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<\/p>\n\n\n\nBusting Myths about Gut Upset in Dogs & Cats<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An inevitable part of being a pet owner is dealing with some, let\u2019s face it, pretty grim moments. These include when your pet vomits and\/or has diarrhoea. GI upset is one of the most common reasons dogs and cats are seen by a vet. While an angry gut may seem like a simple diagnosis, there can be a lot more involved <\/s>Today we\u2019re going to bust a few myths that have to do with vomiting and diarrhoea in our pets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
MYTH 1: It\u2019s normal for cats to vomit regularly. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the years, cats have earned the reputation of being regular pukers. Many cat owners think their cat vomits just because it\u2019s a cat. While it is true that cats can vomit occasionally without there being a major underlying cause, it truly isn\u2019t normal for cats to vomit regularly. There is no hard and fast rule about how many times is too many, but if your cat vomits at least once per month, there is a possibility of an issue that needs to be addressed. This may be as simple as changing the way your cat is fed, but can also be a medical problem, like intestinal tract disease. Your vet can help you figure out if your cat’s vomiting is a concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MYTH 2: My pet\u2019s not vomiting so they can\u2019t be nauseous.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Nausea can be challenging to treat in pets because they can\u2019t tell us they feel unwell. That being said, we often hear pet owners ask why their pet needs anti-nausea medication if their pet isn\u2019t vomiting very much. Particularly in cats, underlying nausea is a common problem that can mask itself as decreased appetite. Our pets do not have to be vomiting to be battling nausea. If your vet recommends anti-vomiting medication when your pet is unwell, it may also be to help combat nausea, so heed their advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n MYTH 3: Vomiting and diarrhoea aren\u2019t a big deal. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A one off episode of soft stool or vomiting may not be cause for concern. Pets can absolutely have an occasional bout of GI upset. They might have eaten something they shouldn\u2019t have, they might have chewed on some grass in the back garden, or even might have been stressed after a new person visited the house. Once vomiting and diarrhoea becomes a pattern, this should put up a red flag for owners. Multiple episodes of vomiting\/diarrhoea in a short period of time may indicate an issue that needs to be addressed. Chronic vomiting\/diarrhoea regularly over several weeks to months is also a concern. Taking your pet to the vet sooner rather than later can help avoid dehydration, lethargy, and other side effects of fluid loss. They can also help determine if your pet simply needs supportive care vs. more diagnostic testing to address the underlying problem. MYTH 4: Pets can\u2019t have parasites if they don\u2019t have diarrhoea. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s true that diarrhoea is a common clinical sign of pets infected with intestinal parasites. But did you know that it\u2019s also common for vets to diagnose parasites in pets with normal stool? Particularly in multi-pet households, it\u2019s not uncommon for several pets to be infected and one has diarrhoea but the other does not. This makes regular worming specific to your pets lifestyle and appropriate faecal testing with your vet all the more important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n MYTH 5: Vomiting and diarrhoea are always due to problems with the GI tract itself. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n While vomiting and diarrhoea arise from the GI tract and often do reflect irritation with that body system, it doesn\u2019t always mean the underlying problem was just the gut. Here\u2019s a few diseases in pets that are not primary gastrointestinal in origin (like parasites, food sensitivities\/allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, etc.) but commonly cause vomiting and\/or diarrhoea: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s recap. This list doesn\u2019t mean that your pet must have a serious problem if they vomit. If you are like many of us, it\u2019s easy to assume something scary is going on. It\u2019s just important for pet owners to be aware that there are many causes of GI upset, and that diseases other than intestinal ones can also cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Just as importantly, vomiting and diarrhoea can cause dehydration and nausea quickly so it\u2019s important to have your pet seen by your vet if they have repeat episodes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Kirsten Ronngren, DVM MRCVS<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Busting Myths about Gut Upset in Dogs & Cats An inevitable part of being a pet owner is dealing with some, let\u2019s face it, pretty grim moments. These include when your pet vomits and\/or has diarrhoea. GI upset is one of the most common reasons dogs and cats are seen by a vet. While an … Continue reading Is your Pets Gut Acting Up?<\/span> ![](\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/OzvsPZI9WRldLYWunLtvBhI9H8GwhGFLEmtH5_NeNxMNPnvYqckD8PwsHnYtfaqNMyapfvV2zQXhnOzF17veoCEZC4E8x8YfQjUBqclsvUxQ2ef7OWuWwq7lqapr52XAwYU8xKmtP9iCILYarOjjn9OCcohKLRf1LffGg4r_0nIuloaOKlZxNWJsMjJ9\")
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