Digestion Problems in Cats & Dogs

Cats are known for being fussy eaters and dogs are known to eat just about anything. Despite the difference in their eating habits, both cats and dogs often develop digestive problems which have unpleasant consequences for both the animal and carer. The Digestive System is made up of the Stomach, pancreas, liver and intestines, these organs along with enzymes and the body's own beneficial bacteria work together to transform food into energy and healthy tissue. When the Gastro-Intestinal tract is in good working order your cat & dog will have a good appetite, firm stools, fresh breath and plenty of energy. When the Gastro-Intestinal tract is not in good working order you will see symptoms such as diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting, stomach rumbling, bloating, excessive gas, not eating, etc. Other symptoms include Weight Loss, Ulcers, Colitis, IBD (irritable bowel disease) and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).

Fortunately, many digestive disorders are temporary and resolve themselves in a day or two. If any symptoms persist for more that a few days you should consult your Vet to rule out other causes such as food allergies, foreign objects or internal disorders resulting from pancreas, kidney or liver diseases. In other cases, where parasites, bacteria, food allergies or other food sensitivities are to blame, your pet may benefit from taking supplements which contain glutamine, fibre, probiotics or enzymes to help restore their digestive system to a healthy state. Your Vet can perform blood and urine tests to rule out liver or kidney conditions and may perform a faecal exam to rule out parasites, Guardia and bacterial infections. There are many products available, containing probiotics, Colostrum, fibre, digestive enzymes and other nutrients which can help to heal the intestinal lining and prevent some of these symptoms from reoccurring in dogs and cats. However if your cat or dog is showing any of the following symptoms please see your Vet immediately:- Blood in the stool or vomit, excessive panting or shaking (sign of distress which may indicate an obstruction or ingestion of toxic materials, dehydration or inability to keep water down.

An internet veterinary pharmacy such as vetpharmacy.co.uk has a large supply of supplements which contain probiotics, enzymes, fibre, etc to help restore their digestive system to a healthy state.These products include Pro-kolin Paste, Diarsanyl, Kittystim, Puppystim, Kaogel, Liquivite, Peridale Granules, Canikur Tablets, Pro-Fibre, Panzym Powder and Welpi. These products are available at very competitive prices, are normally dispatched next working day and delivered via courier (DHL). As an on-line Veterinary Pharmacy there is a team of dedicated and experienced staff who are available for further information on all of the above products.