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Pet Health Information
Client Information Concerning Diarrhea
Diarrhea is defined as an increase in frequency, fluidity or volume of bowel movements. It is a common complaint in veterinary medicine. Many different things may cause diarrhea. It can result from a change in diet, overfeeding, eating garbage or spoiled foods, intestinal parasites, etc. It may also be part of a generalized process.
Normal dog and cat feces vary widely in character, consistency and frequency. It is normal for the last part of a dog’s stool to be soft or semi-soft, especially if the dog is fed dry dog food. It is important for the client to note the color of the feces, the presence of frank blood, black tar-like material, mucus or fat. The client may observe urgency, flatulence (gas) or straining after defecation. This information is helpful to the veterinarian in diagnosing and treating the animal.
Most cases of acute diarrhea are self-limiting and respond to resting the GI tract by withholding food for 24 hours. Water should always be available since diarrhea may cause an animal to become dehydrated. Small amounts at one or two-hour intervals should not accelerate the diarrhea. An animal with chronic diarrhea may require further diagnostic tests such as blood work, radiographs, ultrasound or surgery.
One of the most common causes of diarrhea is worms. Always bring a stool sample to your veterinarian. Your pet picks up worms by walking in or sniffing another dog’s infected stools, licking his/her nose or paws and swallowing the eggs. There are different types of worms and different de-worming medications. Stool examination is important but not foolproof. Some worms such as whipworms shed eggs intermittently and may give false negative stool check necessitating a second stool examination. Older pets may also be afflicted with worms, but more commonly the cause of their diarrhea is garbage eating or metabolic disease which require a physical examination, blood work and possibly radiographs for diagnosis.
There are a variety of medications and dietary changes that are used to treat dogs and cats with diarrhea. Some anti-diarrheal agents act as both mucosal (the tissue lining of the intestines) protectants and toxin absorbers. Pepto Bismol, Kaolin and pectin act in this way. Pepto Bismol will cause your pet’s stool to turn black. Inform your veterinarian, since black stools are seen with upper intestinal bleeding and stomach bleeding and stomach ulcers. Activated charcoal is very potent absorbent of toxins and is most often given if your pet is suspected of having eaten a chemical toxin recently.
If your pet has a fever and/or has suspected damage to the intestines your veterinarian will probably prescribe antibiotics. Some of these drugs such as sulfonamides (Albon – effective against coccidial infections) remain inside the intestines rather than being absorbed by the body. Others, like metronidazole (Flagyl) and tetracycline have proven very effective against anaerobic bacteria (which live without Oxygen) and protozoans. If your pet is suspected of having ulcers, especially if he/she has been on steroids like Prednisolone for a long time, anti-ulcer medications may be used. Sucralfate (Carafate) acts as a band-aid over the affected area when given on an empty stomach. Cimetidine (Tagamet) acts to decrease the acidity of the stomach and increase the secretion of protective mucous. Since Sucralfate works best on an empty stomach it is best if given two hours before the Tagamet, otherwise these drugs decrease each other’s effectiveness.
Other anti-diarrheal agents work by decreasing the speed of passage of digested food. Diarrhea often results in intestinal discomfort resulting from spasmodic muscle contractions. Imodium, Centrine and Dipyrone may be used. Since diarrhea also speedily eliminates toxins, rapid passage of food can also be a protective mechanism to rid the body of an irritant.
It is always wise to be current on your pet’s vaccinations, which include protection against Parvovirus. Puppies and Kittens need vaccinations beginning at 6-8 weeks of age. Boosters are then given once a year. Puppies who have had severe diarrhea like that caused by Parvovirus should be watched carefully for abdominal pain. Increased intestinal activity can cause the intestine to telescope inside itself like a collapsing spyglass. This is called an intussusception and may require may require emergency surgery. Some breeds such as Rottweilers and Dobermans are often more susceptible to Parvovirus and should be given Parvovirus booster shots every 6 months, especially if they are taken to public parks and dogs shows.
In summary, when your dog or cat gets diarrhea consider the following:
Be sure vaccines are current.
Withhold food for 24 hours.
Have stool sample analyzed by veterinarian.
Start dog back on bland easy to digest food in small amounts.
Gradually re-introduce regular food after 2-3 days. If your dog or cat is depressed, or vomiting as well as having diarrhea, have your veterinarian examine him/her.
Examples of foods for a Diarrhea Diet
80% Starch
Boiled rice
Instant mashed potatoes, Mix with hot tap water until it reaches mashed potato consistency. DO NOT add butter, milk, spices, etc.
Boiled noodles, spaghetti, etc.
20% Lean bland protein
Low-fat cottage cheese
Boiled chicken with no skin
Boiled hamburger with all fat skimmed off
Any beef, chicken, or lamb baby food without onion powder as an ingredient.
Avoid canned soups and broths, as they tend to be high in salt and/or fat. Feed very small amounts at a time – divide the daily ration into 3-4 small meals. Feed above diet until stools are formed, then slowly mix in animal’s normal food, getting back to regular diet over several days. Do not abruptly put back on pet food.
If your dog/cat is vomiting without diarrhea, use starch and protein in equal proportions (50-50).
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