Diarrhea - Its Serious Business

Diarrhea is not always life threatening, but it can become fatal if it's left untreated. It can start with just a simple tummy upset and soon lead to dehydration. Diarrhea is uncomfortable and can cause anxiety for any housebroken pet. Fortunately, treatment is easy and effective when treatment is started early.

When diarrhea hits, the irritated intestine struggles to absorb the fluid being lost, so dehydration is the number one concern. If it's left long term, diarrhea leads to weight loss, blood sugar depletion, circulatory collapse, and even death. Because the severity of diarrhea isn’t always apparent at first, immediate medical attention is important as soon as you see a problem.

What is Happening When Your Pet Gets Diarrhea:

In a typical diarrhea situation, bad bacteria starts to overpopulate and form colonies in the small intestine. The bacteria secretes harmful toxins that damage the lining of the gut. The cells of the villi recognize these invaders and respond by releasing fluid to flush out the bacteria. This causes loose stools, and the sudden loss of fluid dehydrates the animal. The intestine will also lose its flexibility, which disrupts its smooth pulsating movement. As a result, the intestine can thrash and cramp so vigorously that it ties itself in knots (volvulus) or folds in upon itself (intussusception). Both of these conditions can be fatal or require surgery to correct.

If the diarrhea continues, damaged tissue will be replaced with scar tissue. However, scar tissue has no ability to absorb valuable nutrients, which are especially important during diarrhea. Since so many nutrients are lost, this only leads to more diarrhea problems, further intestine damage, and chronic, lifelong diarrhea and colitis.

Treatment with Diagel and Probiotics:

Early treatment with surface protectants and good bacteria will resolve most diarrhea problems and restore your pet's intestinal comfort. DiaGel^® helps the body remove problem bacteria and toxins from the lining, allowing the intestine to heal quickly. One dose is all that is needed, resolving 90% of diarrhea cases in 12 hours. Diagel contains electrolytes, but additional electrolytes, such as Rebound^® OES, can be added to the water to speed recovery. Follow with a probiotic, like Probios^® or D.E.S. Health-Gard^™, to re-establish the good bacteria in the intestine and restore proper digestion.

The materials, information and answers provided through this website are not intended to replace the medical advice or services of a qualified veterinarian or other pet health care professional. Consult your own veterinarian for answers to specific medical questions, including diagnosis, treatment, therapy or medical attention.

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