What causes digestive problems, vomiting, flatulence and diarrhoea?
When your dog's digestive system is functioning smoothly, a typical meal takes 7- to 10-hours to pass through the digestive system. During this time, various organs reduce food into nutrients (carbohydrates to simple sugars, fats to fatty acids and proteins to amino acids) that your dog's cells can absorb and use. Unfortunately, most dog owners have experienced the common consequences of canine digestive disorders - vomit and diarrhea.
Causes of digestive disorders
There are many causes of canine digestive disorders:
- sudden changes in diet,
- overeating,
- ingestion of garbage or toxins,
- food allergies,
- infection (bacterial or viral),
- inflammatory bowel disease,
- cancer,
- foreign bodies,
- metabolic diseases,
- organ failure such as kidney, liver and pancreatic disease, and parasites.
The above causes may stall digestive processes, causing constipation, while others rush food through the system too quickly, resulting in minimal nutrient and water absorption and a large volume of loose faeces. Or your pet may develop severe stomach irritation or spasms that lead to vomiting.
Dietary causes
Dogs have one stomach and a degree of fermentation takes place in the large bowel. Dogs are essentially carnivorous in nature, but domesticated, city-dwelling dogs are generally fed prepared foods. Most commercial dog foods are cereal based, which is not the natural food for carnivores, and are often poorly digested. Rufus & Coco Odour Fender improves the digestibility of the commonly fed diets of all dogs.
Causes of vomiting
Dog vomiting is usually caused by one of the following:
- Eating something totally unsuitable, such as garbage or candy.
- Eating too quickly.
- Eating too much.
- Exercising too soon, or too vigorously, after a meal.
- Overly excited or nervous.
- The side effect of another illness.
Flatulence
Flatulence can be a problem in some dogs. Flatulence is caused when bacteria in the digestive tract break down food items and produce gas. This may be very disruptive and disturbing to you, but it is rarely a serious health problem for the dog. It is true that some breeds are more prone to flatulence, but all dogs can suffer from it.
What are my options for treating poor digestion, faecal odour and loose bowel motions?
While digestive disorders are quite common in dogs, most upsets resolve quickly and easily.
Product Recommendations:
Brewer's yeast or nutritional yeast
Some sources suggest using brewer's yeast or nutritional yeast because they contain enzymes as well as B vitamins and other nutrients. If your animal likes and tolerates yeast, it is a fine addition to the food. However, some animals will develop an allergy to yeast, and not all of them like it.
Adding a specific enzyme combination is recommended, even if you are also using yeast. Make sure that the enzyme product you select contains at least protease, amylase and lipase (some also contain cellulase, which helps digest plant materials containing cellulose).
Top
Digestive enzymes
Digestive enzymes taken before or during your dog’s meal will help their digestive track to digest the food, eliminating the gas build-up in their intestines. Rufus & Coco Odour Fender contains digestive enzymes including protease, amylase, lipase and cellulase. Follow the directions on the pack and you will soon be on your way to a pleasant-smelling house.
Taken internally, montmorillonite clay has been proven to be immensely helpful in enhancing digestion and growth, as well as in neutralising metabolic toxins. It is particularly beneficial when combined with digestive enzymes and other minerals. Rufus & Coco Odour Fender is a unique digestive aid for dogs. It is specially formulated with the inclusion of montmorillonite clays, digestive enzymes and minerals to enable more efficient digestion of food through the bowel, thereby reducing bowel flatulence, smelly faeces and dietary diarrhoea.
Top
Charcoal
Adding charcoal to your dog’s diet can help detoxify some of the noxious gases while they are still inside the intestine. Activated charcoal is sold over the counter at most pet stores. Charcoal should not be given to dogs for more then two or three days at a time because not only does it help to detoxify noxious gases, it also can absorb nutrients, robbing your dog of vitamins and minerals. Ask your vet before you give your dog charcoal products.
Top
Probiotics
Probiotics, which include Lactobacillus acidophilus as well as a number of other beneficial bacteria, such as those contained in Rufus & Coco Inner Balance are of special importance in animals with digestive problems or those taking antibiotics. They help keep the bacteria population in the gut balanced and healthy, and prevent “bad” bacteria from gaining a foothold. Live-culture yoghurt, which contains a small amount of acidophilus, while not harmful, is not an adequate source of probiotics for the dog.
Top
Change of diet
Dogs have one stomach and a degree of fermentation takes place in the large bowel. Dogs are essentially carnivorous in nature, but domesticated, city-dwelling dogs are generally fed prepared foods. Most commercial dog foods are cereal based, which is not the natural food for carnivores, and are often poorly digested. Rufus & Coco Odour Fender improves the digestibility of the commonly fed diets of all dogs.
Two suggestions:
- By changing your dog’s diet, bowel and flatulence problems issues may be eliminated.
- Rufus & Coco Odour Fender improves the digestibility of the commonly fed diets of all dogs.
Top
Treatment of dog vomiting – canine gastritis
Dog vomiting is usually just a passing inconvenience, which disappears in around 12-24 hours. During this period, the dog should not have any food or large amounts of water so that the intestinal tract can ease and settle down.
Top
Grass eating in dogs
Owners can become concerned if their dog eats grass. Grass eating may be a simple habit or is possibly the sign of a stomach irritation such as gastritis. Studies have shown that grass eating in dogs is an instinctive process as it may stimulate or induce vomiting. Grass can also help to prevent damage to the bowel as it wraps around any foreign bodies in the stomach, limiting the risk of damage from sharp or jagged edges.
Top
What can you do about flatulence?
- No more table scraps – Giving your dog table scraps or changing dog foods can give your dog gas. An excess of doggie biscuits can also stir up gas in the digestive track.
- Eliminate soy products – Soy beans are loaded with proteins that can be hard to digest, producing a lot of gas in the dog’s digestive track. Find a dog food that does not contain soy.
- Exercise your dog – Lots of exercise will help move the gas while your dog is still outside, leaving less for indoors. It may also simulate a bowel movement that will lessen the gas episodes around the house.
Top
Call or visit your vet
If your pet experiences any prolonged digestive disorders or vomiting, it is important to call your veterinarian and discuss the situation. Some chronic digestive disorders, such as food allergies, require life-long dietary management. And if the dog’s large intestine is chronically inflamed (colitis), the vet may prescribe a carefully controlled diet along with medication (anti-inflammatory steroids or antibiotics) to manage flare-ups.
Top
Call your vet when:
- The condition lasts for more than 24 hours.
- The dog shows signs of pain, breathing difficulties or signs of another illness, or symptoms such as diarrhea.
- There is blood in the vomit.
- Vomiting is projectile.
- Stomach bloating occurs.
- Generally, if you are concerned, do not hesitate to call.
These are only a few things that can cause diarrhea and vomiting. Whatever the cause, the aim of first aid is to give the intestines a rest and a chance to recover. Many veterinarians recommend a 12- to 24-hour fast to rest the irritated digestive tract, followed by small amounts of bland, easily digestible food – such as rice mixed with boiled chicken or cooked hamburger mince (with the fat drained off), or diets available at your vet’s office fed in small meals several times a day. Initially, any deviation from this bland fare could cause signs to recur, but as things improve, you can gradually reintroduce your dog’s regular diet.
Top