Vomiting and diarrhea

Vomiting is one of the most common symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders that we encounter in animals. Vomiting is primarily a sign of gastritis and can be triggered by ingesting substances that irritate the stomach. Vomiting can also be triggered by irritation of the vomiting center in the brain. Motion sickness and toxins (poisonous substances) released during disease processes elsewhere in the body can cause vomiting, even when the gastrointestinal tract is healthy. Vomiting is usually preceded by nausea, which is characterized by drooling and frequent smacking of the lips. This is followed by abdominal contractions, and the stomach is emptied. After the stomach contents are expelled, clear vomit containing gastric juices is produced. If vomiting persists, bile appears in the vomit, turning it yellow and foamy. Later still, small flecks of blood may be seen in the vomit. Vomit that smells like feces indicates (severe) intestinal problems, including an obstruction (ileus). It is important to determine whether the animal is actually vomiting or experiencing so-called “regurgitation.” Regurgitation is the expulsion of food, saliva, or water that has not entered the stomach. It resembles vomiting but is not accompanied by the wave-like movements of the abdomen and usually occurs immediately after eating or drinking. We see regurgitation in cases of esophageal abnormalities, such as obstruction caused by a tumor or a piece of bone, etc., and in cases of esophageal paralysis. When an animal vomits, it loses significant amounts of fluid and electrolytes. This can quickly lead to metabolic problems. Preventing water and food intake is the best way to prevent vomiting. They want to drink so they can vomit, but on balance, they lose more water by vomiting it up than they have taken in! It is best to remove food and water 24 hours a day. To quench their worst thirst, ice cubes can be placed in the water bowl.

1. Turgor: the elasticity of the skin. Pinch the skin on your neck or back and release it: it should snap back into place quickly; if a “ridge” remains, this indicates dehydration.
2. Eyes: If they appear “sunken,” the animal is dehydrated.
3. Gums: Run your finger over the gums. Dry? Dehydrated!
   Dehydrated animals must be treated immediately with IV fluids.

The gastrointestinal tract consists, broadly speaking, of the small intestine and the large intestine. These two “sections” cause different symptoms when they are diseased. The small intestine breaks down food components and converts them into substances that can be absorbed into the bloodstream. To do this, the small intestine breaks down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates into their building blocks, using enzymes from pancreatic juice, bile salts from the gallbladder, stomach acid, and large amounts of water. A poorly functioning small intestine causes large volumes of watery diarrhea. The sick animal can usually hold it in, but once outside, the stool is expelled in a powerful stream. The odor is usually unbearable. The diarrhea consists of undigested food, namely fats and proteins. It is accompanied by significant fluid loss, and the animals can quickly become dehydrated. Small-intestine diarrhea is caused by eating contaminated (spoiled) food, viruses (parvo, coronavirus, canine distemper), coccidiosis, toxins, etc. Vomiting is very common prior to the onset of diarrhea. Very dark diarrhea often resembles tar, which is due to the presence of blood. If the animal is not vomiting, treatment consists of water, easily digestible food (if necessary, fast for 1 day first, drinking only water), and anti-diarrheal medication. The easily digestible diet consists of white rice, cooked chicken, crispbread, crackers, yogurt, buttermilk, weak tea, etc., and if preparing this is too difficult, you can obtain special easily digestible food through your veterinarian (Hill’s ID diet is a very good alternative!). After about three days, you can switch back to a normal diet.

The large intestine serves to temporarily store and thicken the waste products of the digestive process. Loss of this function (or these functions) leads to typical diarrhea. Inflammation of the large intestine (colitis) is accompanied by small amounts of stool, which are passed very frequently. The stools are small and often have a slimy “coating.” There may be flecks or streaks of bright red blood present. The animal is often unable to hold in the stool and frequently strains intensely to pass it, as if there were a blockage (similar to when they have eaten bones that are stuck in the rectum). This increased frequency of bowel movements accompanied by straining is typical of colitis and is not seen in small-bowel inflammation. Furthermore, this colitis-related diarrhea does not smell particularly bad, although it is certainly not a pleasant odor. Colitis is caused by allergic reactions, nervous reactions due to stress, (whip)worms, and certain toxins. It can also occur in cases of autoimmune diseases and tumors. Usually, blood in the stool is not a cause for major concern. Cats (usually long-haired) often have colitis with small amounts of blood in their stool, caused by hair in the intestinal contents. Colitis is often treated with fairly strong anti-inflammatory medications. Sometimes a diet high in crude fiber is sufficient, and sometimes the veterinarian prescribes medications to relieve severe cramping.

Bloody diarrhea can be caused by a problem in either the small intestine or the large intestine. Severe viral infections, such as parvovirus, or severe poisoning, can cause inflammation or irritation of the small intestine, leading to blood loss. More commonly, however, we see bloody inflammation of the large intestine, which is most frequently observed in toy breeds and can be very persistent. The stool looks like strawberry jam, containing blood and mucus. These animals must be treated by a veterinarian; home remedies such as Imodium will not solve the problem! It is accompanied by vomiting, straining during defecation, and eventually severe dehydration and shock. This condition is life-threatening, especially in toy poodles, toy schnauzers, dachshunds, etc.