Knowing the Diarrhea Problems of Your Canine

Any dog owner is familiar with dog diarrhea. This is a common condition that frequently affects canines and is usually a temporary problem that quickly goes away and is nothing about which to get excited.

The most frequent cause of diarrhea in dogs is a simple change in their diet. Often this happens when a dog is accustomed to eating only dry dog food and you suddenly give him table scraps. New water sources are another source of diarrhea in dogs just like in humans. This often happens when travelling and people often believe riding in the care is to blame. Preventing both of these consists of maintain a consistent diet and taking water from home on short trips.

Puppies are more susceptible to both of these dietary changes since their digestive tracts are much more sensitive. People often see diarrhea in puppies when they first bring them home from the pet store or the breeder. Problems can be avoided by using the same type of food they were accustomed to before. If you want to change the food, do it slowly. This should prevent diarrhea.

Dogs that are unaccustomed to regular feedings will also frequently contract diarrhea when he eats. If the dog's feeding time is irregular, the dog will often overeat and gorge himself. This leads to both vomiting and diarrhea. Prevent this by feeding dogs twice a day as close to the same time as possible. Another method is to let the dog self feed by giving him a large bowl of food each morning, as long as it is dry food. As long as the dog knows the food will be there, he won't be in a hurry to finish it. This doesn't work well if you have several dogs living together.

Owners should keep in mind that dogs are able to eat things that humans can't because of their much shorter digestive tract. Pollutants and toxins in the food are quickly passed through the system before than can do damage. If the dog's body suspects that something is wrong, it will pass the food even more quickly, leading to diarrhea. This is natural and means that your dog's system is working normally. However, diarrhea that continues for more than a day is a serious situation and can indicate other problems. If this is the case, ensure the dog is drinking water and get him to the vet if the diarrhea doesn't stop quickly or if the dog becomes lethargic.