My pet has diarrhoea, is it a problem ?

19 December 2022

Diarrhoea is defined as an increase in the frequency and/or volume of stools. The stools are usually soft or even liquid.

My pet has just reported diarrhoea.

Don’t panic. Initially, as long as your four-legged friend’s general state of health has not deteriorated, it is not necessarily necessary to make an emergency appointment with your vet. Offering highly digestible foods – such as rice, chicken breast, and cooked carrots or courgettes – should help. Make sure he’s well hydrated, especially if he’s a kitten or puppy. Finally, consider supplements with adsorbent and absorbent ingredients. Activated charcoal, carob and bilberry should soothe your pet’s digestive tract, and help to restore its transit.

Most diarrhoea is described as acute: it passes within a few hours or days. They can occur as a result of :

Ingestion of toxic or spoiled food or inappropriate food,
A change of diet that is too sudden,
An infection – viral or bacterial,
Infestation by parasites.

If in doubt, if other symptoms appear, or if the general condition is deteriorated, contact your veterinarian.

My pet’s diarrhoea has not gone away

A diarrhoea is qualified as chronic if it lasts more than 10 days in a cat, and 3 weeks in a dog. In this case, the causes are also varied. It can be caused by :

Food – allergy or intolerance,
Infections – bacterial proliferation and flora drift, or chronic viral infection,
Parasites
Immune system problems
Pancreatic disease – exocrine pancreatic insufficiency or pancreatitis
Hepatic (liver) disease
Tumours or cancer of the intestines

Finally, chronic diarrhoea can also be caused by an extra-digestive problem: this can be due to renal insufficiency, for example.

In this case, it is essential to check with your veterinarian. After a rigorous clinical examination, your vet will consider additional tests to find the cause. Blood tests, stool analysis, abdominal ultrasound, etc. Your veterinarian will prescribe the most appropriate tests according to his or her clinical theory.

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The importance of diet for skin and coat quality in dogs and cats

The skin is the body's largest organ, representing between 12% and 24% of the animal's weight, and its surface area in a dog weighing around thirty kilograms is close to one square meter. It's hardly surprising, then, that the quality and quantity of the dog's diet can have an impact on this organ, and in the event of a deficiency can lead to problems that go far beyond a simple visual appearance.

Key nutrients for healthy skin and coat

Among the macro-nutrients, proteins play a crucial role. They provide amino acids, including sulphur amino acids, which are essential for the structure of the skin and coat. These are the main components of collagen, which gives the skin its suppleness and resistance, and of keratin, which plays a part in the effectiveness of the skin barrier. Lipids are also important; they make up the bulk of cell membranes and, in the skin, contribute significantly to the effectiveness of the cutaneous barrier. Among lipids, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids help maintain healthy skin, modulate inflammatory mechanisms and promote a shiny, soft coat. Vitamins and minerals are also involved. Vitamin A is necessary for cell renewal, as is vitamin D, which also plays a part in the skin's natural defences. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant, while B vitamins and biotin are essential co-factors in the synthesis of various skin elements such as ceramides, keratin and collagen. Among the minerals, zinc is involved in synthesis, protection against free radicals and immune defence mechanisms.

Disorders linked to inadequate nutrition

Inadequate or poor-quality food can lead to skin problems in our pets. A deficiency in essential fatty acids leads to dry, flaky skin, a dull coat and brittle hair. When it's the vitamins and minerals that are in short supply, synthesis is affected, the skin barrier can be less effective and the breeding ground for infections and inflammations that can lead to itching. On the other hand, these nutritional benefits can be used to compensate for individual sensitivities and improve the quality of the skin and coat in the event of dermatological disorders or diseases.

Conclusion

The quality of a dog's skin and the beauty of its coat are directly influenced by the quality of its diet. However, some dogs and cats have increased needs, and it is therefore necessary to provide them with greater quantities of useful nutrients. This is particularly true in the case of certain dermatological disorders, to help compensate for imbalances and accompany the medical treatments prescribed by your vet.