Chronic GI Issues in Dogs: When Diagnostics Are Needed
Does your dog seem to suffer from a bout of the runs way more often than you feel is normal? There’s nothing fun about dog diarrhea, but it’s more than a nuisance for you and your fur-baby. Persistent stomach issues in dogs can point to digestive disorders and GI diseases that could benefit from treatment.
The team at Beverly Hills Veterinary Associates is here to help you figure out when an advanced GI workup is necessary for your pet.
What Do Persistent Stomach Issues Look Like in Dogs?
It’s normal for your dog to occasionally have a bout of diarrhea or vomiting after eating something they shouldn’t have, or when testing out a new food. But if your dog has chronic gastrointestinal symptoms, it’s time to head to the vet.
You can consider gastrointestinal symptoms as chronic if they continue for more than a week or two, or they go away and then come back over and over again.
In addition to vomiting and diarrhea that don’t seem to completely let up, keep an eye out for weight loss, increased tiredness, lots of gurgly noises from your pup’s tummy, and any reduction in appetite levels.
These symptoms can signal that something’s up with your pup’s belly. Conditions veterinarians frequently see include:
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Intestinal bacterial infections or parasites, including heartworm, which requires immediate treatment
- Food intolerances
- Cancer of the intestines
- Pancreatitis
- Other digestive disorders
As you can tell from the list above, the causes for digestive distress are many, and the severity ranges from moderate (food intolerances) to life-threatening (cancer).
If this seems to be a chronic issue, we suggest keeping a journal showing when and how often your dog experiences digestive distress (vomiting, diarrhea). Bring this to your appointment to help guide your veterinarian’s diagnostic process.
GI Disease Testing and Treatment for Dogs
A diagnosis involving chronic diarrhea or vomiting in dogs requires more than a basic exam. Your veterinary team will typically start with a thorough physical exam, along with stool testing and bloodwork, to see if the cause can be figured out that way.
Fecal testing can identify any parasites your dog may have. Specialized blood tests can show the presence of intestinal or pancreatic diseases. Further testing, including imaging (X-rays or ultrasound), may be needed if initial diagnostic tools don’t reveal the full picture.
Finally, in some cases, your dog may need an advanced GI workup specifically for pets. This can involve an endoscopy or an intestinal biopsy to help diagnose inflammatory bowel disease or intestinal cancer.
Your vet may also recommend a food elimination diet if a food intolerance is the suspected culprit.
From there, treatment will depend on what’s causing the digestive distress. Some dogs may need parasite treatment or a prescription diet. Others might need long-term medication or cancer treatment.
The good news is that when serious conditions are caught early, your pet has a better chance of a successful outcome. So, if your dog is experiencing persistent stomach issues, don’t ignore them.
Our skilled team at Beverly Hills Veterinary Associates is here to help. Call us at (248) 646-5655 to schedule a diagnostic appointment for your precious pup today.