Vomiting and Diarrhea
Vomiting and diarrhea are commonly occurring problems in veterinary medicine. The generally descriptive diagnosis for these symptoms is gastroenteritis. There are many underlying illnesses that can cause one or both of these problems in our pets. It is important to have your pet examined by a veterinarian to determine the cause of your pet's symptoms.
A few of the more common conditions causing vomiting and diarrhea are:
- Internal Parasites -- roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and various one-celled parasites are commonly observed problems, especially in young patients.
- Dietary indiscretion -- an abrupt change in food brands, changing from dry to canned or semi-moist diets, rich "people food" treats, rawhide chews or pigs ears, raiding trash cans or garbage, swallowing toys or other foreign objects, and overgrooming leading to excessive hair consumption. All of these examples can lead to severe gastrointestinal disease.
- Inflammatory Disease -- gastritis, enteritis, colitis, pancreatitis, and hepatitis. Many abdominal organs may have spontaneous or inherited inflammatory conditions. These conditions may also be caused by infection.
- Infectious Disease -- viruses such as retrovirus, coronavirus, parvovirus, distemper. Bacteria such as salmonella, staph, and camphylobacter.
- Aging and Neoplastic Diseases -- kidney, heart, or liver failure. Cancers of different abdominal organs.
- Detailed history (description) of the illness.
- Complete physical examination.
- Laboratory -- fecal examinations, fecal cultures, blood tests, urinalysis.
- Flexible endoscopy -- upper and/or lower gastrointestinal exam and biopsy
- X-rays -- plain or with special dye studies.
- Exploratory surgery and biopsy (tissue sample)
Diagnosis
Identifying that your pet is suffering from vomiting and/or diarrhea is easy, however, finding the underlying cause or causes of these symptoms can sometimes be very difficult. It is important to find the disease causing the problem, if possible, to aid in determining the correct treatment for the illness. Diagnostic aids frequently used include:
Treatment
Diagnosis of a specific disease can be very helpful in allowing specific treatment, for example, deworming parasitized patients, or surgically removing an obstructing foreign object from the stomach or intestine.
It is important to call your veterinarian soon after your pet shows symptoms of vomiting or diarrhea, especially if you suspect that your pet has ingested a foreign object or a toxic substance. Early diagnosis and treatment can often reduce the severity of your pet's illness and produce a quicker recovery.
Until you can consult with your veterinarian, you should not give your pet food and water, especially if your pet has been vomiting. Giving food and water to a nauseous pet will often stimulate more vomiting and produce dehydration. Encourage your pet to rest and avoid strenuous activity since exercise often worsens symptoms. Avoid giving over the counter medications unless directed by your veterinarian to do so.
