When Shih Tzu has diarrhea, it is always very troubling for both the dog and his owner. Diarrhea can lead to dehydration and pave the way for other health issues. In this case the questions that need to be answered at are the following:
- how to differ normal stool from bowel;
- what causes this;
- how to treat it.
Defining the Issue
Diarrhea is, by definition, a digestion problem that
- makes feces to turn from being slightly soft and solid to being loose, watery and/or liquid;
- makes defecations more frequent;
- increase volume of stool.
What Can Cause this
Allergy (food intolerance). Quite often this dog breed arise and such problems. Sometimes Shih Tzu’s immune system overreacts to some product that is supposed to fit well for any dog, such as
- fish;
- eggs;
- beef;
- chicken.
Besides, maybe your dog is allergic to salt, soy or wheat. Notice that allergy, besides of diarrhea, has many other symptoms, typical for any allergy. If diarrhea and vomiting is accompanied with:
- itching;
- sneezing;
- rush;
- dry skin/coat;
- etc, this is probably it.
Diet imbalance. Stools shouldn’t be too dry or too wet (lose) or light in color. If the volume is too small, it means that the dog may not gain enough fiber or volume in his food.
Overeating.
Parasites. Dogs may suffer from the presence of:
- giardia (giardiasis);
- whipworms (trichuriasis);
- hookworms (ancylostomiasis);
- tapeworm (cestodiases);
- roundworms (ascariasis);
- heartworms (dirofilariasis).
And other pathogenic organisms. Your dog may ingest some of these worms if he eats other dogs’ feces, so you should stop your Shih Tzu if he tries to taste feces or puddle water.
Except from watery diarrhea and vomiting, mucus and/or blood in feces (black or red feces color) is also a sign of parasites invasion. Remember that some dog may be a host of a worm without having any symptoms, so his owner may never know that his dog’s poops are extremely dangerous for others.
Poisoning. It is not uncommon for dog to dig in trash, run across carrion and eat it. Carrion contains ptomaine (cadaveric poison) and bacteria because of which your dog will throw up. Some indigestible grass, plants and more can also be eaten by your dog and result in diarrhea.
If the feces are yellow or green, this may be an indicator of trigger ingestion. Foamy stool is a sign of bacterial contamination.
Never let your little friend become a scavenger to secure him against of food poisoning. Moreover, there are a few products which are toxic and strictly forbidden for Shih Tzu to consume, those are:
- avocados;
- alcohol;
- onions and garlic;
- coffee, tea, and other caffeine;
- grapes and raisins;
- milk and other dairy products;
- nuts (especially macadamia).
Unfortunately, allergy is incurable. Just don’t give your dog a particular product.
Stress. Psychological reasons should not be cast out as well. Shih Tzus are normally can travel for 3 days maximum, since they are get accustomed to their homes badly, they are terrible stay-at-homes, otherwise they may start feeling sick.
In Which Cases at Home Treatment is Not an Option
If your dog:
- suffers from diarrhea for more than 24 hours;
- has signs of parasite invasion (blood and mucus in feces, vomiting);
- appears too weak;
- has fever.
you had better visit a vet. Those are not the problems you can solve without proper medical help.
How to Treat Diarrhea at Home
First of all, mind his diet to avoid nutritional imbalance. It is essential to feed the dog with good quality food, without too much treats or fats and soft foods. If the feces is dry or too wet (lose) or light in color, it means that you feed your Shih Tzu too much canned food and add more rich ingredients in the ration. Whereas the dog is in dare need of kibble. If you cook, add a special supplement for dogs, balancing the minerals and vitamins. Make sure your dog consume enough, fiber, volume, pro-biotic, fatty acids and enzymes (from fresh food).
If diarrhea is a result of simple indigestion caused by overeating, a simple solution is giving him an apple pectin capsule or two. If this doesn’t work, use Pepto Bismol or Kaopectate. A typical Tzu puppy requires about 1 to 1/5 teaspoons and an adult dog would need just about 2 teaspoons.
Besides, a child’s dose of immodium can serve as a remedy.
As for products capable of fighting the problem, white rice is good calming agent for a digestive disturbance. Some hard cheese, like cheddar, (not processed cheese) is a known “binder” and can be used to slow down a case of loose stools.
If the reason is stress, do all you can to help keep your little friend feeling stress free, safe and secure. Decrease play time and refrain from any walks until your Tzu is feeling ok. Please, do not travel with your dog in tow, but if you have to, try not to go for long distances at once.
Wish your beloved Shih Tzu was always healthy and never suffered from any diseases, always felt comfortable and happy. Hope that this guide will be helpful in solving health issues of your little friend.
