“Dirt cleanses the stomach.” Dirt is full of germs that help the body build a strong immune system.
However, if these germs – like clostridia – appear as a small army, it can become ugly.
The following guide tells you how Clostridia in dogs can be identified, which causes and which treatment there are.
What is clostridia in dogs?
Clostridia – not only in dogs – are bacteria that have one property that is both positive and negative: They are extremely resilient.
Actually, they have another property: They really do appear everywhere. Whether in the water or in the intestinal tract of humans and dogs.
So avoiding Clostridia is impossible.
And that’s not a big deal either, because clostridia are not automatically dangerous bacteria that knock us and our furry friends out of our shoes immediately.
It looks a little different, however, when the Clostridia strains in the small intestine – that’s where they occur most often – multiply at the same rate from now on.
Then they very well have a negative influence on the dog’s health and then show up in different symptoms.
What are the causes of Clostridia?
The most common causes of a severe Clostridial infestation in dogs are: Stress, changing food and eating things that clostridia contaminated are.
An infection with other bacteria and possibly related long-term therapy with antibiotics can also be the reasons.
Last but not least, a battered or weak immune system in the dog is another cause that can lead to a heavy infestation with Clostridia.
Let’s take a closer look at these causes.
feed change
For many dogs, a change of food means stress for the intestines. Because it first has to get used to the new feed composition and is therefore sensitive.
The perfect time for clostridia to cause a lot of additional trouble here in the small intestine.
stress
Stress is poison for all dogs – as long as they don’t have nerves of steel and can’t be disturbed by anything.
Stress also has an impact on the intestines and can then lead to a number of other problems.
Excessive Clostridia is one of these problems. But the next cause is both stress and clostridial promoter.
Weak immune system
Approximately 70% of the canine immune system is formed in the dog’s intestine. If the dog is stressed, the immune system also takes a short break.
If this is the case, pathogens of all kinds are happy – including clostridia, which can then multiply here.
Infection with other bacteria
If your dog is already suffering from another bacterial infestation, the immune system is of course busy with this and opens all doors for the clostridia.
The intestinal flora is also thrown off balance by antibiotics, which are used to treat bacterial infections.
Contaminated feed
Raw meat in particular can be contaminated with Clostridia. This can be a problem, especially with a BARF diet.
A dog can also become infected with Clostridia by eating contaminated soil or droppings from other dogs that are already struggling with Clostridia.
Good to know
Incidentally, dogs can also be infected with the parvovirus via dog excrement, which can be life-threatening in many cases – especially for (unvaccinated) puppies.
Recognizing clostridia correctly in dogs
You can recognize clostridia in dogs by diarrhea in your fur nose, among other things. What is less good is that diarrhea in dogs can have countless causes.
To see this alone as the main distinguishing feature would be almost a little too easy. The other symptoms, which we will now go into, do not make the diagnosis any easier.
gas
A dog that is struggling with an excessive number of clostridia usually also struggles with severe flatulence at the same time.
You will probably have recognized or smelled them in seconds.
bowel sounds
Where there is flatulence and diarrhea can announce itself, intestinal noises are usually not far away.
If it rumbles in your dog’s intestinal tract, this can indicate a Clostridial infestation.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is another obvious sign of clostridial disease in dogs. This can be partly mucous and partly bloody.
So be careful with your diagnosis, because this can also hide an infestation with Giardia.
stomach pain
The symptom of stomach pain can also have a variety of causes, of which clostridia are only one possibility.
One of the ways you can tell that your dog is suffering from abdominal pain is that it is hunching in the middle of its body.
Or he deliberately stretches out to relax.
Vomit
Vomiting can be another sign that the clostridia in the dog’s intestines have taken over.
IMPORTANT
All of these symptoms make a trip to the vet useful – especially if the symptoms last for a long time. Please do not start any medication here on your own!
Treatment and therapy of clostridia in dogs
That the dog really suffers from clostridia can ultimately just one fecal examination confirm.
This is therefore a first part of the treatment of the dog that is struggling with the bacteria.
Because other parasites can hide behind the symptoms as well as diseases and viral infections, which must be treated differently accordingly.
If your veterinarian or the dog feces has confirmed the clostridia, the right treatment is pending.
Since it is a bacterium, different antibiotics can be used here, for example agents containing the active ingredients amoxicillin and clavulanic acid.
Long-term intestinal rehabilitation in dogs can also be more than useful.
Because the Clostridia were only able to multiply so rapidly because the intestinal flora was out of balance.
Our guide “Building up dog intestinal flora: 9 home remedies that really help” will tell you how intestinal cleansing works for dogs.
Longer therapy can then also be carried out using probiotics and prebiotics, which are already administered during treatment with the antibiotic.
To help your dog have a strong immune system, you can also find some supplements that naturally boost the immune system, such as Impromune.
How can you properly prevent clostridia in dogs?
These treatment options mentioned are also the options you have to prevent Clostridia in your dog in the future.
You should also pay attention to the meat used on a BARF diet. Beef and lamb in particular represent a high Clostridial risk.
In addition, you can Support your dog’s intestinal flora with fiber – for example feed cellulose.
Has your dog ever had to fight with Clostridia? Then we hope he recovered well and we’d love for you to share his story with us in the comments!