LET'S TALK ABOUT...DIARRHEA, PT. 2

How many of you will be going "over the river and through the woods" this week for the Thanksgiving holiday?  Desperado and Helpful Buckeye will be at the home of some very dear friends here in Flagstaff for Thanksgiving dinner...something we've alternated years on for quite some time.  Friends and family are important all through the year but especially so at certain times.

How many of you know who made the proclamation that designated the observation of Thanksgiving and when it occurred?  No, it wasn't one of the Pilgrims....

Helpful Buckeye thought you might be interested in reading the text of that proclamation:

PROCLAMATION OF THANKSGIVING

PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN - OCTOBER 3, 1863

 
"The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God..." 

"No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People." 

"I do therefore invite my fellow citizens...to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or suffers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and union." 

"In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed."
 
By the President: Abraham Lincoln

That proclamation was, of course, made during the heart of the Civil War...a very difficult time for the USA.

Desperado and Helpful Buckeye are very thankful for the family that we have remaining, the good friends we have made over the years, our good health that allows us to enjoy the wonders of Mother Nature, and...for each other.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our readers, wherever you are!

In one way, it doesn't seem appropriate to follow Thanksgiving wishes with an article on pet diarrhea, does it?  However, our regular readers will understand the other side of that coin.  Helpful Buckeye always cautions pet owners to be careful about giving their pets any of the Thanksgiving dinner and the warning is the same for this year.  Keep your pets as healthy as possible by watching them a little closer during the holidays.  Don't offer them any of the table food from your Thanksgiving feast and take care to see that they cannot get into any of your food garbage as well.  Those are some of the "dietary indiscretions" that are included in the following discussion.  I know this makes you the "bad guy" but your pet can only get sick from that stuff.  And, of course, diarrhea will be one of the consequences of not heeding this advice.

...received so many funny comments about our introductory "diarrhea" cat that I decided to run it again for this second part of our discussion on diarrhea.  As pointed out last week, Helpful Buckeye is now giving you some information on longer-lasting forms of diarrhea...what is known as "chronic" diarrhea.

Diarrhea, as we discussed last week, is defined as the rapid movement of fecal matter through the intestine resulting in poor absorption of water, nutrients and electrolytes. With diarrhea the stools (bowel movements) can become loose or runny. Chronic diarrhea refers to diarrhea that persists for three or more weeks. Occasionally the fecal material may contain fresh blood or mucus.

CHRONIC DIARRHEA

Chronic diarrhea is an important sign of intestinal disease in the dog and cat. Persistent diarrhea can lead to weight loss from poor digestion and loss of important nutrients. Chronic diarrhea can lead to loss of body condition, development of a poor hair coat, and may also affect appetite and activity levels.

Chronic diarrhea is a change in the frequency, consistency and volume of the pet's feces for more than three weeks. Starting in the small or large intestine, diarrhea can either be secretory (where it is very watery) or osmotic (not watery), and is due to various reasons, including diet, disease, or infection.

Symptoms and Types

Symptoms found when it originates in the small intestine may include:

 •Weight loss

 •Vomiting

 •Abnormally large volume of feces

 •Frequency of defecation increases (2–4 times per day)

 •Gaseous sounds from the gut

 •Black, tarry stool (melena)

 •Very hearty appetite (due to poor digestion and absorption of food)

Symptoms found when it originates in the large intestine may include:

 •Abnormally smaller volume of feces

 •Frequency of defecation increases (more than 4 times per day)

 •Bright, red blood in the feces and/or mucus

 •Straining to defecate and urgency to defecate

 •Pain while defecating

•Vomiting

Causes

Most causes of chronic diarrhea induce local irritation or structural abnormalities of the intestinal mucosa (lining). There are numerous diseases and disorders that can lead to chronic diarrhea.  

Small intestinal abnormalities which can cause diarrhea include:

◦Inflammatory bowel disease

 ◦Lymphangiectasia (protein-losing disease)

 ◦Infections (e.g., viral and bacterial)

 ◦Parasites (e.g., Giardia)

 ◦Cancer

 ◦Partial blockage

 ◦Abnormally short small intestine

 ◦Stomach and/or intestinal ulcers

Poor Digestion

Pancreatic Disease

 ◦Liver and/or gallbladder disease

 ◦Dietary indiscretion, intolerance or allergy; ingestion of foreign material

 ◦Gluten sensitivity (In Irish Setters)

 ◦Underactive adrenal glands

 ◦Urine waste in the blood

 ◦Toxins or drugs

Large intestinal abnormalities which can cause diarrhea include: 

◦Inflammatory bowel disease

 ◦Infections (e.g., Viral and bacterial)

 ◦Parasites (e.g., Giardia)

 ◦Cancer

 ◦Changes in diet

 ◦Low fiber in diet

 ◦Irritable bowel syndrome

 •Birth abnormalities such as a short colon 

Diagnosis

Veterinary care includes diagnostic tests to help determine the underlying cause of the diarrhea, whether it's small or large intestine, and to guide subsequent treatment recommendations. Many of the following may be necessary to diagnose the cause of chronic diarrhea:

• A complete medical history and physical examination

• Multiple fecal studies (flotation, smear and cytology, zinc sulfate test) to search for intestinal parasites, protozoal parasites, and bacteria

• A complete blood count (CBC)

• A biochemical profile (blood sample); might also include thyroid function tests since hyperthyroidism in the cat may produce chronic diarrhea

• A urinalysis to help evaluate the kidneys and level of hydration

• Abdominal radiographs (X-rays)

• Thoracic (chest) radiographs, particularly in geriatric patients and animals who are suspected to have cancer

• Bacterial fecal cultures

• Tests for absorption and digestion problems, such as serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity (TLI), serum folate and cobalamin levels

• Serologic tests for certain fungal diseases

Depending upon the clinical signs and the results of the above tests, your veterinarian may recommend further testing. These tests are chosen on a case-by-case basis:

• Abdominal ultrasound

• An upper gastrointestinal (GI) barium series (of stomach and small intestine) to help diagnose foreign bodies, partial obstructions, masses, thickening or displacement of bowel, etc.

• Barium enema if colonic disease (large intestine) is suspected

• Endoscopic examination and biopsy of the stomach, small intestine, and/or colon

• Serum bile acids for suspected liver disease

• A blood lead level test

• Exploratory abdominal surgery (laparotomy) if other diagnostic tests are inconclusive, or if a disease is suspected that requires corrective surgery

Treatment

Treatment options vary and are based on the underlying cause. Surgery may be necessary for problems caused by intestinal obstruction, intestinal mass, or bowel disease unreachable by other procedures.

If no definitive diagnosis is possible, treatment then focuses on dietary management and, in some cases, anti-infective medication. Dehydration is a big risk due to water loss, therefore fluids need to be replenished with a balanced electrolyte solution, such as saline. This type of symptomatic or empirical treatment may be tried in some cases of chronic diarrhea, especially if initial diagnostic tests are inconclusive and the animal is feeling well and relatively stable. Empiric treatment does not replace the need to define the exact cause of the chronic diarrhea, it at all possible. Empirical treatment may include one or more of the following:

• Deworming for whipworms, which may not show up on routine fecal tests

• Short course of antibiotics for clostridial bacteria

• Changing the diet to a high-fiber diet if large bowel diarrhea is present or to a hypoallergenic diet if small bowel diarrhea is present

Supportive therapy for ill, malnourished and unstable patients may involve hospitalization with intravenous fluids, supplemental nutrition and vitamins, intestinal protectants and adsorbents, etc. Plasma transfusions and infusion of other dense fluids may be required for animals with low protein levels. Intestinal protectants, adsorbents, and antacids may be administered while results of diagnostic tests are pending, etc. Motility modifiers (medications that effect the movement of food through the intestinal tract) may be tried in some cases.

Specific therapy of most cases of chronic diarrhea depends upon reaching a definitive diagnosis as to the cause, and then instituting therapy for that cause. Such therapy varies widely and can involve medications, dietary changes and surgery:

• Deworming agents are required for intestinal parasites.

• Products used for protozoal parasites include sulfa drugs for coccidiosis and metronidazole for giardiasis.

• Antibiotics are administered for bacterial infections, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and some forms of colitis.

• Antifungal drugs (e.g. ketoconazole, itraconazole) are given for fungal infections and may be tried for protothecosis.

• Corticosteroids and dietary manipulation may be necessary for inflammatory bowel disease, lymphangiectasia, and other immune-mediated inflammatory disorders.

• Dietary manipulation is helpful in cases of dietary intolerance, food allergy, colitis, short bowel syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome.

• Chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery may be helpful in certain cases of cancer.

• Surgical exploratory is indicated to correct causes of chronic obstruction, intussusception, cecal inversion, remove foreign bodies, etc.

• Intravenous fluid therapy and specific treatments for any liver and kidney disorders may be indicated.

• Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy is necessary in documented cases of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

• Motility modifiers (medications that effect he movement of food through the intestinal tract) may be helpful in cases of irritable bowel syndrome.

• Supplementation with cobalamin, folate and other vitamins is often required in the malabsorption/maldigestion diseases.

• If lead poisoning is diagnosed antidotes may be started either orally or by injection.

Home Care

Keep in mind that the resolution of chronic diarrhea is usually gradual with treatment. In a few cases, despite a correct diagnosis and proper therapy, diarrhea may not completely resolve or may worsen, especially in patients with cancer.

It is important to monitor your pet closely if he has chronic diarrhea. Pay particular attention to stool volume and character, the frequency of defecation, and any straining to defecate. Note the presence of any blood or mucus in the stool. Also monitor the dog's body weight, appetite and activity level.

Administer all prescribed medications exactly as ordered by your veterinarian. Notify your veterinarian if you have any problems medicating your pet.

Repeated follow-up examinations, fecal tests and blood tests may be needed to bring the chronic diarrhea under control and prevent it from returning.

If your dog does not respond to the treatment be sure to bring it back to the vet to be re-evaluated. Many of the parasitic and bacterial infections that cause diarrhea in dogs can also affect humans, so be very careful when handling a dog suffering from diarrhea.

Depending on the diagnosis of the cause of your pet's chronic diarrhea, your veterinarian might need to talk with you concerning measures to be taken to insure that this does not happen again.

Adapted from:

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/chronic-diarrhea-in-dogs/page1.aspx

http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/digestive/c_dg_diarrhea_chronic

http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/digestive/c_ct_diarrhea_chronic

As always, send questions or comments to: dogcatvethelp@gmail.com or submit them at the Comment section at the end of this issue.

 

SPORTS NEWS

The Ohio State Buckeyes went to Wisconsin on Saturday, a place where most visiting teams have difficulty winning.  The Buckeyes won the game in over-time to go to 11-0 on the year.  This sets up the Michigan game this coming Saturday to be the finale in a potentially undefeated season.  Helpful Buckeye was not able to watch the main part of the game due to being in the 60-mile portion of the Tour de Tucson; however, I did wear my OSU biking shirt and got back to the hotel room in time to watch the over-time.  So, yes, I was "helpful"....

The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the Baltimore Ravens Sunday night...our most despised rival, but also a very good team.  Even with Big Ben at QB, the game would have been a tough one to win; but, since Ben couldn't play, our back-up QB gave his best effort...but it wasn't good enough.  We lost by 3 points.  

 

PERSONAL STUFF

Desperado and Helpful Buckeye went to Tucson for a 4-day weekend so that Helpful Buckeye could ride in the Tour de Tucson...a bike race that was celebrating its 30th year.  Tucson has been named as the #1 city in the USA for bicycling by Outdoors magazine and Helpful Buckeye and Desperado were very impressed with the city's efforts on this race.  The pre-race festivities on Friday, the race itself on Saturday, and the post-race celebrations were outstanding fun for all involved.  I thought the race was one of the greatest experiences I've ever had...at least in my athletic  endeavors.  My ground crew (Desperado) was top-notch and had a lot of fun in her own right.  I'll have some of the important stats and pictures from the race in next week's issue (after the official results are publicized).

 

 

 

 

 

 

~~The goal of this blog is to provide general information and advice to help you be a better pet owner and to have a more rewarding relationship with your pet. This blog does not intend to replace the professional one-on-one care your pet receives from a practicing veterinarian. When in doubt about your pet's health, always visit a veterinarian.~~

 

 

 

 

LET'S TALK ABOUT...DIARRHEA

How many of you remember the old TV commercial from Pepto-Bismol, during which an off-screen voice quietly says, "I'd like to talk to you about diarrhea"?  Amongst humans, this topic has always carried a certain stigma, in that one doesn't talk about it in public.  Well, at least, we humans are usually able to get to a bathroom without the act of "having diarrhea" becoming a public spectacle.

Think about the dog or cat, with even just the rudiments of house training "under its belt," having a bout of diarrhea somewhere in the house where everyone can see it.  The unfortunate animal knows that this wasn't a normal happening and may even sneak off to hide.  Indoor pets which have been properly house-trained (and their owners) will obviously have a bigger problem with this disorder than pets which are kept outdoors. 

Diarrhea is defined as: "...an intestinal disorder characterized by frequent and fluid fecal evacuations."  From statistics compiled by the pet insurance company, Trupanion, diarrhea is the 3rd-most frequently diagnosed problem in dogs.  That's not hard to understand, when you consider that most observant (and even a lot of the not-so-observant) pet owners can tell something's not right when they see their pet passing liquid stools.  A further understanding of this very common pet problem can help you keep your pet free from diarrhea or, at the least, help you get it resolved as soon as possible.  As the current commercial for Pepto-Bismol goes, "Don't let diarrhea ruin your plans."

What Is Diarrhea?

Diarrhea is characterized by frequent loose or liquid bowel movements. It can be caused by something as simple as a change in diet or a more serious illness or infection. Diarrhea may be sudden in onset and short in duration. It can also last for weeks to months or occur off and on. A single bout of diarrhea is generally not a cause for concern in dogs—but if it persists for more than a day, it can lead to dehydration, may indicate an underlying health issue and should be checked out by a veterinarian.  Acute diarrhea is a common clinical problem in veterinary practice. It is characterized by the sudden onset and short duration (three weeks or less) of watery or watery-mucoid diarrhea. Occasionally the fecal material is also overtly bloody.  Diarrhea results from excessive water content in the feces and is an important sign of intestinal diseases in the dog. Diarrhea can affect your dog by causing extreme fluid loss, which leads to dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, and/or acid-base imbalances.

At this point, you can see that there is a dividing line at about 3 weeks duration that separates "Acute" from "Chronic" diarrhea.  In this week's issue of Questions On Dogs and Cats, Helpful Buckeye will address acute diarrhea, while chronic diarrhea will be the topic for next week's issue.

What Are the General Symptoms of Diarrhea?

Loose or liquid, frequent stools are the most common symptoms of diarrhea in dogs and cats. Other signs include flatulence, blood or mucus in stool, changes in volume of stool and straining to defecate. Lethargy, dehydration, fever, vomiting, decreased appetite, weight loss and an increased urgency to defecate may also accompany diarrhea.  If your pet’s diarrhea is black, it could be experiencing internal bleeding of the stomach or small intestine and should be examined by a vet immediately.

What to Watch For

• Passage of loose, watery stools that persist for more than one day

• A change in the color of the stool

• The appearance of blood or mucus in the stool

•Decreased appetite

• Vomiting

• Depression, lethargy, listlessness

•Fever

 •May have an increased volume of feces

 •Fecal accidents

 •Straining to defecate

 •Abdominal pain

Acute diarrhea is often alarming, but may not be an emergency if your dog is still active, drinking and eating, and is not vomiting. However, acute diarrhea associated with vomiting, lack of water intake, fever, depression, or other symptoms should prompt a visit to your veterinarian.

What Causes Diarrhea? 

• Dietary indiscretion can include the eating of spoiled food, overeating, the ingestion of foreign material, and/or sudden changes in the diet. Acute diarrhea may also follow ingestion of a food that contains substances that are poorly tolerated by the gastrointestinal tract, such as dairy certain proteins, lactose, high fat content, and certain food additives.

• Ingestion of poisonous substances or toxic plant material

• Ingestion of foreign body (for example, toy, rubber band, plastic bag, etc.)

• Allergic reaction

• Bacteria and bacterial toxins (Salmonella, Clostridium, Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, Yersinia, etc. ) may cause acute diarrhea and may be contracted from contaminated food and water, or exposure to the fecal material of other infected animals.

• Internal parasites, such as roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms

• Viral infections such as parvovirus, coronavirus, rotavirus, distemper virus, and adenovirus may all induce acute diarrhea.

• Protozoal infections with coccidia, Giardia, Entamoeba, trichomonads, etc. may also be a cause.

• Fungal and algal infections (e.g. histoplasmosis, protothecosis, phythiosis, etc.) are more likely to cause chronic diarrhea than acute diarrhea, but occasionally acute diarrhea may occur.

• Inflammatory bowel disease

• Cancer or other tumors of the digestive tract

• Certain medications

• Colitis

• Stress

• Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis is a disease of uncertain origin in dogs. Affected dogs often have a sudden onset of bloody diarrhea.

• Hairballs (Cats)

• Hyperthyroidism (Cats)

• Drugs and toxins cause acute diarrhea by either directly irritating the lining of the intestinal tract, or by disturbing the normal population of bacteria. Examples include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, corticosteroids, antibiotics, anti-cancer drugs, and certain heart drugs (digoxin).  Offending toxins include insecticides, lawn and garden products, and heavy metals.

• Intussusception (telescoping of the bowel on itself)

• Intestinal obstruction, usually shows up with vomiting, but acute diarrhea may also be noted.

• Metabolic disorders, such as liver and kidney disease.  Diarrhea may be bloody and is often accompanied by multiple systemic signs in these cases.

• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)

• Tumors of the intestinal tract or other abdominal organs may induce diarrhea. Although the diarrhea may begin acutely, it does not usually resolve on its own.

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will perform a complete physical exam on your pet, checking for underlying illnesses and assessing for dehydration. You will need to give a thorough history of your dog’s health, including a background history of symptoms, and possible incidents that might have precipitated this condition. A blood chemical profile to help evaluate kidney liver function, and electrolyte status, a complete blood count (CBC) to evaluate for infection, inflammation, anemia and dehydration, an electrolyte panel and a urinalysis to evaluate kidney function and the hydration status of the animal will be performed so as to rule out other causes of disease. X-rays can help to rule out the possibility that your dog swallowed inappropriate items (foreign bodies), which may be blocking or irritating the intestine and to check for the presence of fluid or gas.

Blood tests can be performed to rule out an inflamed pancreas, or a pancreas that is not producing enough digestive enzymes. Blood tests can also be used to check levels of cobalamin and folate (vitamins) as these are normally absorbed in the intestine.

Laboratory tests can be performed on fecal samples to check for Giardia, Parvovirus and Cryptococcus infections. A smear of feces should be checked for parasite eggs as well. It is not uncommon to run multiple fecal exams, as some parasites are difficult to diagnose. Your veterinarian may perform an endoscopy to take a sample of your dog’s intestine for histopathologic examination at the laboratory.

Other diagnostic tests might include, ultrasound, cultures, endoscopy and biopsy. The diagnostic tests performed and treatment recommended will depend on how the long the diarrhea has been going on and the severity of your dog’s condition.

Although most cases of acute diarrhea are short-lived and self-limiting, there are some cases that require diagnostic testing to confirm an underlying cause. Such tests include:

Depending upon the clinical signs and results of the above tests, your veterinarian may recommend additional tests to ensure optimal medical care. These ancillary tests are selected on a case-by-case basis:

• Parvovirus test on the feces

•Bacterial cultures of the feces

• Fecal cytology to identify the type of inflammation present and to search for parasites, protozoa and bacteria

• Serologic tests for infectious diseases

•Abdominal ultrasonography, especially if the previous diagnostics tests have been inconclusive

• An upper gastrointestinal (GI) barium series to search for intestinal ulcers, masses, obstructions, intussusceptions and foreign bodies

•Endoscopy or colonoscopy to evaluate a portion of the small intestine or colon with a viewing scope, especially if acute diarrhea progresses to chronic diarrhea

• Specialized assays for toxins that can cause diarrhea

Treatment

Diarrhea is a symptom that can be caused by many different diseases or conditions, and specific treatment requires a diagnosis. Symptomatic therapy may be tried in mild cases of short duration, or may be instituted while diagnostic testing is underway.  If your dog is only mildly ill, it may be treated on an outpatient basis, but patients with severe dehydration and/or vomiting should be hospitalized for fluid and electrolyte therapy. Shock fluid therapy may be necessary. Potassium supplementation may be required in very ill patients but it should not be given simultaneously with the shock fluid therapy. Patients that are mildly ill, and are not vomiting should follow a period of fasting (12–24 hours), which is often followed by a bland diet, such as boiled rice and chicken or a prescription diet.

Patients with obstruction or foreign bodies may require surgery to evaluate the intestine and remove the foreign objects. Your veterinarian will prescribe the appropriate medicine for your dog’s diagnosis. Anti-secretory drugs, intestinal protectants or dewormers are the most commonly prescribed medications. Rarely, antibiotics are prescribed.

These treatments may reduce the severity of signs and offer relief to your pet: 

• Withholding food and placing the intestinal tract in a state of physiologic rest is an important aspect of therapy for acute diarrhea. 

Completely restricting food intake for 12- 24 hours allows the intestinal tract lining to start to heal.

• Food is then gradually reintroduced, starting with a bland, easily digestible, low-fat diet. Initially small amounts of this food are given as frequent meals. Examples of such a bland diet include boiled chicken or beef, mixed with low-fat cottage cheese, boiled rice or potato. Prescription diets that may be administered for acute diarrhea include Hill's Canine i/d, w/d, or d/d, Eukanuba Low Residue, and others. The bland diet is fed for several days, and then the original diet may be gradually reintroduced over a 2- to 3-day period.

• Fluid therapy may be necessary in some patients with acute diarrhea to correct dehydration and acid-base derangements, to replace electrolytes that are deficient, and to provide for ongoing losses.

• Antibiotic therapy for acute diarrhea is not required in most cases; however, it may be of benefit in animals that have hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, diarrhea containing fresh blood, or if a bacterial infection is suspected.

• Empirical deworming is often recommended even if the stool sample is negative for intestinal parasites, because parasites do not always show up in the fecal examination.

• Intestinal protectants and adsorbents (medications that coat, soothe and protect the lining of the intestines) may also be helpful.

• If your dog does not respond to conventional therapy within 48 hours, if fresh blood is seen in the diarrhea, if the animal is vomiting or showing other signs of systemic illness, then a veterinary examination is warranted.

The best treatment for your dog requires a combination of home and professional veterinary care. For optimal follow-up success in the treatment of your pet, please do the following:

• Precisely administer prescribed medications and follow any dietary recommendations. Contact your veterinarian if you are having difficulty treating your dog.

• Watch your dog for worsening of the disease. Signs of worsening may include the onset of bloody diarrhea, persistence of signs for more than two days, or any signs to suggest a systemic illness (vomiting, weakness, anorexia, collapse).

• If the signs resolve in a couple of days, no additional veterinary evaluation may be necessary.

• Once the diarrhea has resolved, keep your dog on a consistent, balanced diet and restrict access to garbage and other things that can cause diarrhea.

• Have your dog's stool checked at least yearly for intestinal parasites. Consider year round administration of heartworm preventative drugs that also prevent intestinal parasites.

• The prognosis for cure of self-limiting diarrhea is excellent. Affected animals are often successfully managed with dietary restriction, replacement of fluid deficits, and correction of the underlying cause.

• If your dog's diarrhea has failed to respond to the management outlined, it may require more extensive diagnostics. You should have your dog reevaluated by your veterinarian.

Are Certain Dogs and Cats Prone to Diarrhea?

There are certain breeds that may be predisposed to developing conditions that lead to diarrhea. German shepherds, for example, are known to have an increased prevalence of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in the breed. Bernese mountain dogs are prone to gastrointestinal cancers. Young dogs are more likely to have infectious and parasitic-related diarrhea than adult dogs.

Long-haired cats who have frequent hairballs may experience periodic bouts of diarrhea. Furthermore, cats who spend a lot of time outdoors may be at an increased risk for internal parasites or ingestion of inappropriate food, which could lead to diarrhea.

How Can I Prevent Diarrhea in My Dog and Cat?

Keep in mind that even perfectly healthy dogs will sometimes get diarrhea. Here are tips to reduce the likelihood of occurrence:

• Keep up to date with your pet's vaccinations.

• Make sure your pet is free of parasites by following your veterinarian’s recommendations.

• When walking your dog, watch that he does not eat anything off the street, does not eat plant material or drink from puddles.

• Minimize stress in their environment.

• If you decide to switch your dog’s or cat's food, it’s a good idea to introduce it gradually, mixing it with his current food to ensure an easier transition for your pet’s GI tract.

Try to avoid giving your cat dairy foods, no matter how much he likes them! Almost all cats enjoy the taste of milk or yogurt, but some adult cats do not have a sufficient amount of lactase, the enzyme necessary for the digestion of diary products. Undigested lactose moves to the large intestine, where it ferments—and can cause a cat to have gas or diarrhea.

Be sure to follow your veterinarian’s time guidelines for deworming puppies. Parasitic infections that can cause diarrhea can be easily prevented. Watch your dog so that it does not eat from the garbage or from other inappropriate sources. Garbage can be dangerous to your dog’s health, especially if very fatty food is eaten, or if foreign bodies, such as bones are ingested. Also, there are several infectious causes of diarrhea that may infect people as well. Caution must be taken when cleaning up diarrhea and feces.

As a last reminder, acute diarrhea is often alarming, but may not be an emergency if your dog is still active, drinking and eating, and is not vomiting. However, acute diarrhea associated with vomiting, lack of water intake, fever, depression, or other symptoms should prompt a visit to your veterinarian.

Adapted from:

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/dog-care-diarrhea.aspx

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/diarrhea.aspx 

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/acute-diarrhea-in-dogs/page1.aspx 

http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/digestive/c_dg_diarrhea_acute

Helpful Buckeye will cover the problem of CHRONIC diarrhea in next week's issue of Questions On Dogs and Cats.

Any questions or comments should be directed to Helpful Buckeye at: dogcatvethelp@gmail.com   or submitted at the Comment section at the end of each issue.

 

SPORTS NEWS

The Ohio State Buckeyes did not play this weekend.  Helpful Buckeye must have jinxed Alabama by saying such good things about them last week...since they lost at home.  Oregon now remains at the top of the pack in my mind.  Kansas State and Notre Dame are still pretenders.

The Pittsburgh Steelers don't play until Monday night...the game is as close to a "gimme" as you'll find in the NFL.

  

PERSONAL STUFF

Helpful Buckeye took a last 70-mile bike ride this past week in preparation for the Tour de Tucson, coming up this Saturday.  It was a perfect day for the ride...70 degrees, sunny, and no wind.  My ground crew treated me to a happy hour/dinner at one of our favorite haunts.  The weather soon changed to a more wintry mix.  My final rides before the Tour will be in the gym due to the colder weather.  I'm really looking forward to this race since it will be the last of the 4 events I planned for 2012.  Getting ready for 2013 will require me to find some new challenges....

 

Riding my bike has allowed me to exercise to a much greater extent than that which I would achieve in the gym; it has allowed me to see some wonderful sights I would have otherwise missed; and it has allowed me to almost become as one with the bike when riding for long distances.  I can understand this quote by Tori Amos:

 

"Guys would sleep with a bicycle if it had the right color lip gloss on. They have no shame."

However, my more thoughtful side looks at it this way:
 
"When I go biking, I repeat a mantra of the day's sensations:  bright sun, blue sky, warm breeze, blue jay's call, ice melting and so on.  This helps me transcend the traffic, ignore the clamorings of work, leave all the mind theaters behind and focus on nature instead.  I still must abide by the rules of the road, of biking, of gravity.  But I am mentally far away from civilization.  The world is breaking someone else's heart."  ~Diane Ackerman

~~The goal of this blog is to provide general information and advice to help you be a better pet owner and to have a more rewarding relationship with your pet. This blog does not intend to replace the professional one-on-one care your pet receives from a practicing veterinarian. When in doubt about your pet's health, always visit a veterinarian.~~