Acute Diarrhea in Dogs

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Acute Diarrhea in Dogs

By: Dr. Bari Spielman

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Section: Overview

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Acute diarrhea is a common clinical problem in veterinary practice. It is characterized by a 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.

General Causes

Dietary indiscretion (eating inappropriate food/material)

Infectious agents - bacterial, viral, fungal, protozoal, parasitic infections

Drugs and toxins

Intussusception (telescoping of the bowel on itself)

Intolerance of materials in the normal diet

Intestinal obstruction

Metabolic disorders, such as liver and kidney disease

Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)

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 in the stool

Decreased appetite

Vomiting

Depression, lethargy

Fever

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.

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