Pet Monologues

What causes diarrhea?

Diarrhea is not a disease but a symptom of many different diseases. Many mild cases of diarrhea can be resolved quickly with simple treatments. Others are the result of fatal illnesses such as cancer. Even diarrhea caused by mild illnesses may become fatal if treatment is not begun early enough to prevent severe fluid and nutrient losses.

How serious is diarrhea? (note: smaller dogs, cats, can lose body fluids more quickly than larger animals.)

Attempt to determine how sick an animal has become as a consequence of the diarrhea. When the animal is systemically ill (when more than one body system is involved), some of the following may be noted:

(a) Vomiting
(b) Dehydration
(c) Loss of appetite
(d) Abdominal pain
(e) Fever
(f) Lethargy
(g) Bloody and/or watery diarrhea

What types of test s are performed to find the cause?

If diarrhea is associated with several of the above signs a series of test is in order to make a diagnosis. This permits specific disease treatment. Diagnostic tests may include radiography (x-rays) with or without barium, blood test s, stool cultures, biopsies of the in test inal tract, video endoscopy, ultrasound and exploratory abdominal surgery. Once the diagnosis is known, treatment may include special medications, diets, or surgery.

If the animal does not appear systemically ill from diarrhea, the cause may be less serious. Some of the minor causes of diarrhea include stomach or intestinal viruses, intestinal parasites, and dietary indiscretions (such as a change in diet or eating garbage or other offensive or irritating materials). A minimum number of test s are performed to rule out certain parasites and infections. These cases may be treated with drugs to control the motility of the in test inal tract, drugs that relieve inflammation in the in test inal tract, and, often, a special diet for a few days. This approach allows the body’s healing mechanisms to correct the problem. If your pet is not improving within two to four days, a change in medication or further test s are done to better understand the problem. Please keep a veterinarian informed of your pet’s condition so that they may manage the situation properly.