Golden Retrievers are greedy dogs and are willing to eat almost anything. Combined with the fact that their digestive system is relatively sensitive, this makes them especially likely to develop gastroenteritis. Once a Golden Retriever has gastroenteritis, symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, reduced appetite, and lethargy. Severe cases can even become life-threatening. So how should owners prevent and treat this problem?
Causes of gastroenteritis in Golden Retrievers
Golden Retriever gastroenteritis can generally be divided into two types: primary and secondary. Primary gastroenteritis is mainly caused by improper feeding, irregular hunger and fullness, spoiled food, food that is difficult to digest, or accidental ingestion of highly irritating medication. Secondary gastroenteritis refers to stomach and intestinal inflammation that develops during the course of certain infectious diseases, such as canine distemper, coronavirus disease, or parvovirus, as well as parasitic diseases such as hookworm infection, coccidiosis, whipworm infection, and toxoplasmosis.
Symptoms of gastroenteritis in Golden Retrievers
In the early stage, the dog may often lie with the belly against a cool floor or adopt a ?prayer position,? with the chest lowered to the ground and the hindquarters raised. The dog becomes depressed, loses appetite, and shows indigestion along with vomiting, diarrhea, or stool mixed with mucus.
In the later stage, the disease worsens. The dog may become unsteady while walking, occasionally pass foul-smelling bloody stool, develop a fever, drool or foam at the mouth, and in serious cases even show convulsions. Severe dehydration may follow and can endanger the dog's life.
Treatment of gastroenteritis in Golden Retrievers
Prompt anti-inflammatory treatment is important, and the safest first step is usually to take the dog to a veterinary clinic for injections or other treatment. The dog should be kept in an environment with appropriate temperature. After vomiting begins to improve, small amounts of sugar-salt water may be given, the abdomen may be kept warm, and only bland, non-irritating food should be offered.
Prevention of gastroenteritis in Golden Retrievers
1. Feed reasonably and avoid extreme hunger or irregular feeding. If a dog becomes too hungry, it may overeat later, which often causes indigestion and makes gastroenteritis more likely.
2. Improve nutrition and strengthen resistance. When a dog's immunity declines, its gastrointestinal barrier also becomes weaker, allowing harmful intestinal bacteria to multiply and ultimately cause gastroenteritis.
3. Avoid the abuse of antibiotics. Improper use of antibiotics can disturb the intestinal bacterial balance, leading to secondary infection and triggering gastroenteritis.
The best approach is prevention. Pay close attention to the Golden Retriever's daily diet and do not let it eat dirty or irritating food. Because the breed is so greedy, owners must also keep household food out of reach. Once symptoms of gastroenteritis appear, veterinary care should be sought immediately so the condition does not worsen.