| Ask The Vet -
Q&A |
Question
My 7 year old sheppard collie mix has recently begun to
pant a lot and gestures as if she needs to have a bowel movement.
She is having bowel movements as she normally has in the past but
it is as if she constantly needs to go. She has been treated for
worms and I have not seen anything unusual in her faeces.
Bruce Laws - Wisconsin |
Answering questions:
Susie Samuel MA VetMB MRCVS from
Vet
Help Direct |
| Answer |
Hi Bruce,
It is good news that your dog’s faeces look normal at the
moment, but increased frequency of needing to pass a bowel movement
is not normal. You need to take her to the vets as soon as possible
for an examination.
Before
you go to the vets have a good think back over the last few months:
Has she been drinking more than usual? Has she been sick? Has she
lost any weight? What have you been feeding her? Make a note of
the name of the the wormer that you admininstered and when you gave
it to her. These are all things that the vet may need to know.
The
vet may need to perform a rectal examination. Anything causing soreness
in the rectum makes dogs feel as though they constantly need to
go to the toilet. Mild colitis can also make a dog feel as though
they need to have a bowel movement. Inflammation in the last part
of the guts or large intestines causes the symptoms of colitis;
increased frequency, straining and, in more severe cases, blood
and mucous in the faeces. Inflammation in the first part of the
guts, or small intestines, generally causes runny diarrhoea.
Until
you get an appointment with your vet you should feed your dog bland
food. Bland food is low in fat and low in fibre; good choices are
boiled chicken or white fish poached in water (no skin or bones)
with boiled white rice. Food should be offered little and often
and as usual you should make sure that clean, fresh water is always
freely available.
Kind regards,
Susie Samuel MA VetMB MRCVS www.vethelpdirect.com |
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