Dog Intestinal Infection - Information on Symptoms and Problems of Dog Intestinal Infection
There are a lot of digestive and intestinal complaints that dogs often have, right from grumbling in the stomach, to infection, diarrhea and vomiting.
Parasite infestations and poisoning are some of the most common complaints in dogs. This is mostly because dogs do not practice any discretion in what they consume. Sometimes, if a dog has a sensitive digestion, a simple change in the diet may also cause a lot of health problems for the dog. A dog intestinal infection may be either bacterial or viral in nature. While bacterial infections are easy to cure, viral infections may take a long-term treatment for suppression of the symptoms. There are many over the counter medicines that may be offered to dogs when they are experiencing digestive discomfort. However, in the case of dog intestinal infection, a more rigorous treatment may be warranted.
Dog Intestinal Infection Symptoms
Persistent diarrhea and vomiting, which are common dog intestinal infection symptoms, may throw the electrolyte balance of the dog’s body haywire. This could also cause dehydration in the dog’s body, which eventually escalates in its severity. The complications due to these secondary effects of dog intestinal infection could make the infection even more severe. Dog intestinal infections are also possible when the dog consumes substances that cannot be digested. Plastic items or any foreign items that the dog consumes can get stuck in the dog’s stomach and pass into the intestines. If these substances have sharp edges, they can damage the internal lining of the organs.
Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting are usually the first dog intestinal infection symptoms of the condition.
Different kinds of bacterial and viral infections may cause differently colored stools. Bacteria like giardia cause the dog to pass green colored stools. There are other bacteria that can infect the intestines and cause black or red colored stools. If the dog intestinal infection is severe, you may even see blood in the stools. Diarrhea is a very common symptom in dogs. Unfortunately, mostly diarrhea remains undiagnosed, being a symptom of many other conditions in dogs. Diarrheal episodes may have sudden onsets. The dog may stop eating food and reject all its meals. The dog may also be in visible pain due to the discomfort it feels in the stomach. If the dog is in a lot of pain, it may reject all physical activities and may not want to get up at all.
Dog Intestinal Problems
The stools of the dog are usually the first indications of dog intestinal infection. A change in the consistency and frequency of stools may indicate the presence of intestinal infection. Almost all dog intestinal problems have a direct effect on the dog’s bowel movements. Flatulence, nausea and vomiting are some of the other symptoms that the dog may experience. If your dog is feeling bloated or there is abdominal distension and gurgling noises from the dog’s abdomen, you should visit a doctor. Though most of these infections may be treated with the help of antibiotic and antiviral medications, it is possible that you may have to get surgery performed on the dog.
Surgical intervention is usually the last resort when it comes to management of the condition in dogs. Intestinal surgery may be performed in case there is a severe infection and the intestines have to be amputated. If your dog is experiencing vomiting and diarrhea, the first step to treatment is to withhold food for some time. If the diarrhea has been caused due to a simple ailment or indigestion, withholding of food will be able to take care of the condition. In case the condition does not improve, you will have to take the dog to the veterinarian.
The veterinarian will perform some tests on your dog. These tests will be to specifically identify the bacterial or viral strain that is causing the dog intestinal infection. Since there are different treatments for viruses and bacteria, it is important to identify which of these two is actually responsible for the condition. If the infection is severe, the doctor may prescribe a broad spectrum antibiotic to your dog. In case the broad spectrum antibiotic is not able to treat the condition, further action is taken and specific medications are administered. These medications may be administered to the dog as an inpatient procedure. If the dog is taken to surgery, the cost of the treatment will escalate and the recovery time may also be long.
Ignoring the dog intestinal infection may cause permanent damage to the dog and may often be fatal as well. Intestinal infections are not minor and should be treated as medical emergencies because they can disrupt the complete digestion process of the dog. In case of longstanding and persistent symptoms of intestinal infection, immediate medical intervention is necessary to save the dog. As a dog owner you need to be watchful of your dog’s stools, his eating habits, and his overall behavior. The best way to keep your dog safe is to monitor closely what he/she eats.
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