La gastroenteritis in dogs it is a disease similar to the one we suffer from. In general, it is not a serious disease, you do not always have to go to the vet and in the vast majority of cases it is not fatal, but only takes a few days of convalescence for the dog and basic care on our part so that it recovers. .
In the case of gastroenteritis there are several things that can cause it. It does not happen as in some diseases that there is a single contagious virus. In this case we are talking about an infectious disease in which the inflammation of the lining of the intestinal tract, which carries a few symptoms. But we are going to know this disease, its causes and its treatment to know what we face if our dog gets sick.
What is gastroenteritis
La gastroenteritis is a gastrointestinal infection It inflames the inner lining of the small intestine and stomach. This disease can be acute, persistent or chronic, depending on its origin. That is why the treatment may be different depending on the type of gastroenteritis it is. This is a disease similar to that of humans, so it is easy for us to recognize it, since they are the same symptoms and treatments in general. It is not dangerous, unless the dog is very ill, and the only thing that can represent a danger in the short term is dehydration, but it almost never becomes fatal since other factors would have to be given so that the dog does not overcome the disease.
Causes of gastroenteritis
Inflammation of the mucous membranes can occur due to many different factors, from viruses to bacteria or parasites. It can be caused by a viral, fungal or bacterial infection, but also by eating spoiled food, eating toxic plants or eating foods that do not suit them. In situations of prolonged stress the mucosa of the intestine can also be altered and it is spread when it comes in contact with dogs that have the disease. Depending on the health of the dog this can be more or less strong.
Symptoms of the disease
We all know the clearest symptoms of the disease, which are diarrhea and vomiting. It directly affects the stomach so the gastrointestinal system will suffer the most during the disease. In the vast majority of cases in which these symptoms occur, the vet determines that it is gastroenteritis, although vomiting or diarrhea can be related to other diseases. In this case we have these symptoms and there is also general discomfort, abdominal pain if we manipulate it, low mood, lack of appetite and fatigue. In some cases it is possible that the dog also has a fever, so we will notice the heat in his nose and in his ears. With vomiting and diarrhea comes dehydration, which can be seen by a dry truffle and by picking up the dog's skin. We stretch it a little, without it being annoying, and if it returns quickly to its place it will still be hydrated, if it takes time it is that dehydration affects it enough.
Effective treatments
El treatment of gastroenteritis is symptomatic, aimed at improving the dog by reducing the problems caused by the symptoms. In general, what is usually done is to apply some medicine to stop vomiting in case they are recurrent. If the dog becomes dehydrated quickly, the vet will resort to fluid therapy, which consists of providing fluids through the mouth or intravenously in case the dog is very ill and continues to vomit. In cases where the dog is weaker, it may be admitted to continue providing fluids to its body.
This disease is not very complicated, so the vast majority of the time can be fought directly at home. We must clean the dog's food and drink pots, always avoiding the proliferation of bacteria in them. We must hydrate them continuously so that they feel better. In addition, a few hours of fasting are normally recommended when the dog is worse so that the body cleans itself until the next meal and the intestinal mucosa recovers.
The next few days the dog's diet should vary a bitBeing a specific diet for this problem, which will be gentler on the stomach and help you recover. A good diet would be grilled or boiled lean poultry, cooked rice, and cooked carrots. If the dogs eat it, it is good to give them boiled pumpkin, because it helps them improve transit and regain normality in the stomach. In addition, we can give them to drink a little chamomile, although the flavor does not normally attract them, but if they like it, we will improve their stomach, because chamomile is soothing, hydrates them in the form of an infusion and helps to avoid gas and discomfort in the stomach.
Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis
There is a kind of gastroenteritis that is more severe than normal. It is about hemorrhagic gastroenteritis in dogs, of which the cause is not well known. This type of gastroenteritis causes the stool to appear dark red, as it comes with blood. You have to go immediately to the vet for proper treatment and diagnosis. In general it is a problem that greatly affects smaller breeds such as Yorkshire. If it is not treated, it can lead to the death of the dog in a short time, so it is essential to be quick when seeking treatment.
When to go to the vet
As we say, this disease is not very serious and in the vast majority of cases, if we have some knowledge we can help the dog to recover easily, providing fluids and an adequate diet for a few days. But there are cases in which we may need the help of a veterinarian. In older dogs, that have other diseases or in puppies, rapid dehydration can occur, something that can even endanger the dog's life. If the diarrhea and vomiting do not stop and we cannot hydrate the dog in the most adequate way, it is better go to the vet to do it intravenously. It is also essential to go if we see blood or parasites in the stool, since in the first case it can be something more serious and in the second the gastroenteritis can be caused by parasites, which will have to be eliminated when the dog is better.