If your pet experiences symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation, it indicates a digestive system issue that needs attention. The best way to help is to identify and address the cause.
Common Causes Of Digestive Problems
Ingesting Hair: Cats often ingest hair while grooming. Excessive hair can form blockages in the intestines.
Food Allergies: Cats and dogs can have allergies or intolerances to certain foods, similar to humans. Common culprits include beef, lamb, chicken, eggs, dairy, soy, and grains.
Diet Changes: Altering your pet's diet can affect digestion or disrupt gut bacteria balance, even if they have no known food intolerances.
Dehydration: Insufficient water intake may cause constipation. Ensure your pet stays hydrated to prevent dry, hard stools.
Eating The Wrong Things: Pets sometimes eat inappropriate items. Dogs may consume spoiled food or swallow foreign objects, causing stomach upset or digestive tract trauma. Even cautious eaters like cats can ingest toxic plants, leading to gastrointestinal issues.
Lack of Exercise: Regular exercise is essential for stimulating the digestive system. Inactive pets may suffer from constipation.
Stress: Stress from new environments, changes in routine, or events like fireworks can cause gastrointestinal issues in pets.
Trauma: Dogs often chew and ingest non-food items, which can damage the digestive tract or cause blockages, resulting in vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Infections: Pets can contract bacterial infections (e.g., E. coli, salmonella) or viral infections (e.g., canine parvovirus) that lead to digestive problems.
Internal Parasites: Parasites like hookworm and roundworm can inhabit your pet's digestive system, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss. Over-the-counter medications can effectively treat these.
Polyps or Tumors: Digestive issues might signal serious health problems, such as polyps or tumors in the stomach or digestive tract. These can cause diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, and blood in the stools.
