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Aug 21

Vargas: The scoop on poop – The Ledger

Diets that Work Comments Off on Vargas: The scoop on poop – The Ledger

By Mitsie Vargas Ledger correspondent

A healthy gastrointestinal system is extremely important for the overall well-being of our pets. Changes in the consistency, color, and texture of your pet's stools can reveal an underlying disease process. Let's review the top five changes found in the fecal matter of dogs and what they might tell us:

Light, pasty colored feces. If you see this you should be concerned that your dog is not digesting the food properly because a condition called pancreatic insufficiency usually produces this kind of stool. The lack of pancreatic enzymes results in a dog that eats a lot but doesn't put on a lot of weight; in fact, it appears as if they lose muscle mass. This condition is very common in German shepherds. The good news is that supplementing with pancreatic enzymes along with a proper, easy-to-digest diet will correct this deficiency.

Dark or black tarry stools. This is bad because it means that somewhere along the GI tract there is bleeding. This bleeding could be caused by severe parasite load, ulcers, infiltrative or solitary cancers, clotting disorders, partial obstructions or intussusception (telescoping of a part of intestine inside another) among others. This symptom requires a proper diagnostic work up that includes blood work, radiographs and perhaps barium contrast studies. This warrants a visit to your veterinarian.

Extremely foul liquid diarrhea. Often times this is caused by parasites like coccidia, giardia and bacterial infections (E.coli and clostridium). This condition can cause severe dehydration and a fatal electrolyte imbalance and needs to be addressed by a veterinarian. A fecal examination under the microscope can detect these organisms and then an appropriate deworming or treatment initiated. Newborn puppies are at high risk of dying because of poor hygiene and lack of neonatal care when infected with these parasites.

Mucousy, blood-tinged stools. I'd rather see bright red blood than dark stools because at least with the mucous red stools, I know the issue is at the end of the GI tract. Rectal polyps, severe anal sac infections, and inflammatory bowel disease are main culprits causing this stool appearance. Lack of good GI flora secondary to antibiotics or other drugs can also contribute to this issue. The use of probiotics and a bland diet can remedy this situation.

Dry, hard fecal balls. Perhaps your dog is not drinking enough water or is not having frequent enough bowel movements. Some concerns are constipation because of lack of fiber in the diet, lack of proper nerve stimulation to the area resulting in poor gut motility, and ingestion of foreign material causing the stools to harden (hair, sand). A very easy laxative is adding a couple of tablespoons of canned pumpkin to the diet. Over-the-counter fiber laxatives work well, too. Offering canned diets alone or instead of dry food will also help. If motility is an issue you can supplement with plum flower capsules. Also, acupuncture and certain Chinese herbal formulas can help. This issue can be addressed by your veterinarian in order to avoid a painful condition called obstipation (blockage of the colon).

Dr. Mitsie Vargas is at Orchid Springs Animal Hospital in Winter Haven. She can be reached at drv@osahvets.

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Vargas: The scoop on poop - The Ledger

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