Intestinal disorders are dominated by enteritis. Enteritis is a rather severe inflammation of the intestinal lining that has various origins: infectious agents, unsuitable food, parasites, foreign objects, etc. Depending on the length of evolution, it can either be chronic or acute. The symptoms are extremely variable, ranging from constipation to diarrhea, hyperthermia and exhaustion. Sometimes it is associated with a gastric disorder and is then referred to as gastroenteritis. Because of the metabolic disorder it entails, it can lead to severe dehydration, which is sometimes lethal for weaker animals.
Intestinal occlusions or obstructions are among the cases that require surgery the most. They are generally caused by ingesting foreign objects such as pieces of string or plastic toys.
Special attention must be paid to intestinal parasites. Dogs may be infested by round worms (Ascaris, Trichuris, Ankylostoma) and/or flat worms (Taenia, Dipylidium, Echinococcus). They ingest worms either as they are digging up ground or through the intermediary of carrier insects such as fleas. These parasites cause weight loss, vomiting and diarrhea. The dog shows his pain by dragging his hindquarters on the ground in what is called "the dragnet sign". Animals of all ages can be infected but puppies seem to have the highest risk. The infection can also be transmitted from dogs to humans. A de-worming regime needs to be established each year with the veterinarian.
Chronic colonitis is a chronic inflammation that occurs in the large intestine or the colon. Again, the origins are diverse: food or allergy-related, parasitic or metabolic, inflammatory or simply unknown. It is characterized by mucous-like feces, pain during defecation and rather severe episodes of diarrhea.
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