Digestive System

 The anal sacs (also known as anal glands) rest on either side of the anus in the 4 and 8 o’clock positions. All dogs and cats have these scent glands that normally empty their secretions during defecation. Anal sac disease develops when the sacs cannot empty normally, such as with obesity, skin inflammation from allergies, loose stools/diarrhea, and tumors. Symptoms of anal sac disease (ASD) include scooting, excessive licking, pain, swelling, and/or foul-smelling discharge from the anal sacs. 

The anal sacs rest on either side of the anus in the 4 and 8 o’clock positions. All dogs and cats have these scent glands that normally empty their secretions during defecation. Symptoms of anal sac disease (ASD) include scooting, excessive licking, pain, swelling, and/or foul-smelling discharge from the anal sacs. Anal sac disease develops when the sacs cannot empty normally, such as with obesity, skin inflammation from allergies, loose stools/diarrhea, and tumors. The degree of ASD varies from mild impaction with thickened secretions to severe infections that breakthrough the skin around the anus. To treat ASD, the sacs are manually expressed followed by flushing of the sacs to clear excess debris and infection. Some pets may benefit from dietary changes, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatories. Investigating and treating for an underlying cause limits the recurrence of ASD. In pets with chronic inflammation or tumors, surgery may be necessary to remove the anal sacs.

Patients with colitis (inflammation of the colon/large intestine) strain to defecate and may have mucus and/or small amounts of fresh blood. Pets with colitis should still have a good appetite and energy level. If your pet is lethargic, not wanting to eat, or the stools are of a watery consistency, your veterinarian should be contacted immediately. Common causes of colitis are dietary intolerance (e.g.: new treats or type of food) and parasitic infections. Other causes include: infections (e.g.: bacteria, protozoa), inflammation (e.g.: inflammatory bowel disease, foreign bodies), and tumors. Diagnosis of colitis is based on symptoms. After examining your pet, your veterinarian will begin by testing your pet’s feces for intestinal parasites. Cases of chronic colitis may require further diagnostic testing such as blood work, fecal testing, and imaging (x-rays and abdominal ultrasound). Treatment for colitis includes identifying the underlying cause and treating specifically if possible. If a specific underlying cause is not found, pets may be treated with an antibiotic, a deworming treatment, and/or nutritional support to promote intestinal health and hasten the recovery process.

Constipation, retention of feces, affects cats more commonly than dogs. Constipation can be caused by dehydration, anal sac disease, foreign bodies trapped within the colon, spinal disease, obstructions or trauma within the pelvic canal, and idiopathic (unexplained) causes. Pets with constipation posture to defecate yet produce scant to no feces; they may have abdominal pain. Pets with marked constipation may vomit. Definitive diagnosis is made by physical examination and radiographs of the abdomen. Treatment for constipation includes rehydration, dietary modifications, stool softeners, and addressing the primary cause if possible (e.g.: foreign body or pelvic fracture). 

 Pets affected by Coccidiosis are typically young, debilitated, and/or immunocompromised. Coccidia are protozoal organisms that are an important cause of diarrhea in young pets. Adult pets may be positive for Coccidia, yet do not show any symptoms. Pets with intestinal inflammation caused by Coccidia require antibiotic therapy to help resolve the infection. Easily digested foods and probiotic therapy help the intestinal tract heal more quickly. During treatment, it is important that your pet stays well hydrated; you can add water to their food. Most Coccidia organisms are not contagious to people, however, care should be taken to ensure good hygienic practices including hand washing and bathing your pet during treatment. 

Dogs, being indiscriminant eaters, commonly eat things that are not meant for ingestion. Surprisingly, many foreign objects travel through the gastrointestinal tract unnoticed. Occasionally, however, foreign objects enter the stomach and become lodged in the gastrointestinal tract as the lumen narrows down. Dogs with a foreign body causing an obstruction may be painful, lethargic, and vomit repeatedly. Prompt veterinary attention is necessary to prevent permanent damage to the intestinal tract. Diagnosis of foreign body ingestion requires a physical examination and imaging (e.g.: radiographs of the abdomen). If the foreign body is causing an obstruction or contains toxins, then prompt surgical removal is necessary. Some foreign bodies in the stomach may be removed with endoscopy, a flexible scope that can be manipulated through the upper portions of the gastro intestinal tract. 

Hookworms are small blood sucking parasites that live, feed, and reproduce within the small intestines. Puppies and kittens are most commonly affected; they acquire the infections 1) from an environment contaminated with hookworm larvae, 2) through the placenta (before birth), or 3) through the mother’s milk. Hookworms may be found incidentally on routine fecal exams; your pet may show no obvious signs of a problem. Large burdens of hookworms may cause anemia (due to the large amount of blood ingested by the worms), weight loss, and diarrhea. Pets in a heavily contaminated area may develop skin inflammation on the feet caused by the larvae burrowing into the body through the skin. Treatment of hookworm infections requires environmental clean-up and deworming medication. Environmental decontamination is particularly important to avoid transmission of this parasite to people. Regular deworming practices and testing of your pet’s feces help to ensure that your pet and your family are parasite free. 

 Intussusception occurs when a portion of intestine slides inside an adjacent portion of intestine. This intestinal telescoping can occur following a bout of intestinal inflammation (e.g.: parvovirus infection in dogs) or other systemic illness; some intussusceptions have no known cause. The enfolding of the intestine narrows the passageway for flow of intestinal contents creating a partial or complete obstruction. Patients with intussusceptions present with lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, pain, and/or inappetance. Diagnosis may be based on history of illness, physical examination findings (a firm cylindrical mass may be felt in the abdomen), and imaging (e.g.: x-rays, ultrasound). Intussusceptions rarely reverse themselves; treatment of choice for intussusceptions is surgical repair to restore bowel health and prevent recurrence. 

 Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV) is a life threatening condition typically seen in large, deep chested dogs (e.g.: Dobermans, German Shepherds, and Great Danes). The cause of this painful condition is a bit of a mystery, but it tends to happen after 2-3 hours after eating. GDV results from the stomach (Gastric) distending with gas (Dilatation) and subsequently twisting upon itself (Volvulus) and cutting off the blood supply. The distended stomach causes compression of the large blood vessels, impairing blood flow to other organs in the abdomen. Dogs suffering from GDV have non-productive retching and profound abdominal distension. Diagnosis of GDV is based upon history, physical examination, and abdominal x-rays. Patients with GDV must be treated aggressively for shock and require emergency surgery to decompress the stomach and return it to its normal position to restore blood flow to the organs in the abdomen. During surgery, the stomach is sutured to the body wall to prevent recurrences of GDV. The stomach tacking does not prevent the bloating, but prevents the life threatening volvulus. 

Gastritis refers to inflammation of the lining of the stomach. The most common cause of gastritis is ingestion of something that should not be eaten (e.g.: spoiled food, trash). Other causes include: foreign body ingestion, parasites, medication intolerance (e.g.: antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, cardiac medications), toxins (e.g.: chocolate, plants, household chemicals), and organ inflammation (e.g.: kidney failure, hepatitis, pancreatitis). Diagnosis of gastritis is based on history, physical examination findings, lab work results, and radiographic findings. Your veterinarian may give your pet an injection to help stop the vomiting as well as administer fluids under the skin to help restore hydration. Pets with gastritis need to rest their stomachs to allow healing. Food and water should be withheld until the vomiting stops for 12-24 hours. If water is held down, then slow introduction of a bland diet can begin. A bland diet should be continued for 3-5 days with gradual reintroduction of the regular diet. Treatment of gastritis must also include treating the underlying cause if known (e.g.: deworming medication if parasites are involved; surgical removal of foreign bodies if causing obstruction). 

Does your dog have bad breath? The odor you smell is caused by an infection in your dog’s mouth. The most common cause of infection in your dog’s mouth is periodontal disease, which affects over 75% of dogs over 2 years of age. Periodontal disease progresses without intervention. Unresolved periodontal disease can spread beyond the oral cavity to involve organs, such as the kidneys, liver, and heart. The goal of periodontal therapy is to restore oral health and stop the infection that causes pain, tooth and bone loss, and organ damage. Dogs need their teeth cleaned regularly just as people do. Home dental care and regular periodontal therapy help to maintain oral health to ensure a healthy, pain-free pet. 

The foul odor you smell coming from your dog’s mouth is caused by an infection around the teeth. The most common cause of the infection in your dog’s mouth is periodontal disease, which affects over 75% of dogs over 2 years of age. The inflammation begins when bacteria set up house in the gums surrounding your pet’s teeth. Without tooth brushing, these bacteria flourish and, in combination with food particles, cause calculus deposition on the teeth. The vicious cycle begins: bacteria grow, creating inflammation, calculus deposits on the teeth, more bacteria grow, while the inflammation and calculus deposition continues. Left untreated, this inflammation progresses to periodontal disease. Periodontal disease describes an irreversible loss of the support tissues of the teeth. Destruction of the support tissues surrounding the teeth causes pain, deeper infections, and tooth loss. Unresolved infections caused by periodontal disease can spread beyond the oral cavity to include distant organs, such as the kidneys, liver, and heart. The goal of periodontal therapy is to restore oral health by cleaning the teeth before irreversible damage occurs. Dogs need their teeth cleaned regularly just as people do. Home dental care and regular teeth cleanings help maintain oral health to ensure a healthy, pain-free pet.