Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases are the most common medical condition in dogs. This is because some owners are careless about what and how they feed their pets. They think that feeding their pets their own table food will keep them well-fed and healthy. However, this is a misconception, as salt, spices, and many other table foods are toxic to dogs.
What can improper feeding lead to? Gastritis, enteritis, duodenitis, and, as a result, diabetes and excess weight. Feeding tubular bones can cause intestinal obstruction or even perforation (rupture). Constipation and diarrhea are also common, as they can occur when something ends up in the pet's bowl that it doesn't actually need. There are also many infectious gastrointestinal diseases in dogs. Consider distemper, parvovirus enteritis, and infectious hepatitis. But there are vaccinations that can protect your pet. Just don't forget about booster shots. What else can harm the gastrointestinal tract? Helminths. They not only "steal" nutrients from dogs but also damage the intestinal lining (the parasites have hooks or suckers on their heads). If there are too many of them, they can form a ball, thereby blocking the intestinal lumen. Don't forget about such an important digestive organ as the liver. If something is wrong with it, health problems are sure to arise, and not just with the gastrointestinal tract. Hepatitis and cirrhosis are no joke. Recovering from liver damage is not easy. But a dog cannot live with a sick liver either. After all, the liver is involved in more than just digestion; it has a huge number of functions. You can notice something amiss by examining the skin, mucous membranes, and the whites of your pet's eyes. If they begin to turn yellow, you should consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.
