Dog Diarrhea Can Be Dangerous - Understand Acute Vs Chronic

Dog diarrhea can be quite dangerous because it could leave your dog dehydrated and weak. Diarrhea can be caused by a variety of things; however ingesting the wrong kinds of foods is one of the top culprits. This is why you should follow the rule: human food for humans, dog food for dogs.

There are two degrees of diarrhea, acute and chronic. It is acceptable to treat acute diarrhea at home, however, treatment of chronic diarrhea should be treated by a vet.

Acute diarrhea: Causes: Acute diarrhea is usually caused by bacteria from food a dog eats or licks, but can also be caused by stress, roundworms, and viruses.

Symptoms: Diarrhea that lasts less than two weeks is considered acute diarrhea and can be treated by an owner at home. Other than watery stools, you want to look for mucus and blood in your dog's feces. During a bout of acute diarrhea your dog might act lethargic as well as become dehydrated; if your dog is weak enough he might not even be able to perform daily activities up to par.

Treatment: There are some home remedies to treat acute diarrhea, however, if you choose to treat at home keep a close eye on your dog's progress and stay in contact with your vet. Here are some suggestions for treatment of acute dog diarrhea:

• A dog with diarrhea will need a diet change to something that is easily digested such as boiled chicken and rice, nothing with oil and no fatty foods.

• Consider giving a probiotic supplement to help restore gastrointestinal health. A probiotic is specifically helpful with treating dog diarrhea.

• It's of utmost importance to keep your dog hydrated by making sure that water is always available to him; also ensure that his water and food bowls are cleaned regularly.

While you are treating your dog take observations of how much your dog weighs, and if their condition seems to improve or worsen, this will assist in determining what treatments are working and if a trip to the vet is necessary.

Chronic diarrhea:

Causes: Chronic diarrhea will usually mean that your dog has a food allergy, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, or a parasite, there are however less common cases that only a vet will be able to diagnose by performing various tests.

Symptoms: Diarrhea that lasts more than two weeks is considered chronic. You might also notice symptoms such as rough hair or coat, weight loss, lack of energy, and of course dehydration. Dehydration can be a major problem and you should watch your dog closely for signs of this.

Treatment: If your dog is experiencing chronic diarrhea he should be taken to the vet for an evaluation; chronic diarrhea is a sign that there is a more serious health issue at hand. Unfortunately some home treatments to remedy chronic diarrhea have the potential to do more harm than good, so it is important to take your pet to the vet before attempting to treat your dog on your own. A probiotic can be used on top of whatever recommendations your vet makes for the same reasons as were given above in regards to acute diarrhea.

Remember, two weeks or less of diarrhea is considered acute, if it goes on any longer than that you should seek professional help. As always, follow your gut and your vet's recommendations, if you or he feels a trip to the vet is necessary before the two week mark, by all means do it.