Articles Dog Diarrhea Dog Diarrhea-Viral Diarrhea
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| Diarrhea in Dogs-Viral Diarrhea |
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| Written by Webmaster | |
| Thursday, 08 November 2007 | |
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Diarrhea in dogs is a loose stool, while colitis is severe diarrhea with straining to defecate and the stool may be bloody. When stool material passes to quickly through the colon, the body does not have the opportunity to absorb the water from it and the stool will be watery and loose. There are many different types and causes of diarrhea in dogs and Viral Diarrhea will be discussed. The most common viral intestinal infections are Canine Parvovirus and Coronavirus. Canine Parvovirus This virus is widespread in canine populations throughout the world after first recognized in 1978. Clinical signs of this viral infection are most severe in pups 6 to 14 weeks old. Although the disease effects on an older dog is milder, fatalities have been seen in dogs of all ages. The earliest signs of the disease are often fever, depression, and abdominal pain. These are rapidly followed by vomiting and diarrhea. The stool can range from semisoft, in milder cases of infection, to a diarrhea in dogs that is watery, bloody, and has a putrid smell. Shock caused by fluid and electrolyte loss from the diarrhea is a serious and life-threatening complication that requires intravenous fluid replacement. This virus is highly contagious to other canines through the feces. Canine Coronavirus This intestinal virus of dogs is less devastating as the parvovirus. Typically cases of infection of coronavirus begin with vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. There is usually a fever, lack of appetite, uneasiness, and dehydration. The diarrhea may not be as watery as in parvovirus, but is light-colored or yellow-orange and occasionally bloody. It may or may not have a putrid smell. The treatment is similar to that for parvovirus: intravenous fluid therapy, electrolyte and vitamin replacement, antibiotics, and antispasmotics to calm the intestines. The success rate in coronavirus is higher than in parvovirus, only the very young and weakest puppies don't survive. A veterinarian will use a few diagnostic tests to determine if the symptoms are causes by a viral infection. These include checking for a fever, history of exposure to other dogs, viral titers, and fecal viral isolation. Dog diarrhea with a viral infection will likely be watery, bloody and may have a distinctive putrid smell. |
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 24 June 2008 ) |
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