant or by scalding the container with clean, hot water.
2. Eat clean, well-cooked food.
Avoid uncooked or raw foods that are at risk of contamination with germs. For convenience, you can use a formula specifically designed to help the digestive system during the first 1-2 weeks of treatment.
3. Provide nutritional supplements
Owners can provide supplementary nutrients in addition to the main meals, such as mineral salt powder mixed with water or probiotics that help with the digestive system and balance the intestines.
4. Separate from other dogs (in the case of raising multiple dogs)
If a household has multiple dogs, owners should separate any dogs showing symptoms from other dogs in the household, as diarrhea is an infectious disease that can be transmitted to other dogs.
5. Take them to get vaccinated.
Keeping your dog vaccinated annually will help prevent infection. Because if a young dog is infected, there is a chance that the symptoms will be severe and even fatal.
Diarrhea and loose stools are common illnesses in dogs. Causes include unclean food, food that's not suitable for the dog's body, and cleanliness. Therefore, owners must always take care of their dog's food and cleanliness. Studying basic information about caring for them is important. If your dog's symptoms are severe, you'll be able to observe and get them treated promptly so their condition doesn't become life-threatening.
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References
Muang Ek Animal Hospital. Care and prevention when dogs have diarrhea. https://bit.ly/35ZGLm4
Tips. How to care for dogs with diarrhea. What should we do initially? https://www.xn--12cg1cxchd0a2gzc1c5d5a.com/4-ways-to-treat-dog-diarrhea/
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