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213 results for “dog malnutrition”
What to Do If Your Dog or Cat Has Tapeworms
Many species of tapeworms parasitize dogs and cats, and the adult worms seriously harm their health, while the larval stages often use livestock or humans as intermediate hosts, threatening both animals and people. Common species include Dipylidium caninum, Taenia spp., Echinococcus granulosus, Mesocestoides, Spirometra mansoni, and Diphyllobothrium. Infection causes intestinal inflammation, malnutrition, and in severe cases intestinal blockage, with signs like vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and odd behavior. Diagnosis relies on clinical signs plus fecal egg exams. Prevention means regular deworming, not feeding raw offal, and controlling fleas. Treatment uses praziquantel (5 mg/kg dogs, 2 mg/kg cats), arecoline hydrobromide, bunamidine, or fenbendazole under veterinary guidance. Because some tapeworms (like Echinococcus) also endanger human health, prompt and correct control matters.
What are the signs that a dog is pregnant?
A pregnant dog shows moodiness, sleepiness, swollen reddened nipples, a protruding belly, changed appetite, reduced activity, and heightened alertness. Fetal movement can be felt around one month; a vet ultrasound or X-ray at 40–45 days confirms pregnancy and litter size. Supplement nutrition to prevent dystocia from malnutrition.
What happens if a dog has intestinal worms?
Intestinal worms cause abdominal pain, soft stools, diarrhea, frequent vomiting, poor appetite, steady weight loss, malnutrition, anemia, and a rough, dull coat. With a heavy load you may see worms or segments in the stool. Deworm regularly — monthly for puppies under 1 year, every 2–3 months for adults — and avoid raw food.
What happens if a dog eats a corn cob?
A corn cob can cause intestinal blockage, leading to malnutrition, reduced appetite, vomiting, constipation, and abdominal pain. While corn's potassium and fiber offer some benefits, a dog's gut is fragile and too much causes indigestion. Never feed the cob core, which can scratch the digestive tract or choke the dog.
What happens if a dog eats fake dog food long-term?
Long-term consumption of fake dog food causes indigestion — many counterfeit foods use sand and ground-stone powder in place of starch — leading to gastroenteritis, kidney failure, and even death. It also causes malnutrition and, because of heavy palatant use, picky eating when you try to switch foods, so any diet change must be gradual.
What are the symptoms of roundworm (ascarid) infection in dogs?
Roundworm infection in dogs shows as malnutrition, weight loss, pale mucous membranes, a rough dull coat, reduced appetite, vomiting or passing worms, and worm-laden diarrhea; severe cases add lethargy, digestive upset, and acute abdominal pain. Mild cases need deworming (e.g., albendazole); moderate cases also need nutrition and easily digested food; severe cases with neurological signs require a vet.
Vitamin A Deficiency in Dogs and Cats
Vitamin A deficiency in dogs and cats results from a diet lacking preformed vitamin A and its precursors, impairing vision, skin, growth, and reproduction. It causes night blindness, dry eye, flaky skin, and in young animals bone deformity and paralysis, and is corrected by dietary vitamin A and treating any gut disease.
Hypoglossal Nerve Paralysis in Dogs and Cats
Hypoglossal nerve paralysis causes the tongue to protrude from the mouth and makes eating, chewing, and swallowing difficult. It usually follows submandibular trauma, a hematoma, or a tumor pressing on the nerve, and chronic cases can lead to tongue atrophy.
Chylothorax in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Chylothorax is lymph (chyle) leaking into the chest cavity, usually from a blocked or ruptured thoracic duct, causing breathing difficulty and weight loss. It is managed with surgery to tie off the duct plus drainage and a low-fat diet.
Colitis in Dogs and Cats
Colitis is inflammation of the colon that causes acute or chronic diarrhea in dogs and cats, often with straining, mucus, and blood in the stool. Treatment combines anti-diarrheal and anti-inflammatory medication with dietary management.