Clostridial Enteritis in Dogs

Clostridial enteritis in dogs can be described as an intestinal infection that is seen quite commonly in several different breeds of dogs.



In spite of the fact that this condition is quite common, there are not a lot of pet owners who are aware of it. Enteritis in dogs refers to an inflammation that occurs in the lining of the small intestines. There are different types of enteritis that can be seen in dogs and puppies and clostridial enteritis is one of them, usually cause by the clostridium difficile or the clostridium perfringens bacteria.



Clostridium refers to a rather large genus of bacteria, containing the gram positive bacteria, which can cause a dog to suffer from diarrhea.

Canine Clostridial Enteritis Causes

It is a well known fact that all animals, as well as humans carry bacteria in their intestines. However, an over growth of these bacteria could lead to clostridial enteritis in canine.



There are many other factors too, that could lead to clostridial enteritis in dogs, which include medication, stress, eating an unhealthy diet, food poisoning, ingesting toxic substances and so on. These factors have been known to activate the clostridium perfringens bacteria that are present in the intestines, thereby leading to enteritis. One of the most common causes of clostridial enteritis in dogs as well as humans is the consumption of food, especially meat that has not been cooked properly.

Clostridial Enteritis in Dogs Symptoms

There are several symptoms that can be seen in cases of clostridial enteritis in dogs. These symptoms can range from mild to severe, i.e., from food poisoning, to perhaps even gangrene. In most cases, it is common to see dogs suffering from food poisoning, especially if they eat contaminated meat or poultry. When this happens, symptoms like diarrhea and severe cramps in the stomach are usually seen around 8 to 16 hours later. Although uncommon, some dogs may also end up vomiting. Fortunately, if the dog is in good health, the symptoms will not have any long lasting effect and will vanish within a period of 24 hours. However, there are instances, where the dog could develop clostridial necrotizing enteritis, which can be fatal. Hence, it is absolutely essential for all pet owners to visit a vet, as soon as they notice any alarming symptoms, in order to begin the clostridial enteritis in dogs treatment immediately. Moreover, all instances of clostridial enteritis in dogs should be closely monitored by a vet. Also see Lymphoplasmacytic Enteritis in Dogs