Dog Care Tips

Chronic Diarrhea in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms & Solutions

Janet Slissman · Nov 1, 2024 ·

Tips from The San Francisco Dog Walker

You’ve likely dealt with the occasional upset stomach if you’re a dog owner. But what happens when diarrhea becomes a chronic issue? For many of us, our dogs are like family, and seeing them struggle with persistent digestive problems can be stressful and confusing. Chronic diarrhea is more than just an inconvenience—it’s often a sign of an underlying health problem that needs to be addressed.

What is Chronic Diarrhea?

Chronic diarrhea is frequent loose or watery stools that last over three weeks. Unlike acute diarrhea, which usually resolves independently, chronic diarrhea requires a deeper investigation to identify the root cause. If your dog’s symptoms do not improve with changes to food or medications you can buy on your own, they may have a serious condition.

Common Causes of Chronic Diarrhea

Acute or chronic diarrhea in dogs can be caused by many factors, from the type of foods fed to the dog to serious health complications. Here are some of the most common culprits:

1. Dietary Intolerance and Allergies

Many cases of chronic diarrhea are linked to what your dog eats. Some potential dietary causes include:

Food allergies: Dogs can suffer from specific protein allergies, such as chicken, beef, or grains.
Dietary indiscretion: Toxins found in spoiled food, garbage, and foreign and non-food objects can irritate the tract.
Bacterial Infections: Your dog can get chronic diarrhea from bacterial infections, like salmonella, or viral illnesses, like parvovirus. Often, these conditions come with other signs, like throwing up, fever, or constant tiredness.
Diet changes: Your dog may experience digestive upset when you change foods concerning their diet. So be sure to introduce new food brands or types in small quantities mixed in wheir regular diet. Increase the new food gradually until you have switched over completely. This will help to minimize any discomfort for your dog.

2. Parasites

Internal parasites like giardia, hookworms, or roundworms can cause persistent diarrhea. Even dogs that take regular parasite medicines can sometimes get sick, so it’s important to test them regularly.

3. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

IBD is characterized by the inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, which is attributed to immune responses. This condition can be managed only in the long term, and a very strict diet plan should be prescribed for the patient

4. Stress or Anxiety

You may not know this, but your dog’s stress level depends on its emotional state, which has consequences for its stomach. Stress and changes in the dog’s environment, like moving to a new home, can also cause diarrhea.

5. Serious Health Conditions

Chronic diarrhea can also point toward organs like liver disease, kidney disease, or even cancer. Even though these are not common, they can only be determined by veterinary examination.

Diagnosing Chronic Diarrhea

If diarrhea has occurred for several weeks, you should take your dog to a vet. A thorough diagnosis typically involves:

Medical History: The vet will probably ask you about what you feed your dog, what he likes to do for fun, and any changes or upsetting events in his life.
Examination: An examination of the body may also show signs of pain, swelling, or loss of appetite from insufficient food and water.
Fecal Tests: Stool samples are examined for parasites, bacteria, and high or low amounts of fat or blood.
Blood tests: The vet can look for signs of illness, organ function, and inflammation.
Imaging: X-rays or ultrasounds can show if something is wrong with the digestive system.
Biopsies: Sometimes, tissue samples are needed to prove certain conditions, such as IBD.

Treatment Options for Chronic Diarrhea

As soon as your vet figures out what’s making your pet sick, they will tell you what to do. Here are some common treatment options:

1. Make Adjustments in the Diet

When it comes to changing the diet pattern, there are usually three factors that one needs to consider.

Elimination diets: One way of removing potential allergens from the dog’s diet is to eliminate allergens in normal foods.
Prescription diets: Special meals for the digestive system can help to calm an irritated stomach lining.
Probiotics: They help in healthy gut flora and digestion.

2. Medications

Anti-parasitic drugs: If parasites are the cause, your dog may need deworming treatments.
Antibiotics: Antibiotics can help treat bacterial infections.
Anti-inflammatory drugs: Conditions like IBD may need corticosteroids or other medications to reduce inflammation.

3. Stress Management

If stress is highlighted, efforts should be made to establish and avoid areas where dogs are commonly attacked. Making a schedule, giving the dog lots of exercise, and using items that help soothe the animal can all be useful.

4. Long-term care for Chronic Conditions

In many cases, such as IBD or liver disease, dogs receive lifelong treatment where diet plays a significant role besides drug prescriptions and occasional follow-up of the disease’s progression

At-Home Care Tips

While you’re working with your vet, there are steps you can take at home to support your dog’s recovery:

Hydration: They include the fact that long-term diarrhea morbidity results in dehydration. It is important to note that your dog should always have access to fresh water.
Monitor stool: Keep track of changes in color, consistency, and frequency to report to your vet.
Avoid table scraps: Stick to your vet’s recommended diet to avoid further irritation.
Slow transitions: If switching foods, gradually over 7-10 days to prevent further upset.

When to Seek Immediate Help

In some cases, chronic diarrhea can escalate to a medical emergency. Contact your vet right away if your dog shows any of the following:

Blood in the stool
Vomiting
Severe lethargy
Fever
Signs of pain, such as whining or a hunched posture

Preventing Chronic Diarrhea

Even if not every situation can be avoided, you can lower the risk by:

Feeding a high-quality diet
Taking pets for vet check-ups frequently
Continue with the practices of parasite prevention.
Restriction from garbage or toxic foods
Manage your dog’s stress levels

Conclusion

Chronic diarrhea in dogs is challenging but can be managed with the right approach. Find the root of the problem and do what your vet tells you to to help your dog return to a happy, healthy life. Remember that diarrhea that won’t go away is not ok; getting help immediately is crucial to avoid more significant problems. You are responsible for your furry friend’s health, so don’t be afraid to get help if something doesn’t seem right.

As dog owners, we know our pets bring endless joy and companionship. Addressing their health concerns promptly ensures they’ll continue to do so for years to come.

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Poisonous Mushroom Identification

Janet Slissman · Oct 11, 2024 ·

If you fear your dog or cat has eaten a poisonous mushroom seek veterinary help immediately. They can go into a coma-like sleep within hours of ingestion or suffer severe liver failure. Time is truly of the essence. Contact your veterinarian, a pet poison control center or visit your local Animal ER.

Resources

State-by-state list of mushroom experts who can help you with mushroom identification in poisoning cases
“Death Cap” (Amanita phalloides) and other poisonous Amanita mushrooms
General information on identifying Amanita mushrooms
General identification of poisonous mushrooms
Mushroom poisoning in cats and dogs

The Deadly Death Cap and Other Amanita Mushrooms

With names referencing death and destruction, it’s no wonder the Amanita mushroom genus contains some of the most famous and deadly of all poisonous mushrooms. The death cap (Amanita phalloides) is suspected to have caused more mushroom poisoning deaths than any other species!

Yet what makes some amanita mushrooms so poisonous? Certain species of Amanita contain amanitin, a deadly amatoxin.

Amatoxins are some of the most lethal poisons found in nature. These toxins work by slowly shutting down the liver and kidneys. Often the victim will appear sick at first, and then seem to get better. Unfortunately the amatoxins are still at work, and death may occur anywhere from a few days to a week after ingestion.

This poison knows no real antidote beyond treating the victim with an extract of milk thistle. Milk thistle protects against liver damage from toxins, and is one of the treatments for amanita mushroom poisoning.

Despite this treatment, it’s said that one cap of a death cap is enough to kill. Given the danger, we’d better learn some poisonous mushroom identification! Visit this page to learn how to identify poisonous amanita mushrooms in general.

Remember: Never solely identify any mushroom based on what you’ve seen on any website (including this one) or by comparing it to a picture in a book. Always obtain hands-on expert help when identifying a new mushroom and never eat anything you’re not sure of!

Death Cap Details

Cap

Convex initially but flattens with age, often sticky when touched
Between 3 to 6 inches across
Color is usually a shade of yellow to green, but sometimes white or brownish
White gills underneath the cap that don’t run down the stem

Stem

Between 3 to 6 inches across and less than an inch thick
Usually whitish, sometimes with scales
Often a ring around the stem right below the cap. This ring is the remnant of the partial veil, a piece of tissue that protected the mushroom’s gills as it grew.
Also present is a white sac around the base of the stem. All amanita mushrooms start their lives as small buttons in the shape of an egg. This egg-like covering is actually a layer of tissue called the universal veil, or volva.

Because they form as a small button, an amanita may sometimes be mistaken for an edible puffball. This is why it’s essential to slice a puffball open before eating it. Puffballs are white and solid on the inside with no gills. If you see gills, you may have an amanita on your hands.

Once the mushroom has grown, the sac-like remnants of this universal veil are still an important identification characteristic. It’s often underground so you may have to dig carefully around the base to find it.

However, never assume that you don’t have an amanita mushroom just because you can’t find the sac. It may have disintegrated or broken away. Use all features for poisonous mushroom identification, not just one!

Amanita phalloides, the death cap mushroom The mushrooms have a sweet odor (like honey) and are attractive to some dogs (whose owners report they actually seek them out to eat them). They are really non little white mushrooms. The toxic effects appear about 6-36 hours after the mushrooms are eaten, and once signs are seen the toxicity is poorly responsive to treatment (we try a lot of things to support the animal, but if enough mushrooms were eaten it will be fatal despite the treatment). If someone suspects their dog may have eaten a mushroom, the best treatment is to take the dog immediately to a vet or emergency clinic and have them induce vomiting and give activated charcoal. The mushroom toxin is absorbed fairly rapidly, but the damage to the liver can take hours before it is clinically apparent. Don’t waste time trying to figure out if the mushroom is toxic as speed in removing the mushroom from the digestive system is the most important thing in my experience.Here is a link with some pictures https://wikipedia.org/wiki/amanita_phalloides

Although most SF/local mushrooms are not poisonous, and those that are usually cause only digestive upset (perhaps causing someone to wish they would die), Death Caps (Amanita phalloides) are aptly named. After an initial digestive upset death caps prevent liver cells from regenerating. Within a few days after ingestion there are no new liver cells to replace the old ones, and liver failure occurs. The below message describes death caps as “little white mushrooms.” Note: They might look like that in the early stages, but mature mushrooms can grow quite large (check yahoo group for photo of mushroom I’m holding in hand) and they have a slight metallic, greenish look. Check out the wikipedia link for photos of death caps in various stages. I have seen death caps south of SF and in the east bay. There might be some in SF. The common “white mushrooms” I’ve seen in SF, e.g. growing in lawns, are not death caps (various Agaricus–see photo). Death Caps have WHITE GILLS (e.g. the radiating blades on the underside of the cap), while most of the “lawn” mushroom have brown gills. At Fort Funston beneath the trees, I’ve spotted white-gilled mushrooms, but they have shaggy scales on the cap (see photo). Not death caps. Possibly Lepiota rachodes. Don’t take a chance w/mushroom, especially death caps. Supervise your dog.

Other Infamous Amanita

No page on poisonous mushrooms would be complete without discussing the death cap’s deadly cousin, the destroying angel.

The term “destroying angel” actually refers to a few all-white poisonous mushrooms in the Amanita genus. They are:

Amanita bisporigera in Eastern North America
Amanita ocreata in Western North America
Amanita virosa in Europe (below)

Amanita virosa is known as the “European destroying angel”. There is some disagreement as to whether this mushroom exists in the United States.

Destroying angels are sometimes mistaken for edible mushrooms such as young puffballs, button mushrooms, and meadow mushrooms. Thus it’s important to learn how to identify them.

The destroying angel is very similar to the death cap in terms of identification. The biggest difference is that they’re all white, with no green or yellow tint. They’re recognized by their rounded base, white color, and smooth cap. One bite of these may contain enough amatoxins to kill!

Of course, not every species in the Amanitamushroom genus is poisonous. Some, such as Amanita caesarea (Caesar’s mushroom), are edible. Yet given the danger involved in eating the wrong amanita, it’s best to avoid the genus entirely unless you really know what you’re doing.

It’s important to learn how to recognize Amanitas (especially the death cap and the destroying angel) if one is going to start eating wild mushrooms. Proper knowledge can prevent a fatal mistake!

– See more at: https://www.mushroom-appreciation.com/death-cap.html#sthash.aPp52tla.dpuf

Preventing Dog Heat Stroke: Essential Tips for Pet Owners

Janet Slissman · Jul 15, 2024 ·

Dogs Can Die From Heat Stroke!

Animal experts say that it’s a common misconception that dogs can survive if the windows are cracked on a hot day, or if the car is parked in the shade. They said people often think that dogs can handle high temperatures. Wrong! In fact, even a dog walk in high heat can hurt or kill them. Dogs can get overheated much quicker than we can. Their temperature can shoot up to 104, 105 in just a matter of ten to fifteen minutes, and that can lead to a seizure. Even cracking a window a little bit, thinking they’ll be okay isn’t enough in to keep them safe. There’s not enough breeze. Dogs don’t cool down the way we do. They cool down by panting.

If you think your Preventing Dog Heat Stroke , get him out of the heat as soon as possible. Here are a few other things you can do:

Put rubbing alcohol on the pads of their feet.
Pour cool – not cold – water on them. Start with their feet, neck, and genital areas.
Wrap them in a sheet or other cloth that’s been soaked with cool water.
Get your dog to the vet! Even if you think your dog is OK, it’s a good idea to have him checked out.

Heatstroke or exhaustion can occur very quickly for our dogs as they only have the ability to sweat throught the pads of their feet. The major way they expel heat is through panting. The two most common ways that pets get overheated is being left in cars or kennels when it is too hot or playing or running excessively in the heat. Our canine friends are almost always up for a brisk dog walk or a game of fetch. The problem is that they do not know when they are overheated until it is too late. Thus, it is up to us as their caregivers to understand when it is time to take a break, drink some water and rest in the shade for awhile. A dog’s normal temperature runs between 101 and 102.5 degrees so they are naturally warmer than we are. When their temperature exceeds 106 degrees there is a very real danger in damaging cells in their brain and causing permanent damage or even death. Treatment for heat stroke is immediately getting the pet into a cool shady area or inside an air-conditioned building. Cooling can be continued with cool cloths or ice packs in the groin area or in the armpits. It is important not to submerge the pet in cold water as this can lead to shock.

Bottom line: Dogs can’t handle the heat as well as we can and run the risk of developing heat stroke much more quickly. Even if you leave the window open and park in the shade, it may not be good enough. The test to tell if it is too hot to leave your pet in the car, if it is too hot for you in the car, it is way to hot for your dog. And don’t forget the longer you are away, the hotter your car gets. Even 15 minutes may be too long.

Some summer problems to look out for!

Janet Slissman · Jul 9, 2024 ·

It is very common at this time of the year that dogs will have swollen faces with eyes that are nearly closed up. In most cases this is from a bee sting. It can also be from vegetation that is caused by allergies. In most cases an antihistamine, such as Benedryl, will will take the swelling and discomfort down rapidly, but in severe cases it may be necessary for the pet to be seen to receive treatment with cortisone or even epinephrine. During times when insect activity is high, it is not safe to use repellants like OFF to discourage them from attacking your pet, because it contains DEET which is poisonous if ingested by dogs. Instead try, K9-Advantix, which repels mosquitoes, ticks and fleas.

By far the most common concern seen in the spring and summer months involves pets that eat things that they shouldn’t. This can happen any time of the year, but when the weather is nice and the ground is warm and moist it becomes a perfect incubator for viruses, bacteria and parasites.

Tick Season Hits McLaren Park

Janet Slissman · Jul 8, 2024 ·

Posted by The San Francisco Dog Walker – Excerpt from Save McLaren Park Newsletter

Ticks are currently abundant in McLaren Park. Tom Scott of Save McLaren Park said, “In the past two weeks alone I’ve found 3 different ticks on me. I don’t recall finding any ticks in the previous 8 years that I’ve been going to the park. My dog remains tick-free thanks to the medication she uses.”

Suggestions when going to the park: Apply mosquito repellent, especially to your legs and even if you’re wearing pants. Also, it’s a good idea to check yourself after returning from the park. Ticks tend to go for warm moist areas, such as armpits and groins.

Tom explains, “the ticks I found on myself have been identified as Dermacentor variabilis, also known as American Dog Tick and Wood Tick. This species is not known to carry Lyme Disease, but it can carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. It’s unlikely, though, that the ticks in McLaren carry this disease. I don’t think this is an urgent health concern for park users, but something to be aware of.”