bad digestion or slow digestion in dogs is an annoyance that could happen at any time. It is a fairly common condition, as many dogs suffer from various digestive problems related to their daily diet and other factors associated with food, such as anxiety, the presence of parasites, infections, etc.
Digestion is a natural process through which our dog's digestive system transforms a food into a useful substance for its body In this sense, poor digestion could be a symptom or a cause of some major problem. We can easily detect when our dog is going through a bad digestion, because in addition to altering its he alth, it considerably affects its behavior.
Next, in this article on our site we will show you 5 symptoms of poor digestion in dogs:
Main digestive problems in dogs
The main cause of poor digestion in dogs turns out to be an inappropriate diet, so it is important to detect the nutritional quality of the food that we are giving our dog, in this way we can make an immediate and timely change. Find out more about the composition of dog food and find out if the food you offer is of quality.
On the other hand, if our dog does not digest food well we will observe various symptoms, however, we will need to know the cause of indigestion in dogs to be able to cure it.
Some common causes of digestive disorders in dogs are:
- Gastritis: irritation and inflammation of the stomach.
- Food intolerance: inability to assimilate certain foods or to absorb certain nutrients. These dogs will need a specific feed for food intolerance.
- SIBO: stands for "Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth", a syndrome in which the small intestine accumulates bacteria up to a overdot.
- Colitis: inflammation of the colon.
- Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas, which does not produce enough digestive enzymes.
If our dog experiences poor digestion on a regular basis, whether it is caused by an inadequate diet or due to the appearance of any of the diseases mentioned above, we can perceive it by the signs it shows. Below we will list the main symptoms of poor digestion in dogs
Cut of digestion in dogs - Symptoms
Often, some symptoms appear immediately and can be:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Flatulence
- Stomach noises
- Abdominal pain
Generally a common bad digestion has these symptoms. We must be attentive to any change, but the most prudent and appropriate thing is to go to the vet so that he himself can carry out a check-up, which may indicate the origin of the discomfort of our dog.
We must be careful, since sometimes they tend to ingest toys, pieces of cloth, plastic, or other objects that have been found. These objects, being indigestible, can remain in the stomach, causing strong inflammation and generating chronic gastritis.
In other cases, symptoms can be observed as days go by, such as problems of indigestion in dogs. The symptoms are:
- Weightloss
- Sudden change in appetite
- Fever
- Sudden change in dog activity
- Dehydration
These symptoms can appear when poor digestion is prolonged over time.
What to do about the symptoms of intestinal infection in dogs?
If poor digestion is repeated frequently or is prolonged over time, it could become a major problem, becoming symptom of a disease, which must be detected in order to be able to treat it correctly. The opinion and assessment of a specialist is extremely important, since the he alth of our dog could be seriously compromised.
There are other conditions such as kidney or liver disease, as well as bacterial and/or viral infections. It is also worth mentioning intestinal parasites, which can cause poor digestion or any of the diseases mentioned above, which must be treated promptly or specifically.
Some dogs are intolerant to certain food components and sometimes it is difficult to determine which ingredient causes the intolerance. In these cases, it is generally recommended to carry out allergy tests for dogs or, directly, to opt for a elimination diet, always prescribed by the veterinarian when you suspect any food in concrete. The specialist must also carry out an evolutionary follow-up of the case.
When our dog has reached a significant weight loss, it is evident that there are a series of problems associated with the case, it is very important to avoid dehydration and act immediately, as its general he alth may be compromised.
Prevention of digestive problems in dogs
The main measure to prevent all these symptoms of poor digestion in dogs is to provide our dogs with a quality food adapted to their needs specific.
In addition, it is important to maintain constant supervision, in order to prevent our dog from ingesting any object or substance that affects or damages your he alth. This usually happens especially during walks, at which time they are more exposed to this type of problem.