How to Diagnose Digestive Problems in a Dog

It’s common for a dog to occasionally vomit or have a spell of diarrhea, especially if he eats something that irritates his stomach. However, when your dog vomits on a regular basis and there is no obvious cause, your veterinarian will run different tests to determine the cause of your dog’s digestive problems.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Bring a fresh stool sample to your veterinarian. Some digestive problems he will be testing for include parvovirus, giardia or a bacterial infection, caused by E. coli, yersinia or salmonella.

2. Schedule blood tests to check your dog’s pancreas and liver enzymes, his blood sugar levels and markers spread through his blood when kidney failure occurs. Blood tests are important if your dog has been showing a pattern of weakness and bloating, in addition to the vomiting.

3. Look closer at your dog’s abdomen. Due to their ability to eat at alarming speed, a dog may swallow a small toy or household item. Your veterinarian will use x-rays to look for a foreign object or a blockage or for stomach and intestinal tumors.

4. Prepare your dog for an ultrasound test to determine whether his liver or pancreas is inflamed or to look for abnormalities of the kidneys, spleen, liver and bladder. Unlike x-rays, an ultrasound bounces sound waves off internal organs, transmitting their images to a screen.

5. Allow your vet to perform an endoscopy if symptoms warrant further testing. Using anesthesia to keep him from moving, a small video camera passes through your dog's mouth to his digestive tract, filming the whole way. Special biopsy punches are located on the tiny camera and can test cells from suspicious-looking areas.

Tips & Warnings

• When no obvious cause of recurring vomiting and diarrhea is present, take your dog to the veterinarian. Some organ diseases respond to diet and medication if diagnosed in their early stages.
• Your veterinarian will usually start with the non-intrusive tests.

Resources

• Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook
• The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Dogs and Cats: Over 1,000 Solutions to Your Pet's Problems - From Top Vets, Trainers, Breeders, and Other Animal Experts
• The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health: The complete pet health resource for your dog, cat, horse or other pets - in everyday language. (Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health (Home Edition)