Canine Gastrointestinal Disorder Symptoms

Gastrointestinal disorders come with varied symptoms in canines, including one disorder with the most subtle but deadliest symptoms. Veterinarians agree: know the symptoms and act quickly. In the case of stomach disorders in your dog, delay can mean the difference between life or death.

  1. Pancreatitis

    • The pancreas has a dual purpose: to produce insulin, a hormone that controls metabolism and blood sugar, and to make digestive enzymes that secrete into the intestines and break down food for proper digestion. When disease sets in, the pancreas cannot produce enough enzymes to assist digestion, or the enzymes might begin digesting surrounding organs, including the pancreas itself. Symptoms include irregular appetite (ravenous hunger to disinterest in food), lethargy, vomiting and/or diarrhea and behavioral changes like sudden aggression.

    Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

    • This disease occurs when inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract ̶0;interferes with absorption and motility (the ability of the bowel to contract and move food),̶1; according to Mar Vista Animal Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. This disruption in healthy bowel function produces symptoms of chronic vomiting if the inflammation is located in the stomach or upper small intestine. Symptoms include watery diarrhea with weight loss when the lower small intestine is affected by IBD, or a bloody, mucousy diarrhea if IBD inflames the large intestine.

    Bloat, Gastric Dilatation, or Volvulus

    • The most serious of all canine gastrointestinal disorders, bloat distends the stomach to many times its normal size for reasons unknown. This causes the stomach to twist, cutting off the blood supply and preventing trapped gas from escaping. ̶0;Not only is this condition extremely painful but it is also rapidly life-threatening̶1; Mar Vista says. Symptoms of bloat include the appearance of a distended stomach near the ribs (a symptom that is not always present); a ̶0;hunched̶1; appearance, pale gums, anxiety and restlessness. Suspect bloat if a dog retches every five to 20 minutes but can̵7;t vomit or can only vomit in very small amounts. Rush your dog to the veterinarian immediately if either of these symptoms appears suddenly.