A rumbling tum:
Digestive disorders in dogs

Diarrhoea is one of the most common digestive problems in dogs. But in puppies, in particular, it should set alarm bells ringing and must be treated by a vet as quickly as possible. New-born puppies are almost always infected with round- worms from the mother. The mother should therefore be wormed before the birth, and the puppies shortly after birth - when they are about 2 weeks old. Giardia (single-celled parasites) are another frequent cause of severe diarrhoea in young dogs and must be treated by a vet.

In adult dogs it is generally the wrong food or infections that trigger the digestive disorder. Intolerances, autoimmune diseases, infections of the pancreas and many other illnesses can also cause diarrhoea, however.

For adult dogs, withdraw all food and only give fresh water for 12 hours in order to rest the gut. Then carefully give the dog small quantities of a bland diet.

Always consult your vet if the diarrhoea has not disappeared after two days or if further symptoms appear such as fatigue, vomiting, blood in the stools, etc.

Vomiting is not uncommon in dogs either. They often throw up tainted or indigestible objects that they have eaten. Infections of the stomach or intestinal tract by viruses or bacteria are another frequent cause of vomiting. However, many other problems such as obstruction of the bowel, tumours or metabolic disorders also lead to vomiting. So if your dog vomits several times in one day or over the course of several days or if it is also lethargic and refuses food, it must be checked over by your vet.

Puppies should be taken to the vet immediately, on the other hand, as they can quickly become dehydrated and illnesses become life-threatening much faster than in adult animals.