Canine Intestinal Disorders

Dogs can suffer from intestinal disorders varying from mild dietary issues to serious colorectal problems such as tumors or parasites, necessitating a professional diagnosis by a veterinarian.

Symptoms

Dogs with intestinal problems may experience vomiting, weight loss, diarrhea or a change in the frequency of bowel movements, according to PetEducation.com.

Causes

Dietary changes, worms or other parasites, fungal or bacterial infections, and cancerous tumors can all cause digestive upsets in dogs, according to an article by the College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University. Canine irritable bowel disorder stems from chronic inflammation of the bowel wall.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of a digestive disorder by a veterinarian includes a visual assessment of the dog’s weight and apparent health, palpation of the abdomen to feel for intestinal abnormalities, and the elimination of other possible issues such as liver problems.

Treatment

Different digestive disorders call for different treatments. Medications can eliminate worms or other parasites. Irritable bowel disease has no cure, but a special diet can control the symptoms. Cancers often require surgical removal.

Considerations

Owners of dogs with intestinal problems should ask their veterinarians about local contagions. A fungal infection called histoplasmosis, for example, occurs only in specific parts of the country.

References

• Pet Education: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in Dogs
• Pet Health Topics: Diarrhea