The gastrointestinal system is like the engine of a car – it processes the “fuel” (food) and makes the “car” (dog) go. If your canine’s GI system isn’t running properly, they’re at risk of “stalling”.
Canine gastrointestinal (GI) disorders affect the stomach and intestines, and can prevent your dog from benefiting from food. Your dog might show signs of malnutrition, even if he/she has a healthy appetite while suffering this disease. GI disease can be very common, especially in certain larger breeds (Collies, Retrievers, Shepherds and Great Danes).
As there are many types of gastrointestinal diseases, and numerous causes, GI disorders are often mistaken for other health issues. Dog owners can be very receptive to their dog’s changes in behavior, but it is tough to know what is going on inside your dog with their inability to articulate their internal irritation and pain. Understanding the types of GI diseases and the major signs is the first step to helping to prevent them.
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Types of Gastrointestinal Diseases in Dogs
In terms of gastrointestinal diseases, there are a number of factors that determine the likelihood of your dog developing this disorder. Age, weight, diet, and breed can have an effect on your dog’s susceptibility to GI diseases. The most common causes of gastrointestinal diseases:
- Infection
- Foreign Objects in GI tract (plastic, garbage, dog toys)
- Bacteria, parasites or fungi (from ingesting feces, mold or organic material)
- Allergies
- Stress/anxiety
There are seven major types of gastrointestinal diseases in dogs:
Small Intestine Malabsorption: occurs when the small intestine becomes inflamed, making it difficult for your dog to absorb nutrients.
Diarrhea: a very common affliction, feces becomes watery and loose due to infection, an imbalance of bacteria, anxiety, or changes in diet.
Constipation: is also common, usually brought on by pain & inflammation in the GI tract, dehydration or blockages (i.e. plastic)
Colitis: can be chronic or acute, involves inflammation in the colon. Colitis causes painful bowel movements or diarrhea, usually caused by parasites, allergies or reaction to foreign objects in the GI tract.
Gastroenteritis: typically short-term, but causes intense pain/discomfort in the stomach and intestines. Gatroenteritis is caused by ingestion of spoiled food, parasites from outdoor environment, ingestion of poisonous vegetation, or food-borne allergies.
Pancreatitis: occurs when the pancreas becomes infected or inflamed, due to eating foods high in fat, trauma to the pancreas-area or in conjunction with other pancreatic diseases.
Pancreatic Insufficiency: affects the body’s ability to break down food, due to a lack of enzymes. Weight loss, changes in appetite and large amounts of feces are typical of this GI disease.
Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Dogs
For many dog owners, picking up the “dog poo” is one of the most unpleasant chores of the entire week. As unseemly as it may seem to some, this activity can actually be very helpful in diagnosing and treating your dog’s gastrointestinal conditions. Monitoring your canine’s bowel movements is important – also gross, smelly and can ruin anyone’s appetite, but necessary all-the-same.
Diarrhea and soft stool are the most common signs of issues in the GI tract, but there’s more symptoms to gastrointestinal disease:
- Weight loss
- Lethargy
- Frailty
- Change in appetite (increase and/or decrease)
- Excess gas, bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Blood in feces or vomit
- Vomiting
REMEMBER! What your dog is eating, how much and when are very important factors to consider for GI health, but so it hydration. Dehydration can be a cause and a symptom of gastrointestinal imbalances, so ensure your dog is drinking a healthy amount of water every day to help minimize the severity and frequency of GI disease.
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CBD for Gastrointestinal Disorders in Dogs
CBD – or Cannabidiol – is a very popular remedy for many of your dog’s gastrointestinal symptoms. CBD oil, in particular, has become a go-to for many pet owners whose canines suffer from bouts of discomfort, pain, inflammation, nausea or loss of appetite.
Cannabidiol has been growing in popularity throughout the previous decade. Many people and their pets continue to rely on its remedial properties for a growing number of ailments, such as insomnia, lethargy, anxiety, arthritis and much more. Today, gastrointestinal conditions brought on by poor diets, allergies or the effects of old age are very common across multiple dog breeds/ages. Gastrointestinal diseases, infections and both short- and long-term conditions can be difficult to treat. While there are a number of medical procedures or treatments that can alleviate symptoms of GI issues in your dog, many pet owners struggle to maintain their dog’s quality of life with these kinds of conditions.
Thankfully, CBD has shown an aptitude for soothing a lot of your dog’s GI symptoms. For starters, Cannabidiol is great as an anti-inflammatory – one of the leading symptoms that causes discomfort, pain or bloating in dogs. Secondly, CBD is an excellent natural pain-reliever that can be ingested throughout the day supplementally, or taken for on-demand pain relief when your dog needs it most. Thirdly, CBD oil and dog treats can help to reinvigorate your dog’s appetite whenever they’re experiences periods of low energy, nausea or stomach pains.
How can CBD oil and dog treats help your dog with their GI issues? CBD can help your dog by producing anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, antipsychotic, antispasmodic and analgesic effects indirectly – that is, CBD interacts with your dog’s ECS (Endocannabinoid System). CBD is safe to take throughout the day because it does not have any psychoactive properties like its cannabinoid cousin, THC.
As you can see by the scope of ailments that are affected by CBD, it is clear how introducing CBD into your dog’s routine can benefit their gastrointestinal health. Try CBD oil or dog treats for your dog’s gastrointestinal disorders and help them to feel relief from the pain, swelling, bloating, gas and cramping of GI issues in dogs.
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