Intestinal Disorders

Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and diseases affect a dog's stomach and intestines, resulting in pain and other problems. Any disorder that reduces the digestion or absorption of food, or alters its passage through the digestive tract, can be called a digestive disorder. Healthy digestion is essential for your dog to be able to use the nutrients from his food to build and repair tissues and obtain energy. GI disorders can lead to dehydration, acid-base and electrolyte imbalances and malnutrition so it is important to recognise the signs and consult with your veterinarian.

There are many different types of digestive disorders so your veterinarian may carry out tests to determine the exact cause of your dog’s problem. Causes can range from eating something other than dog food, to food allergies / intolerance, infections, or lack of digestive enzymes. Some breeds, such as Great Danes, German Shepherds, Golden retrievers and Collies, are more prone to particular digestive problems. Commonly diagnosed conditions include:

Acute gastroenteritis: Inflammation or infection of the gastrointestinal tract, primarily the stomach and intestines. Acute gastroenteritis is usually short-term, caused by a dog eating spoiled or rancid food, high fat people food or swallowing foreign objects, eating toxic plants, internal parasites, stress, food allergies or substances not intended as dog food.

,Colitis: By definition, Colitis is an acute or chronic inflammation of the membrane lining the colon. It is most frequently caused by whipworms (a parasite), tumours or polyps, a change in food, allergies (including those to food), swallowed foreign objects and certain other diseases. Colitis is more common in dogs under the age of 5 and causes inflammation of the large intestine resulting in frequent, painful passing of faeces. Diarrhoea may contain mucus and blood.

Constipation: This has several causes, including lack of exercise, dehydration and eating indigestible materials such as bones or other foreign objects, or very low fibre foods.

Diarrhoea: Caused by infections, internal parasites, stress, a change in dog food, table scraps or rich snacks, eating spoiled food from the garbage and body organ dysfunction.

Pancreatitis: An inflammation or infection of the pancreas (an elongated, tapered gland that is located behind the stomach). Origins are frequently unknown. Potential causes are feeding foods high in fat or rich table foods, infections, disease or trauma.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency: This condition is characterised by weight loss, increased appetite and large amounts of soft faeces.

Small intestinal malabsorption: Inflammation of the small intestine impairs nutrient absorption and results in persistent diarrhoea, weight loss and loss of appetite.