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Treatment

In most of the cases, dogs recover and respond very well. The course of treatment, however, is dependent on the underlying cause of the condition. A brief outline of treatment is given below:

• Fluid and electrolyte therapies are important, especially in cases of hemorrhagic gastroenteritis.
• Antibiotic therapy may be restricted to animals with systemic infections.
• Corticosteroid therapy is useful in cases of shock. Usually hypovolemic shock develops due to dehydration.
• Medications that soothe the intestine and bind noxious agents can also be used in supportive therapy.
• Parasitic infections are treated with anthelmintics.
• Physical obstruction, ulcers and tumors may need surgical treatment.

Living and Management

An improved diet may reduce intestinal infections and other gastrointestinal disorders. The main priority should be to provide healing time for the dog's inflamed intestinal area. Thus, food and water should not be given for at least a period of 24 hours to rest the intestine. Then, provide a bland diet for three to seven days, followed by a gradual return to the dog's normal diet.

Often dietary irritants (especially protein) may lead to recurrence of the problem. In these cases, a special hypoallergenic medical diet may be required.

Prevention

Some veterinarians have recently emphasized the importance of restoring intestinal microflora through food additives (e.g., probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics) in order to prevent the infection from recurring.

If dog owners are using homemade diets, the ideal micro- and macro-nutrient profile, along with optimum energy density, must be the focus of formulation. These diets provide highly digestible nutrients, less fats and restricted osmolarity. Consult your veterinarian for a proper, well-balanced diet for your dog.