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Name
Diarrhea, Canine and Feline
Short Description
Diarrhea
Affected Animals:
Dogs and cats.
Overview:
Defined as abnormally frequent and liquid fecal
discharges, diarrhea is a very common condition that can range in
severity from a mild inconvenience to a serious condition in which
the animal becomes very sick and dehydrated.
Diarrhea can be classified as being acute in onset, meaning that the
symptoms come on quickly and last no more than a week. Or, diarrhea
can be chronic, lasting for several weeks to months. Dogs and cats
with chronic diarrhea may have periods in which the condition gets
better, but then grows worse again.
Diarrhea also is classified as being small bowel or large bowel in
origin. Small bowel diarrhea means that the diarrhea is being caused
by something damaging or irritating the stomach or small intestines.
Large bowel diarrhea means that the large intestines or colon are
similarly being irritated or damaged.
There are numerous causes of diarrhea. Eating rotten foods or trash,
a sudden change in diet, a high-fat diet, viruses, bacteria,
parasites, drugs, and cancer may cause it. Typically, animals with
acute diarrhea that are not dehydrated or sick are treated
symptomatically. Dogs and cats with severe or chronic diarrhea
require a series of diagnostic tests to determine and treat the
underlying cause. In certain cats, chronic diarrhea will be
difficult to diagnose and to cure.
Clinical Signs:Dogs and cats that are affected mildly generally are
bright, alert and do not appear to be sick, except for the diarrhea.
Animals that are affected more severely can be vomiting, depressed,
dehydrated, listless, have an increased frequency of diarrhea, and
may even have blood in the stool.
Animals with small bowel diarrhea typically pass a larger volume of
feces. They defecate two to four times a day, lose weight,
occasionally have melena, flatulence and borborygmus, and
occasionally vomit. Cats may have tenesmus or dyschezia.
Dogs with large bowel diarrhea pass a smaller volume of feces each
time, but defecate more frequently, about four times a day. There
may be minimal to no weight loss, but there can be hematochezia and
mucus with occasional dyschezia and tenesmus, and an urgency to
defecate. Vomiting is uncommon.
Symptoms: Animals that are mildly affected generally are
bright, alert and do not appear to be sick, except for the diarrhea.
Dogs and cats that are affected more severely can have vomiting,
depression, dehydration, listlessness, an increased frequency of
diarrhea, and may have blood in the stool. Cats may be unable to
control defecating outside of the litter box. There may be
occasional vomiting and intestinal "gurgling" noises.
Description: When the intestines are irritated or diseased,
they tend to react in three general ways. The first is an inability
to absorb fluids and nutrients into the blood stream. The second is
by allowing more fluid secretions from the blood stream into the
intestines. Both of these reactions result in an increased amount of
liquid in the intestines. The third possible result of irritation or
disease in the intestines is an increased movement or peristalsis of
the intestinal fluid, and hence the rapid movement of watery or soft
stools that occurs with diarrhea.
Diagnosis: Dogs and cats with mild diarrhea that
are not that sick usually only require minimal testing. Generally
just a fecal flotation examination to check for the eggs of
intestinal parasites passed in the feces is required. Potential
parasites include Giardia, hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms.
Cats may have the coccidia parasite as well. Also, a parvovirus test
may be appropriate for younger dogs.
Animals that are sick or have chronic diarrhea usually require
additional tests. To assess possible underlying causes of the
diarrhea, the examining veterinarian first needs to determine if the
diarrhea is related to the small intestines, large intestines, or
both. Bloodwork is usually ordered to determine how well major
organs such as the liver and kidneys are functioning. Red and white
blood cell and platelet counts will also be taken. The results can
help determine the presence of a bacterial or viral infection. They
also will show if the animal is anemic or if there is a fungal
infection. For cats in particular, other blood tests that may be
helpful include an assessment of the thyroid hormone level, and
viral screening tests for diseases such as the feline leukemia virus
and the feline immunodeficiency virus.
Occasionally more specialized tests are required, including
ultrasound, endoscopy, and x-rays of the abdomen. Ultrasound uses
sound waves to help visualize the structures of the different
organs, including the intestines, liver, stomach, kidneys, and
pancreas. Endoscopy is done under general anesthesia and it requires
passing a long flexible probe with a camera through the mouth so
that the examining veterinarian can see the stomach and intestines.
An endoscopic probe can be inserted into the rectum to view the
colon as well. Samples of tissues can be taken and examined under a
microscope to diagnose certain diseases. X-rays can be taken of the
abdomen to check for any obstructions in the bowel. Barium contrast
preparations can also be given to the dog or cat to swallow; this
substance will reveal on the x-ray any irregularities or
abnormalities within the intestines.
The examining veterinarian will be able to determine which tests are
necessary to reach a diagnosis. Some cases may be referred to a
veterinary internal medicine specialist.
Prognosis: The prognosis for acute, mild diarrhea is
excellent; the condition should improve within a few days. More
complicated causes of diarrhea may take longer to resolve, but if
the underlying problem can be treated, the diarrhea will usually
resolve as well.
Transmission or Cause: Causes are numerous, but the more common ones
include eating spoiled food, a sudden change in diet, lactose
intolerance or intolerance to a food or additive, or simply
overeating. Other causes include viruses like parvovirus or
coronavirus, and bacteria such as Salmonella, Clostridium, and E.
coli. Intestinal parasites or worms such as Giardia, roundworms,
coccidia, and hookworms can cause diarrhea as well. Other causes
include drugs such as aspirin or steroids, inflammatory bowel
disease, endocrine disorders such as hyperthyroidism, kidney or
liver disease, and cancer.
Treatment:
The treatment for animals that have mild diarrhea
but are not dehydrated and sick generally involves withholding food
for twenty-four hours, then feeding a low fat, bland diet such as
boiled rice, potatoes, boiled lean hamburger or chicken, cottage
cheese, or yogurt in small feedings for two to three days. In
addition, commercial intestinal diets are available by prescription
through a veterinarian. The diarrhea should resolve within a few
days. Owners should never withhold water unless instructed to do so
by the examining veterinarian.
If the diarrhea persists, the underlying problem must be treated in
order for it to resolve. Oral or intravenous fluid therapy may be
necessary to rehydrate the animal and prevent further dehydration.
Antibiotics will treat any bacteria in the intestines. If parasites
are present on a fecal floatation exam, de-worming medications
should also be administered. In cats in particular, some causes of
diarrhea may not be curable and may require lifelong medications to
help normalize the feces.
Prevention: Prevention involves avoiding the potential causes
of the diarrhea. Dogs and cats should not be allowed to eat out of
the trash, nor should there be sudden changes in dog or cat foods.
Owners should take appropriate precautions against parasites.
Visiting a veterinarian on a regular basis for routine fecal
examinations and general physical exams can also help avoid diseases
that can lead to diarrhea.
