Digestive Problems in Dogs
Symptoms
Fatigue- Excess gas
- Diarrhea
- Poor digestion
- Low immune response
- Lack of appetite
- Sluggish digestion
- Stagnant food in stomach
- Nausea
- Food poisoning
- Chronic gastritis
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Indigestion
- Stomach ache
- Loose stools
- Stomach distension
The Digestive Process
One of the easiest ways to think of the digestive system as being like a juice extractor with a team of tiny men working to shovel the food in the correct direction at the right speed.
These men are positioned in each section of the digestive system,
making sure that everything goes according the natural scheme of
things.
Their role is too keep the very complicated machinery of the digestive system in good working order and extract the various nutrients from food in order to maintain health and vitality.
Let us now focus on the volume of work that these men have to do every day of life.
The first process is chewing although some of our pets tend to skip this one, preferring to use the resources further down the course.
The food, then moves down the esophagus by what is called ‘peristaltic’ action. In other words, the muscle contracts in a manner that moves the food along to the stomach.
The men in the stomach have hard time of it because they have to operate like a cement mixer, turning the food over and over, adding the chemicals in the form of digestive enzymes until it reaches a consistency which is suitable to be absorbed into the body and then into the small intestine.
Once into the small intestine the food goes through the same type of cement mixing process only different chemicals are used and the tiny molecules are absorbed by the cells in the lining. These tiny molecules are then transported to the capillaries for use where required.
The guys in the Gall bladder and the Pancreas, open the gate and allow some of the bile and pancreatic enzymes to flow into the duodenum part of the small intestine.
All the while another team of guys are working away moving the residue onto the next process, the large intestine.
This is where water, minerals and certain vitamins are absorbed through the lining into capillaries. Nutrients absorbed in the track are moved to the liver for processing and distribution to appropriate body cells and the non digestible material is moved on down the track and out the back door.
It is not hard to imagine what would happen to a juice extractor if we threw a few stones in along with the fruit or vegetables. Our juice extractor would grind to a halt very quickly.
If instead of stones we use grit the same thing would happen only it would take much longer. The same can be said for the digestive system.
If we pile up on sugar for example, the guys in the pancreas would be working way beyond their capabilities for long periods of time and eventually would start to throw down their shovels in disgust and ask for the union rep. Now we have a digestive system out of balance.
It is these simple acts over time, which cause the digestive system to break down in one way or another.
Excesses of protein, fat, salt and sugar, poor quality foods such as soya, wheat, corn and chemicals in the form of colors, flavors, preservatives, emulsifiers etc. are like grit to our pets digestive system.
We need to provide our pets with food which is nutrient dense, easily digested, lacks excesses, chemicals and is in the correct quantities to keep it working in a balanced way.
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