Summer seems to be a dog's favorite season. Fido romps in the yard, plays with pals in the dog park and scouts ahead on the trail when you take him along on a hike. While he's doing that, your dog is merrily racing through an intestinal war zone of parasites, bacteria and unauthorized wayside snacks. Fido isn't going to know what to do for himself should colitis strike, but you can be prepared with an arsenal of knowledge to help him recover.
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Symptoms of Canine Colitis
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Parasites can cause lethargy. The first sign of colitis usually appears as minor episodes of diarrhea that may show mucus or blood in the stool. Other signs such as vomiting, depression, weight loss and fever indicate a condition growing more severe. An acute case lasts approximately four days before clearing up. If symptoms go on longer or increase, schedule a trip to the vet to see if your pet is developing chronic colitis.
Causes of Colitis
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Parasites, dietary changes and bacteria cause colitis in dogs. While it's easy to surmise that the three burgers your dog grabbed from the picnic table while you looked away are the culprit, there might be other things at work. A monthly program to prevent heartworm reduces your dog's chance of getting colitis from the parasites Giardia or whipworm, but it doesn't eliminate it. The bacteria Clostridium perfringens produces enterotoxin which inflames the colon and depletes electrolytes necessary for fluid distribution in the dog's body. Your vet will perform tests to determine whether these are the cause of your dog's illness.
A Safe Dietary Solution
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Adding fiber to your dog's diet helps relieve symptoms of colitis as the bulk it creates in the intestine facilitates movement of feces. It decreases episodes of diarrhea by slowing the elimination of fecal matter and increasing the ability of the colon to retain water. Be sure you use food that provides both insoluble and soluble fiber to balance your dog's recovery.
How to Add Fiber to Your Dog's Diet
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Add fiber to your dog's diet with commercial high-fiber food containing brown rice, fruits, oats and vegetables. You may use commercially available high-fiber foods that provide increased levels of bulk. Look for foods that contain natural sources of fiber like brown rice, oats, fruits or vegetables. Do not use foods that contain difficult to digest peanut hulls, rice hulls, corn bran or oat hulls.
Home Cooked Remedy
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The common practice of feeding your dog chicken with rice for four or five days will help a dog recover from colitis. To increase healthy benefits, slowly add cooked carrots or mashed bananas to this meal. Feed about half the amount of the dog's regular portion. A probiotic supplement will restore and maintain the healthy flora (bacteria) normally present in a dog's intestine. Be sure to give your dog plenty of water to replace fluids lost to diarrhea.
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