ROTT N CHATTER, January 1993, Volume 1 Number 6

 

                          THE DOCTOR'S BAG

                         Gaea Mitchel D.V.M.

 

   After a holiday, I always get ready for an onslaught of calls about dogs

with vomiting and/or diarrhea.  When I am the Veterinarian at our local dog

show, a two day affair in the middle of a major circuit, I go armed with a

variety of medications to combat the same complaints.  These two situations

provide the causes of about 95% of diarrhea and vomiting that I see in my

practices, dietary indiscretion and stress.

 

   Dietary indiscretion can result from a variety of dog and owner

behaviors, the holiday ones usually caused by the tender-hearted owner who

just has to share a special meal with the dogs.  From Thanksgiving turkey to

Fourth of July hotdogs, Christmas roast to Easter ham, the results are the

same. Even the best human meal can cause enough changes in the dog's diet to

throw the intestinal flora, or resident bacteria, out of balance.  The

shift is toward an increase in the numbers of more irritating organisms,

and soon there are enough of these to cause symptoms.  Most commonly these

are initial constipation followed by vomiting or diarrhea. The stools may

contain large quantities of mucus and blood.  Some intestinal bacteria even

produce toxins which may, if they reach a high enough concentration, cause

enterotoxemia.  This condition may produce lethargy, abdominal pain, and

ataxia, or a staggering gait. The dog is actually being poisoned,

temporarily, by the heavy growth of bacteria in the gut.  If the dog's

holiday meal includes a lot of fat, poultry skin (fat again) or bones, the

range of symptoms can broaden to include pancreatitis, perforation of the

GI tract, of constipation due to the amount of hard dry bone in the stool.

Most knowledgeable owners don't voluntarily provide that much fat, and

bones of any kind should not be fed, but during the holidays any free

ranging dog will have access to all the stuff spilling out of every garbage

can in the neighborhood. These cases we refer to as garbage poisoning, and

they can be quite severe, even life threatening.

 

   Dogs taken out of their familiar environment and subjected to disruption

of their routines often develop stress gastroenteric symptoms.  Those

traveling on a show circuit may spend several weeks in a van, crated, often

with a handler other than the owner, and the diarrhea they often develop

has much less to do with a change in the water than with the stress.  Even

a family pet on vacation diet varies from what s/he is used to . The stress

doesn't have to be a negative one.  Pleasurable excitement may be just as

much to blame.  Of course some dogs have more tolerance than others to

change, and some can develop a stress diarrhea right at home if there is

enough stress in the family.  We see plenty of problems on the occasion of

family reunions, weddings and other chaotic situations.

 

   If a dog experiences a change in stool, or vomits, and the condition

lasts more than 12 hours, we usually start the diagnostic process with a

fecal examination.  This will rule out intestinal parasites and will often

reveal a bacterial overgrowth.  Deeper investigation might include bloodwork

or radiographs. Of course, if the symptoms are severe, the visit shouldn't

wait even half a day.  Once the cause of the problem is identified,

appropriate treatment can be initiated.  However, diarrhea due to dietary

indiscretion or stress can often be prevented just by regulating the dog's

food intake, and providing a refuge from stressful situations.  Being sure

s/he has some quiet time away from the excitement and in a familiar place

(the dog's own crate will help on the road) may be all a well socialized

dog needs to avoid a bout with stress diarrhea.