Five Common Causes of Canine Diarrhea

There are many different diseases and conditions that can cause canine diarrhea.  It isn’t a disease unto itself, but simply a symptom of an underlying problem.  If left untreated, diarrhea can lead to dehydration and eventually death.  Let’s take a look at some of the things that can cause it.

Food

Food is one of the main ways that your dog can develop diarrhea.  It can occur because of a sudden change in diet or just eating too much table food.  The good news is that diarrhea caused by food can usually be resolved within a day.  You simply have to allow your dog’s digestive system to settle down for a day by withholding food but giving plenty of water.

Worms

An infection by roundworms or hookworms can also lead to a bout of canine diarrhea.  Roundworms are intestinal parasites that usually infect puppies.  In addition to diarrhea, your dog will also have vomiting, poor growth, dull hair, and a pot-belly.  If not treated, roundworms can cause an intestinal obstruction, pneumonia, or even death.

Hookworms affect dogs of any age.  When fully mature, these parasites attach to the lining of your dog’s intestinal tract and feed on blood.  They can also infect puppies before they are even born.  These parasites cause a range of other symptoms such as weakness, bloody diarrhea, and severe anemia due to their feeding on the blood supply.

Parvovirus

One of the next causes of canine diarrhea is parvovirus, a virus that usually affects younger dogs.  The virus damages the intestinal lining so your dog’s body can’t absorb liquids and nutrients.  This disease is often fatal.  It causes severe dehydration, bloody stool, and bad breath.  Adult dogs are rarely affected thanks to vaccination.

Distemper

Distemper can also lead to diarrhea in dogs.  This is an extremely serious disease that is highly contagious.  The virus attacks the upper respiratory tract, intestinal tract, and brain.  When the intestinal tract is affect, your dog will experience vomiting, dark diarrhea, coughing, and green discharge from the nose.  The brain is affected in the final stages which leads to seizures.  In the rare case where the dog survives, he will be prone to various nervous system disorders such as seizures.

Giardia

Giardia is also an intestinal parasite that can cause diarrhea.  Dogs can be infected with this parasite through contaminated water, food, or soil.  Giardia can also be transmitted via direct contact.  Many dogs that are infected won’t show any symptoms.  However, the main symptom if diarrhea which can range from mild to severe.

About the Author

These are some of the most common causes of canine diarrhea. There are many other dog illnesses that can affect your beloved pet. So, stop by dog-illnesses.com today to learn about some of these diseases like canine pancreatitis.

I ate something which i shouldn’t have and now I have Diarrhea. How do I get rid of it?

I had really bad breath, and I found a mint in my car, it had been there for about 3 weeks, and I ate it (I know I shouldn’t have). That was about 2 and a half hours ago and I have had diarrhea for the past half hour. How much longer will it last? Will there be anything else (such as throwing up)? and is there anyway to get rid of it as I have work in about 6 hours and I cannot afford to take the shift off.

A small cup of yogurt with fenugreek can relieve you temporarily….

The Latest Bad News about Prescription Drugs

A number of “dangerous drugs” have been in the news recently.  These reports started to surface when Congress was having hearings about the painkiller, Vioxx.  A Food and Drug Administration staff member testified in front of Congress that there are safety concerns about several medications.  These medications are Accutane, Arava, Bextra, Celebrex, Crestor, Lotronex, Meridia, and Serevent.   
When you put the problems in perspective, the number of problems related to these medications is incredibly small compared to the number of people who took the drugs.  If five million people have taken the medication and one has had a serious side effect, that’s one in a five million, or 0.00002%.  The chances are not that great, but the chance is there.

The following is a quick summary of what the FDA believes are some of the concerns with these medications.

Accutane
This medication is very effective for severe acne.  It is also well-known that Accutane causes serious birth defects.  Because of this, the manufacturer has set guidelines for its dispensing.  If the patient is female, she must have a negative pregnancy test EVERY month before the doctor writes the prescription.  It then must be filled within seven days.  The patient must also go back to the doctor every month for a new prescription.  Women who take Accutane and are sexually active should two forms of birth control and not become pregnant for at least a month after stopping the medication.

The problems arise when women take Accutane from a friend or get it from another country.  They are then not being monitored by a doctor and may not know the dangers of pregnancy.

Another topic surrounding Accutane is the reported increase in suicide rates.  It has been stated that Accutane makes some patients feel depressed or irritable.  This is where friends and family can step in and discuss these problems with the patient.  If someone is feeling depressed or has thoughts of suicide while on Accutane, please tell them to let their doctor know right away.

Arava
Arava is used for treating severe rheumatoid arthritis.  During the last several years, reports of serious lung or liver problems have arisen in patients taking this medication.  Patients on Arava are required to get frequent liver function tests to detect any problems before they get serious.  Virtually every time, liver failure occurs gradually over a long period of time.  By testing frequently, these problems can be detected early and can be fixed.  The signs of liver problems include: nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, dark urine, pale stools, and yellowish eyes or skin.

The signs of lung problems include fever above 101°, chills, sore throat, ear pain, cough, nose pain, or colored sputum.  If you are taking Arava and have any of these symptoms, contact your doctor.

Celebrex
This medication is used primarily for mild to moderate pain.  It works in the same way that Vioxx did before it was taken off the market.  Experts are therefore concerned that Celebrex can lead to the same increased chance of stroke of other heart problems.  

The cardiovascular risk is extremely low, but the risk is there.  Because of this, those who have heart problems may want to avoid Celebrex.  If you are currently taking Celebrex, contact your doctor about your concerns.  Often times, regular anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen or naproxen work quite well.  

Crestor
Crestor is in the drug class statins and is used to lower cholesterol.  Some consumer advocates say it should be taken off the market because of the chance for kidney and liver problems.  These problems are rare and the risk is minimized by using lower doses and by periodically checking kidney and liver function.  Anyone taking Crestor should call their doctor if they experience muscle pain or weakness, nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, dark urine, pain when urinating, pale stools, or yellow-looking eyes or skin.  These are the signs of liver or kidney problems.

Lotronex
Lotronex is used for women with Irritable Bowel Syndrome who have frequent diarrhea and have failed to get better on other treatments.  Reports have been in the news because about 0.1% of women who take Lotronex may get sever constipation.  It can also cause ischemic colitis, caused by low blood flow to parts of the gut.  This may occur in about 0.29% of women who take Lotronex more than six months.  If you feel the risks outweigh the rewards, there are other medications for diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome that don’t have these effects.

Meridia
Meridia is used for weight loss, but it can increase blood pressure and heart rate.  There are reports of stroke and heart attack in patients taking Meridia, but these may not be caused by the drug.  Since many overweight people already have high blood pressure or heart disease, it may not be he drug causing the problems.  Patients taking Meridia should check their blood pressure and heart rate at least weekly and report any sustained increases to their physician.

Serevent
Serevent is a long acting bronchodilator used to prevent airway constriction in patients with asthma.  It may lead to an increased risk of asthma worsening, especially when the medicine is not used properly.  Serevent should not be used for emergency breathing difficulties.  The fast acting inhaler, albuterol, should be used for these emergencies.  Serevent should always be used with another inhaler that controls inflammation, such as an inhaled steroid.

Like winning the lottery or getting struck by lightning, rare side effects do occur, but your chances are slim of getting one.  Realize that millions of people throughout the world take these medications.  Some people are simply predisposed to certain problems.  The news media loves to blow these stories out of proportion.

Every medication has potential side effects.  Your doctor should know the possible side effects and can weigh the benefit of your medication against their risks.  Be sure to ask any questions you have when a drug is prescribed by your doctor or dispensed by your pharmacist.  Always follow the medication instructions and never share medications with anyone.  If you are hesitant to take a certain drug, by all means, let your doctor know.  There are a number of different medications that can also help you.

About the Author

Learn about pimples on scalp and pimples on thighs at the Pimple Marks site.

Broken Teeth, Bad Dentures Can Irritate the Tongue

Tongue-tied by your doctor’s diagnosis of glossitis? Cheer up. It’s may not be as bad as you think. To be sure, see a doctor if the problem persists.

Glossitis is the medical term for tongue inflammation and it may be short-lived or a recurring condition. It has many forms and produces a variety of symptoms which affect the color and texture of the tongue.

The acute form may be caused by a local infection, bum, or injury. The tongue becomes swollen and tender and the person may find it difficult to swallow and speak. In severe eases, the tongue is so swollen that it interferes with breathing. This is a medical emergency which requires immediate attention.

“Severe acute glossitis, which can result from local infection, burns and injury, can cause tenderness, pain and swelling to make the tongue protrude from the mouth into the back of the throat – creating the danger of airway obstruction and even suffocation. In severe cases, the patient may not be able to chew, swallow, or speak,” according to the editors of Consumer Guide’s “Family Health & Medical Guide.”

In others, glossitis may result from irritants such as jagged or broken teeth, poor-filling dentures, poor oral hygiene or the habit of biting the tongue. The tongue may also be irritated by alcohol, tobacco, hot spicy food, mouthwashes, toothpastes, breath fresheners and certain drugs.

Poor nutrition is another cause of glossitis. Vitamin B deficiencies can lead to a sore or cracked tongue and the development of mouth ulcers. In pellagra, which is caused by lack of niacin, the mouth and tongue are sore and the person may experience indigestion, vomiting and diarrhea.

Pernicious anemia, which is caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency, is characterized by a pale, sore tongue and bleeding gums. Iron-deficiency anemia, on the other hand, can also produce a sore tongue and abdominal discomfort. These conditions are easily recognizable by their symptoms.

“Symptoms vary widely, ranging from simple redness of the tip and edge of the tongue (if the cause is pellagra, anemia, or irritation from smoking or a tooth with a rough surface) to painful ulcers and whitish patches. In the later stage of pellagra, the entire tongue may be fiery red, swollen and ulcerated. In iron deficiency and pernicious anemia, the tongue is pale and smooth. Painful ulcers on the tongue may indicate a number of diseases, including herpes, tuberculosis and streptococcal infection,” said Consumer Guide.

Fortunately, most cases of glossitis are minor and respond well to simple preventive measures such as avoiding alcohol, tobacco and other known irritants. Avoid the things that make your problem worse. If the problem persists or recurs from time to time, a biopsy or tissue sample may be required to rule out other possible conditions.

“In treating glossitis, specific causes, such as jagged teeth and ill-fitting dentures, should be corrected. Irritants including hot or spicy foods, tobacco and alcohol, should be avoided if they are the source of the trouble. A bland or liquid diet, preferably cool or cold may have a soothing effect. Good oral hygiene is necessary in all cases,” said the editors of Consumer Guide.

“Symptomatic relief of large lesions includes rinsing the mouth with a medicated mouthwash before meals. Topical anesthetics, such as lidocaine and benzocaine, can also bring relief. Patients experiencing painful burning should be tested to rule out vitamin B12 deficiency, diabetes and anemia,” they concluded.

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About the Author

Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine http://www.HealthLinesNews.com.

possibly hiv symptoms?

I developed symptoms about a month after being with a girl and the condom broke.. that was about 7 months ago. Ever since then I’ve had stomach problems.. nausea, diarrhea, bad breath, abdominal pain and belching. Could this be HIV? I was tested for Hepatitis and it was negative.

HIV has no symptoms. The only way to see if you have HIV is to go to your doctor or public health center and be tested. If the girl is known to have HIV you should be tested as soon as possible, again at 6 weeks, and then again at 6 months. This is because the viral load may not be detectable until much later after your exposure. You need to go to your doctor or public health council and be tested ASAP because it is possible to spread STDs to others.