Veterinarian Column: Understanding your pet's health through defecation

Monitoring your pet's defecation status every time allows you to notice small changes, leading to early detection of diseases and is suitable for managing your pet's health. The condition of your dog's stool is most influenced by the food it eats, but if there is an abnormality in frequency, amount, hardness, shape, color, etc. compared to normal stools, it may be a sign of illness.

■Defecation frequency/amount

The frequency of defecation varies between individuals. Some dogs only go for a walk once a day, while others do it three or four times a day. It is judged by comparing it with the daily frequency and whether it is abnormal.

The number of times increases

・Colonic diarrhea: When bacteria or parasites cause inflammation in the large intestine, resulting in diarrhea.

・Change in diet: If your digestion is not going well after changing your food.

quantity increases

・Food that is difficult to digest

・Diet food: Foods that give you a feeling of satiety but are low in calories, so they contain a lot of fiber and increase stool volume.

The number of times and amount decreases.

・Decreased appetite

・Constipation: If you do not defecate for several days, have a small amount of defecation, or have a feeling of incomplete defecation. Chronic constipation is more of a problem than temporary constipation.

Cause: Stenosis or obstruction (foreign body in the intestine, tumor, diverticulum, pelvic fracture, etc.)

Difficulty defecating due to pain (such as anal pain or spinal cord disease)

Environment (dirty toilet, moving, stress, etc.)

meal

Idiopathic megacolon ( cat )

■Hardness/shape

Normal stool consistency means that it won't crumble when you pick it up, and it won't leave any stains on your sheets. Loose stools that are a little softer than usual can occur if a changed diet doesn't suit you or if you drink too much water.

There are many possible causes of diarrhea. In addition to problems with the digestive system, diarrhea can also be caused by the thyroid, pancreas, liver, kidneys, and tumors.

・Acute diarrhea : Effects of food (allergy, inappropriate diet, bacterial food poisoning)

parasite

Infectious diseases (viruses, bacteria)

intussusception

poisonous substance

drug side effects

pancreatitis

Hypoadrenocorticism, etc.

・Chronic diarrhea : inflammatory bowel disease

tumor

exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

Hepatobiliary disease

hyperthyroidism

Foreign objects etc.

■Color

Red (bloody stool): Bleeding from the anus or large intestine (anal pouchitis, colitis, etc.)

Black (tarry stool): Bleeding from the stomach or duodenum

■Others

Jelly-like deposits: Inflammation of the large intestine (mucus and mucous membranes)

Foreign body: When hair, wood chips, stones, etc. come out of your stool, you have a foreign body habit. Be careful not to allow your pet to eat it.

Changes in stool are a sign that something is wrong. Checking your stool is an easy way to manage your health on a daily basis. When processing your stool, be sure to check it carefully.

If your dog has abnormal stools and goes to the veterinary hospital, please bring stool samples with you for a stool test. It is preferable that the stool you bring should be fresh and from the day of your consultation. An amount about the size of the tip of your little finger is enough.

The condition of your pet's stool is primarily influenced by its diet, so feed your pet an appropriate amount of high-quality food.