Have you ever worried your dog might be constipated but didn’t really know what to do about it? It’s not the most common issue dogs have, but it definitely happens from time to time. It’s usually easy to recognize when your dog has diarrhea, but it can be a bit more difficult to notice constipation in your dog. Don’t worry though - we’re here to help! What is constipation? Constipation in dogs can be described as difficulty passing stool or the inability to pass stool. While constipation is usually easy to reverse, there may be situations where it can indicate a more severe problem. Signs of Constipation in Dogs1,2 Some common signs of constipation in dogs include: Straining to pass...
You might not even realize it, but your dog could have giardia! Sorry to break it to you, but even if your dog’s poo is normal, they can still have an intestinal parasite. Giardia in dogs is especially well-known for this - so let’s take a deep dive into giardia! What is Giardia? Giardia is the most common intestinal parasite in dogs and is even more prevalent in puppies. For example, between 0.44% and 39% of shelter dogs have positive giardia test results.1 A recent study also found that over 70% of dog parks tested positive for giardia! It's difficult to know if your dog has giardia because it's not a worm, so it's not visible to the human eye....
Every dog will have diarrhea at some point in their life. Diarrhea refers to passing very watery or soft stools and is one of the most common clinical signs presented to a veterinarian. It can occur for many simple reasons, such as a stressful event or giving too many treats. But there can also be more complex issues that can lead to diarrhea, like infections, foreign objects or certain illnesses. Below is a list of the various causes of diarrhea in dogs:1,2 Cause of diarrhea Description Dietary indiscretion Dogs may get an upset stomach from something they’ve recently eaten. This can be a new food or related to eating something they shouldn’t have, like garbage or spoiled food. Change in...
As a quick refresher from our earlier blog post, the microbiome is the ecosystem of bacteria and other microorganisms living on or inside an animal, and in this case, our dogs. There can be many microbiomes in a single animal, including the gut, skin, and mouth. Both humans and dogs have microbiome communities like this! The microbiome is extremely complex, and the source of both emerging and ongoing research. Every dog has a gut microbiome that is unique to them. Your dog’s age, breed, weight, exercise levels, genetics, antibiotics taken, and more, can affect what their microbiome is made up of. As you may suspect, diet also has a significant impact on the constituents of your dog’s microbiome. In this article we will...
Your dog’s digestive tract is a mini-world full of biodiversity, with good bugs and not-so-good bugs constantly in a battle for balance. From puppyhood to the golden years, your dog’s gut microbiome has been uniquely influenced by the world around it – diet, environment, and experiences - and plays a huge role in their overall health.1 Approximately 70% of your dog’s immune system lives in their gut, which is one of the main reasons why it’s important for your dog’s microbiome to be balanced. When the microbiome is off balance, our dogs are more susceptible for immune dysfunction like diarrhea, allergies, and obesity.1,2 The immune system is impacted by the relationship between the intestinal microbiota and the dog’s mucosa (GI...
