General gastrointestinal diseases in dogs

Various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can ruin the dog's day. It starts with too much or too little food and ends with the dreaded stomach churning. Let's take a closer look at them.

Anal gland obstruction and inflammation

It is so special that it deserves its own article.

Diarrhea/diarrhea

Most dog owners know it when their dog has ingested something indigestible on the walk. A change in diet or an infection can also trigger diarrhea. It is important to offer the dog enough fluids. Of course, the cause must be clarified in order to initiate treatment if necessary. Especially with young and old dogs, it should not last long without taking countermeasures. Other causes can be: stress, poisoning, liver disease, chronic diseases of the digestive tract.

Constipation/constipation

Was it the change in food? Did the dog eat something wrong? Was he provided with sufficient water? Similar to diarrhea, the causes are varied. However, it is important to find and eliminate them as this is the best way to deal with constipation. Causes? They are stored in a similar way to diarrhea.

Ulcerative colitis / chronic inflammation of the colon

Colon inflammation is initially an acute condition, but can become a chronic problem. The following signs can indicate colon inflammation: Little control over defecation (hence also in the apartment), defecation more than 3-4 times per day, mucus, possibly blood, no undigested food in the faeces. This disease is rather rare in dogs.

Enteritis/inflammation of the small intestine

In most cases, enteritis occurs as a so-called gastroenteritis. It is highly acute and shows problems of the stomach as well as those of the small intestine. Any enteritis is accompanied by diarrhea. Therefore, this needs to be given special attention. The veterinarian can obtain a lot of information from the consistency, color and sales interval.

Feed intolerances, infections, parasites, viruses or bacteria are the “normal” triggers for these symptoms.

Gastritis/inflammation of the stomach lining

It occurs when the stomach lining is no longer intact and therefore cannot guarantee the full protection of the stomach walls against stomach acid. Acute gastritis should resolve relatively quickly. However, if it persists, it can cause major damage to the stomach in the form of chronic gastritis. But the digestive pulp that is passed on can also cause problems in the small intestine. Diarrhea caused by acute gastroenteritis is often the only symptom that owners initially notice. The exact clarification and therapy are carried out by the veterinarian.

All acute gastrointestinal problems can initially be treated well with naturopathic preparations from the areas of homeopathy and phytotherapy. However, if they have no effect in one or two days, you should definitely consult your veterinarian.